To: Tacoma City Council
Tacoma City Council: Protect Undocumented Immigrants #HereToStay
There is no excuse for leaders who won’t defend undocumented families from Trump’s mass deportation agenda. We are calling on the Tacoma City Council to pass enforceable ordinances that will provide undocumented immigrants protection. It is time to end the terrorization of undocumented immigrants. It is time to protect their lives and safety. It is time for undocumented immigrants to be fully integrated into the social, civic, and economic structures of of our City.
Why is this important?
Tacoma City Council,
1. Adopt a Sanctuary City Resolution: Codify into Tacoma City ordinance that police officers will not act as defacto immigration agents, that City employees refrain from performing duties from the Department of Homeland Security, and that the City will not cooperate or assist with any unconstitutional or illegal registration or surveillance programs targeted at any immigrants in Tacoma.
2. Continue to block any expansion of the Northwest Detention Center or any private correctional facilities across the City of Tacoma. If necessary, legislate changes to the City code to ensure this is enforced. With Trump’s expansion to the deportation machine, our City needs to be proactive to prevent the detention of undocumented immigrants.
3. Create a legal defense fund for undocumented immigrants who currently do not have a right to legal representation in immigration proceedings even though the federal government is legally represented throughout the process. Legal representation will ensure that immigrants are 10.5 times more likely to remain in their community.
4. Initiate the Immigrant and Refugee Task Force to address issues facing undocumented immigrants living and working in our City. This task force should include include diverse representation of immigrants, undocumented immigrants, refugees, and LGBTQ, labor, educators, faith, and ally community leaders.