Immigration

DelBene Sends Letter to DHS Demanding Answers on Iranian-Americans Being Detained at Border

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-1) led a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “to obtain more information regarding the holding of Iranian Americans in secondary inspection upon entering the United States in Blaine, Washington” over the weekend. The letter is co-led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-7), and Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA). The letter…

DelBene Announces State of the Union Guest

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene announced that Yasmin Ali of Redmond will be her guest at the State of the Union address on Tuesday evening. Ali, an American Muslim who immigrated to the U.S. from India over 25 years ago, currently serves on the Education Committee of the Muslim Association of the Puget Sound (MAPS), a diverse community organization she helped establish. "Yasmin…

In Case You Missed It: “Local immigrants, lawmaker blast Trump administration over new asylum rules”

| Posted in Press Releases

On Monday, Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) joined asylees, immigration lawyers and advocates to rally against the Trump administration’s orders to no longer process asylum requests for victims of domestic or gang violence. DelBene was joined by Maikol Alvarado, a recent high school graduate who came to the U.S. with his mother and three siblings from Honduras after their father was killed by…

DelBene Signs Discharge Petition on Immigration Bills, Urges Republicans to Follow Suit

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene signed a bipartisan discharge petition that would force a vote on multiple immigration bills, including the DREAM Act, which would grant legal status to certain undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children.  “President Trump and Paul Ryan have promised Dreamers and all Americans that they would pass meaningful immigration…

Protect Our Dreamers

| Posted in eNewsletters

Dear Friend, This past week, the President decided to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This action is cruel, heartless and does nothing to secure our borders or fix our immigration system. Nearly 800,000 children brought to this country by their parents have known no other home than the United States, including more than 17,800 right here in Washington…

Locals protest as Trump orders end to ‘Dreamers’ protection

| Posted in In the News

President Donald Trump on Tuesday began dismantling Barack Obama’s program protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children, declaring he loves the “Dreamers” who could face deportation but insisting it’s up to Congress, not him, to address their plight. Trump didn’t specify what he wanted done, essentially sending a six-month…

Editorial: Congress must act quickly to protect Dreamers

| Posted in In the News

No one should be surprised that President Trump would seek to end President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Promising a hard line on immigration issues on the campaign trail, Trump made only the mildest statements of support for the 800,000 Dreamers protected by the program since taking office, promising they could “rest easy,” and that he would show “great heart”…

Members of WA Delegation Condemn President Trump’s Decision to End DACA; Call for Protecting Dreamers

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to President Trump, led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), members of the Washington congressional delegation, including Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Representatives Adam Smith (WA-09), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Denny Heck (WA-10) and Derek Kilmer (WA-06), urged President Trump to reconsider his…

Washington lawmakers on Trump's DACA decision

| Posted in In the News

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has joined a handful of AGs nationwide who are promising to challenge the Trump administration’s move to end DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. “In my view though, as cruel and inhumane as the action is, there’s one other problem with it. I think it’s illegal," AG Ferguson said on Tuesday.  He hasn't revealed details about…

DACA recipients, supporters rally in Skagit County

| Posted in In the News

Drivers honked and people beat drums in downtown Mount Vernon on Tuesday as dozens lined the intersection of Third and Kincaid streets to protest a decision announced earlier in the day by President Donald Trump that could affect up to 800,000 young immigrants living in America — some of them in Skagit County. It was the first of two rallies held near the Skagit County Courthouse…