Celebrating Legislative Wins for Immigrants

Thank you to Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network for this image, celebrating $33.7M to support newly arrived migrants and asylum seekers as well as HB 2368.

The Church Council partners with Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) and other immigrant rights organizations to advocate for laws at the state level that affirm and protect the dignity of immigrants in our communities. Thank you to all whose advocacy made these successes possible. We share in celebration an abbreviated report from WAISN:

Exciting news!! This year brought major legislative victories for immigrants in Washington state. Funding was secured to expand health care access for low-income individuals, support newly arrived immigrants and asylum seekers, provide unemployment insurance for undocumented workers and others.

We secured $25M in the budget to support newly arrived migrants and asylum seekers! This will go to the Washington Department of Social and Health Services Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance (DSHS ORIA) to provide support services including housing assistance, food, transportation, childhood education services, education and employment supports, connection to legal services, and social services navigation.

The Legislature also allocated $7.5M for the Department of Commerce for grants to King County and the City of Tukwila for transitional and long-term housing support and $1M for community & technical colleges to expand existing educational programming for refugees and immigrants, removing restrictions based on eligibility for federal refugee resettlement services

HB 2368 designates DSHS ORIA as the agency that coordinates statewide support to immigrants and refugees, clarifying its authority to Administer services to immigrants ineligible for federally funded services.

HB 1889 updates state laws to allow all Washingtonians to receive professional licenses and certifications regardless of immigration or citizenship status.

HB 1541 increases access and representation in policy-making by requiring legislative task forces, work groups, and advisory committees to include at least three people with direct lived experience on issues affecting underrepresented populations.

HB 1228 establishes and expands dual language and tribal language education programs in schools, honoring and respecting cultures and languages.

Lastly, $350K is secured for legal services, training, outreach, and education to immigrant workers who are victims of labor violations.