ACTION GUIDE
In response to increased Immigration Customs and Enforcement’s harm to our communities
A living document and action guide born from our Community Forums on Immigration. Please share and join these actionable steps in response of increased ICE presence and harm to our communities.
INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
Report - save Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network’s (WAISN) hotline to your phone to report all ICE related arrests and sightings 844-724-3737.
Do not ask or inquire about people’s immigration status.
Join local Rapid Response Teams – WAISN is looking to expand their services in Whatcom County and offers rapid response trainings and Know Your Rights trainings.
Donate to and volunteer for organizations organizing and providing direct service:
Immigration Resources Immediate Support (IRIS) - legal fees, basic needs.
Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) - trainings, reporting, bond funds
Racial Unity Now (RUN) - legal fees, direct service
Vamos Outdoors Project - mental health wellness through outdoors activities
A Watered Garden Family Learning Center - community resource center
Skagit Legal Aid - eviction support, legal support/advocacy, language access
Bellingham Occupied Protest - mutual aid
Food Not Bombs - food access and mutual aid
Build trust with your communities
Get to know your neighbors.
Consistently show up to support affected populations, recognizing that it takes time to build trust. Do it not to reward your ego but to help.
Volunteer in school buildings and prioritize spending time with youth dealing with the negative impact of ICE actions.
Use your positions of privilege to speak up for human rights by rallying, protesting. An example is a community-led rally every Friday at 4-6pm in front of the Ferndale holding facility at 5200 Pacific Highway.
Show up to cities and county council sessions to learn more, provide public comments, and engage with elected officials.
GRASSROOTS LEVEL
Strategically organize stealthily (go underground as needed)
Join and create mutual aids to address hyper specific needs
Get involved with local grassroots organizing with organizations like C2C
Connect community members to trusted resources.
Meet with elected officials to develop trusted relationships with them in order to influence and create policy change.
NON-PROFIT LEVEL
Create and sustain safety spaces for affected populations.
Convene and support grassroots and organizations responding to recent ICE actions.
Create and share internal policies that address responding to potential ICE actions that may affect immigrants and communities of color.
Fund mental health responses to ICE action in schools, community groups, and local clinics.
Fund organizations and grassroots efforts addressing the needs of affected populations, including multi-year funding for sustainability.
Directly fund legal responses to ICE actions.
Arch of Healing and Reconciliation
SYSTEMS LEVEL
Uphold the United States Constitution’s 14th amendment in your response to increased ICE presence and action
School districts, school buildings, universities, and colleges
Create a response plan in case ICE shows up in district, school, universities, and colleges buildings
Create an action plan to respond to families impacted by ICE actions
Make volunteering an easy and accessible process by streamlining the inquiry/application process and employing a volunteering coordinator.
Cities, County Government, Justice System
Exhaust all legal recourse to protect County population negatively impacted by ICE actions. If ICE is engaging in actions that are in direct harm to the community and/or go against the law, respond swiftly and take necessary legal actions
Approve/enact laws and other policies that would require ICE officers to identify themselves to ensure transparency and protection
Repeal any policies and practices that harm immigrant and migrant populations.
Re-assess and operationalize recommendations made by the Immigrant Advisory Board.
Present findings and recommendations from the KWWA Workgroup to the community through multiple forums, aiming at reaching the entire county.
Provide more communication to community partners and orgs on compliance to the KWWA.
Language Access: publicize all interpreters and interpretation services on city and county sites. Fill the gap of language access for (Mixteco and all variants, Aguacateco, Chalchiteco, Mam, Triqui, Dari, Pashto, Qʼeqchiʼ, Kʼicheʼ, Qʼanjobʼal, Poqomchi, Arabic, Punjabi).
Meet with grassroots leaders to create trusted relationships with them in order to influence policy change and/or create policy change.