Wenatchee residents join statewide push for immigrant rights in Olympia
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OLYMPIA, Wash. — People carried cardboard cutouts of colorful monarch butterflies and waved flags from different countries. They were chanting “Refugees are welcome here, say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here,” at the Washington State Capitol on Jan. 30.
More than 500 people gathered for the eighth annual Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Day, calling on lawmakers to support immigrant justice campaigns. The event was organized by the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN), a coalition that provides support services across Washington state for immigrants and refugees.
A group of 31 people went to represent Wenatchee on behalf of their community.
For many people in the group, it was their first time in Olympia. Among them was 8-year-old Zoe Mondragon, who wore a monarch butterfly cape during her visit. Immigrant rights advocates have used the monarch butterfly to represent the resilience of immigrants traveling to new places.
“Estoy ayudando a la gente que no tiene documentos y cuando crezca ya voy a ser gobernadora y creo que aquí voy estar,” Mondragon said.
In English, this translates to,“I am here to help people who are undocumented. One day, when I am governor I will be at the capitol.”
The group left Wenatchee at 5 a.m. to drive to Olympia. The group got together before the rally to plan how they would ask their representatives to expand resources for everyone, regardless of immigration status.
Gerardo Guerrero led a group to speak with state representatives. His parents immigrated to Wenatchee from Mexico. His family inspired him to travel to Olympia to advocate for immigrant rights.
“I feel like I was manufactured in Mexico but assembled in the United States. Both of my parents come from Mexico. I really got a deep appreciation for essentially looking at your community and figuring out, hey, what can I do to make this a better place than before I arrived?”
One bill the group pushed for includes the Health Equity for Immigrants Act, House Bill 1482. If passed into law the bill would provide more funding for Apple Health Expansion, a medicaid program for undocumented workers and Cascade Care.
Advocates also pushed for the Wage Replacement Program for Excluded Undocumented Workers, House Bill 1773 and Senate Bill 5626. If passed, it would provide up to $600 per week for 26 weeks to undocumented workers who are ineligible for unemployment benefits despite paying into the system.
“Right now if you are undocumented you do not qualify for undocumented health benefits. With this bill people have access to a steady income if something unexpected happens,”said Guerrero.
At the Capitol, other state representatives, including Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self, chair of the Latino Democratic Caucus, joined the group.
“We are asking every state official to make a statement to defend Washington working law. If they cannot stand up and defend it you will know what side they stand on,” said Ortiz-Self.
She introduced the Keep Washington Working Act which is a law that prohibits law enforcement from enforcing federal immigration laws, such as detaining undocumented immigrants.
Earlier in the day, the group received threats that immigration enforcement agents might show up. The Wenatchee group said it was important for them to show up for the community with hundreds of others.
Teresa Bendito said the group took safety measures and wanted to represent the people who could not be there.
“It was really important for us to show that we are also a proof that community saves community and that we are stronger when we are together,” said Bendito.
Reneé Diaz may be contacted at Renee.diaz@wenatcheeworld.com. Collaborative reporting by The Wenatchee World, NWPB and Murrow College of Communication Newsroom Fellowship.
