‘We are not toys’ Local nonprofits urge Spokane City Council to pass resolution protecting immigrant communities

As the Trump Administration works to fulfill it’s promise to deport millions of immigrants who are in the United States illegally, local organizations are seeking support.

Latinos en Spokane, a local nonprofit that works to empower the Latino population in Spokane, is asking Spokane City Council to pass a resolution re-affirming it’s commitment to the ‘Keep Washington Working Act.‘

The act protects immigrant communities by preventing local law enforcement from assisting in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Thrive International, another local nonprofit that supports Spokane’s refugee and immigrant communities, supports the resolution.

“There’s many people from all over the world here in Spokane because they have nowhere else to go,” said Thrive Executive Director, Mark Finney.

The organization said it’s important for City Council to pass the resolution so immigrants and refugees in Spokane know it’s a safe place to be.

Hanah Sylenko lives in Spokane. She is a Ukrainian refugee who fled the war and came to the U.S. in 2023 as a humanitarian parolee.

When asked if she feels safe in America right now, she replied, “Right now… no.”

Sylenko said she fears her refugee status could be at risk due to Trump’s latest executive orders on immigration.

“People feel like toys, but we are not toys. People should understand, we are human. We should be humanizing everyone. It doesn’t matter what kind of status you have,” she said.

Thrive International said it supports the ‘Keep Washington Working Act’ to help protect people like Sylenko.

“We need folks in our local communities to know that their city council stands with them and is going to ensure their safety here in our community, in the places where they work, where they live, where they worship, where they go to school. They need to know for sure this is a safe community,” Finney said.

Latinos en Spokane said that Latino immigrants in Spokane are also feeling unsafe right now. An official said they have noticed an increased presence in immigration officers. He noted that many of these immigrants work and contribute to our economy.

“We should have some gratitude for those work essential workers and not just discard them because we have a new administration,” said Jorge Guerrero, Immigration & Environmental Justice Organizer for Latinos en Spokane.

The resolution also calls for city council to explore funding opportunities for legal and immigration defense services.

Latinos en Spokane presented this resolution to Spokane City Council on Monday. They are asking for more people to testify in support of this resolution at the next city council meeting on Monday, February 3 at 6 p.m..

The organization hopes that City Council will vote on the resolution Monday February 10. Latinos en Spokane will be hosting a Rally for Immigrants Rights before the meeting begins outside of City Council Chambers.

For more information and to sign your support for the resolution, click here.