13-06-2025
With Trump's immigration crackdown, Tacoma stands for justice
It's a very scary time for immigrants and refugees in this country. Across the nation, there is more scrutiny on immigrants. Actions at the federal level are obfuscating rules and guidelines for immigrants and refugees, which raises concerns in the immigrant community around travel and civil rights.
Tacoma residents experience this fear. Each of us has been pulled aside from a crowd and asked in a whisper whether individuals living in Tacoma are safe.
In Tacoma, we are doing our best within our legal authority to provide safe access to city services. Public safety comes in all shapes and forms. One of these forms is access to government services.
It is in our entire community's best interest if everyone feels safe interacting with the government. It should not be threatening to go to Tacoma Public Utilities and pay your water bill. We want people to feel safe calling 911 to report a car accident or seek medical help in an emergency. We want all residents to trust in the system enough to show up at court when necessary and have access to documents in languages they understand. Maintaining access to the systems that govern us is critical for those systems to operate with integrity and in service to our community.
It is also important that people have access to their jobs and the day-to-day places that a society relies upon. This is not just because every person deserves to be treated with dignity — which they do — but also because it also drives our economy forward.
According to a report from the Washington State Budget and Policy Center, immigrants are vital members of Washington state's bustling economy and vibrant community. Data from the Immigration Research Initiative shows that immigrant workers, which include green card holders, asylees, people with temporary protected status, and undocumented immigrants, play an outsized role in strengthening Washington's labor force and economy.
We hear every day the demand that elected officials lead on protecting our immigrant and refugee neighbors. Tacoma is acting.
The City Council passed Resolution 41627 to direct city resources be restricted from use for investigation and surveillance of individuals based on immigration or citizenship status without a court order. The city of Tacoma is in full compliance with the Keep Washington Working Act, which clarifies how local law enforcement engages with federal immigration law. We celebrate Pierce County's recent ordinance change to end the use of E-Verify, bringing it into alignment with Tacoma's practices.
We are doing what we can locally to make city services safe and accessible, and the work is ongoing. In America, everyone has the right to due process. Everyone has the right to peacefully protest. It is fundamental to our very democracy.
We champion sharing information about immigrant rights and the right to assemble. As council members, we keep abreast of court challenges to recent federal actions and how all the federal changes will have local impacts in Tacoma. Stand with us in preserving the safety of immigrants in Tacoma.
Olgy Diaz and Sandesh Sadalge are members of the Tacoma City Council. Diaz was appointed as an at-large member in 2022 and elected to a full term in 2023. Her parents immigrated from Guatemala, and she was born in Pierce County. Sadalge was appointed in 2024 to represent District 4. He immigrated from India at age 6 and became a U.S. citizen as an adult.
