Spokane nonprofit prepares to protect migrant families as Trump Administration threatens mass deportations

SPOKANE, Wash. — A local organization is gearing up to protect Spokane’s migrant families in the face of President Trump’s recent executive order regarding birthright citizenship.

Birthright citizenship is part of the American Constitution and gives citizenship to anyone born on American soil.

Trump’s executive order attempts to change the law by only giving birthright citizenship to newborn children who have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

On Monday, in response to the executive order, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed his own executive order creating the ‘Family Separation Rapid Response Team.”

The order directs the Department of Children, Youth and Families to look into policies and actions that would lower the amount of harm and trauma to children who are separated from their families due to Trump’s order.

“We will stand up for your rights. We will protect your freedoms. That is central to who we are and we will continue to do that,” Governor Ferguson said.

Thrive International is a nonprofit that helps immigrants and refugees in Spokane. The organization said it has been working to ease the minds of those who could be affected by potential mass deportations.

Jim Castrolang, Policy and Advocacy Director at Thrive, said the Governor’s executive order is a good place to start in protecting migrant populations.

“Focusing on the children, and not having them separated from their families and mitigating that when that happens. The children is what it’s all about,” he said.

Castrolang said Thrive plans on being active in the Governor’s work to combat Trump’s goal to change birthright citizenship.

“We’re going to be a bigger community voice here in Spokane, but also in Olympia and in Washington D.C. With what’s happening, you can’t play the middle. You have to get out there are help protect a safe space for all our refugees,” he said.

For more information on Thrive’s services, visit thriveint.org.