Tacoma: City Council Unanimously Approves Funding for Immigrant Detainee Support
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~ In a unanimous decision, the City Council has approved Resolution 41757, which will allocate $20,000 from the Council Contingency Fund to Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest (AIDNW). This funding will go towards supporting the organization's Phone Call Fund and Welcome Center services for detainees at the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC).

The resolution was introduced by At-Large Council Member Olgy Diaz, with co-sponsors At-Large Council Member Kristina Walker, District 4 Council Member Sandesh Sadalge, and District 5 Council Member Joe Bushnell. According to Council Member Diaz, this funding is urgently needed to ensure that detainees have access to legal help, can connect with their loved ones, and can safely reach their next destination.

"People detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center are stripped of basic rights and supports that many of us take for granted," said Council Member Diaz. "With more people being detained, the number of vulnerable individuals needing help keeps rising. We recognize that people are just as vulnerable upon release as they were when first detained."

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Resolution 41757 highlights the importance of communication with the outside world for detained individuals. This includes those facing deportation while in immigration detention centers who do not have access to court-appointed counsel. The NWIPC requires detainees to use a private, for-profit phone service to make calls. This can be a financial burden for low-income individuals and can result in reduced access to legal support and negative impacts on mental and emotional health due to isolation.

The resolution also emphasizes the critical support provided by AIDNW to individuals leaving the NWIPC. Many of these individuals are not from the local region and lack connections or resources. At their Welcome Center RV and tents, volunteers offer essentials such as food, clothing, phones, and safe temporary housing. This helps immigrants and asylum seekers reconnect with family or sponsors.

Council Member Walker expressed her pride in supporting AIDNW's work, especially their Welcome Center. "It helps vulnerable individuals who are departing the NWIPC receive the care they need to move forward with dignity," she said. "From safe transportation to warm jackets, AIDNW plays a vital role in ensuring that our immigrant and refugee community members have access to the support they need."

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Council Member Sadalge shared his personal connection to the importance of this funding. "As an immigrant myself, I couldn't imagine the difficulties in navigating not only the system on the inside, but being released without any support," he said. "This funding provides resources to people when they're released to ease their ability to get back home."

Council Member Bushnell also stressed the responsibility of ensuring that everyone is treated with basic dignity and has access to fundamental human necessities, regardless of their legal status. "Not being able to call your lawyer or speak with your family, especially while in detention, is simply wrong," he said. "These funds are critical to keeping families connected and ensuring due process."

AIDNW is a non-profit organization that provides hands-on assistance, advocacy, and support to immigrants detained in the Pacific Northwest. Their work is crucial in bridging the gap for individuals leaving detention and helping them navigate their next steps.

The City Council's decision to allocate funding for AIDNW's services demonstrates their commitment to supporting vulnerable individuals in Tacoma and advocating for systemic immigration reform across the country. More information about AIDNW can be found on their website.

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