City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 04/07/2026 11:50 AM PDT
Dear District 4,
As we begin the new year, many of us had the chance to gather across Tacoma to celebrate Lunar New Year, sharing food, traditions, and time together as a community. It was a joy to attend these events and see families and neighbors come out to celebrate, including the lion dancers who brought energy and excitement to each gathering.
This edition of our newsletter is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the immigrant and refugee communities that are such an essential part of Tacoma. Their contributions, cultures, and experiences make our city stronger and more vibrant. We are proud to highlight how the City of Tacoma continues to support these communities and to reaffirm our commitment to being a welcoming place where everyone can thrive.
Tacoma has come together to say loud and clear that we support our immigrant and refugee neighbors, and reject the aggressive and recklessfederal immigration enforcementactivities taken byU.S. Immigration and CustomsEnforcement ("ICE") and U.S. Customs and Border Protectionagents.
This issue is not just policy to me; it is personal. As a foreign-born immigrant who became a naturalized citizen, I understand the anxiety and fear permeating through our community. It is because of that shared experience that I have worked with my Council colleagues to take a thoughtful, proactive approach—one that focuses on what we can do to protect our neighbors, rather than offering false hope regarding federal jurisdictions we cannot control.
That is why I sponsored Resolution 41844 directing the City Manager to create the Immigration Resources Web page. This web page includes links to immigration-related resources from many state and national organizations, as well as local resources for assistance in Tacoma. It also includes information on statements and actions by the Tacoma City Council, including links to Resolutions and statements by the Council.
This information is not a full and complete list of all resources; rather, it is intended to assist and support community members by providing access to some of the information and resources publicly available. It will be updated periodically as information becomes available.
The intersection of local, state, and federal immigration laws is undeniably complex and the City Council is committed to working with all levels of government to protect our neighbors and uphold every individuals’ constitutional rights. The facts are simple: some protections can only happen at the state or federal level. That’s why we dedicate so much energy to our advocacy work.
This legislative session, the City of Tacoma has been front and center in testifying in favor of state laws that support immigrants and civil rights in Washington state. I spoke in favor of House Bill 2597, which concerns remedies for violations of federal constitutional rights occurring during immigration enforcement, and Senate Bill 6286, which relates to the state’s ability to fine private detention facilities that deny entry to the Department of Health for an inspection. The City maintained a full list of bills we tracked on our immigration resources web page and I want to express my heartfelt support to every community member who used their voice this session to advocate.
While not all bills passed, there are accomplishments worth celebrating. Four Immigration and Detention related bills that passed both chambers in the 2026 legislative session and were signed by the Governor.
Law Enforcement Facial Covering Restrictions:Senate Bill 5855 prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties, while allowing limited exceptions for officers working as undercover operatives or as part of a special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team, and establishes a civil cause of action for individuals detained in violation of these requirements.
Immigrant Worker Protections:House Bill 2105 establishes the Immigrant Worker Protection Act, creating notice, access, and anti-retaliation standards for employers during federal Form I 9 or related employment-record audits and limiting voluntary disclosure of worker records without legal process.
False Identification as a Peace Officer. House Bill 2165 establishes the gross misdemeanor offense of False Identification as a Peace Officer and specifies how a person commits the offense.
Driver Privacy Protections. Substitute Senate Bill 6002 establishes comprehensive limits on when agencies may use automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems, prescribes retention periods for ALRP data collected, and limits the sharing of ALPR data.
Progress will only be possible by working together, and I am endlessly grateful to have so many committed policy leaders coming to the table seeking change.
Many issues close to home require federal action. My colleague Council Member Olgy Diaz recently stood side-by-side with Congresswoman Emily Randall during her Community Vigil at Tacoma NW ICE Detention Center. I am thankful to Congresswoman Randall for her leadership on the Oversight Committee.
Last month, the City Council traveled to Washington, D.C. for the National League of Cities conference. We met with our entire federal delegation and used this opportunity to discuss the importance of strong federal oversight at the NorthwestICE Processing Center, advocating for accountability, transparency, and respect forthe rule of law and human dignity.
Social media is a great place to build community and connect with like-minded people, but it’s also rife with misinformation. Here are some of the real answers to questions I get every day about how the City of Tacoma is working to support immigrants and refugees.
Question: Why is the City using resources to support ICE?
Answer: We don’t! State law does not allow local police to coordinate with ICE, and in February 2025, we built on requirements from the Keep Washington Working Act so that zero city resources are used to do ICE's job.
Question: Why isn’t Tacoma passing a moratorium against ICE detention Centers like Seattle and other cities have this year?
Answer: We already have! A decade ago, we rezoned the land under the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) to prevent expansion. GEO Group sued us, and the City of Tacoma won. We capped their footprint. Tacoma’s model is what other municipalities should follow.
Question: Why isn’t Tacoma standing up to ICE and the federal government?
Answer: We’re partnering with other local governments in the courts. The City of Tacoma has joined amicus briefs in cases that affirm the constitutional right of local and state governments to control their own law enforcement and prevent unauthorized military deployment in our communities.
Question: Why doesn’t the City end its contract with ICE and cancel the lease for the Northwest Ice Processing Center?
Answer: The City of Tacoma does not now, or in the past, have any contracts with the GEO Group, Inc. or the NWIPC to operate the facility. We do not own the land and we do not lease it out. The only agreement with the NWIPC is for the City to provide fire protection services to the facility (which I support – detainees should be protected in the event of a fire emergency).
Question: Why don’t you repeal the Northwest ICE Processing Center’s business license?
Answer: We cannot revoke the business license to close a federal facility. I hear the community asking us to use our local business licensing to shut down the NWIPC. We have looked at this exhaustively. The hard reality is that under the U.S. Constitution, federal operations supersede local regulations on this issue and we do not have the authority to close the facility. If we tried to revoke that license, it wouldn’t close the facility.
Question: Why don’t you take symbolic action to show the community you’re fighting for them?
Answer: I won't trade safety for a headline. Losing a federal lawsuit drains taxpayer dollars that we are currently using to help fund actual legal aid for detainees. We are taking a thoughtful, proactive approach based on what we can legally control.
Tacoma is the City it is because of our rich culture and diversity, and we showcase this so proudly here in District 4!Our own district recognized the importance of celebrating, educating, and sharing the diverse cultures that call District 4 home when the people who make up the District voted to fund cultural programming with participatory budgeting funds.Now, more than ever, it’s so important that we continue to do so! Below are a few snap shots of events I was able to join so far this year.
I attended the Tet Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebrationat the Eastside Community Center.
Rain or shine, the Lincoln District Lunar New Year Celebration is always packed with people excited to see lion dancers and fireworks. It was great to have so many local leaders join us in District 4 for this celebration.
I attended the Asia Pacific Cultural Center’s New Year Festival.
I co-sponsoredResolution No. 41757 which provided funding to Advocates for Immigration Detention Northwest (AIDNW) to support their operations of a Welcome Center outside the Northwest ICE Immigration Center (NWIPC). Earlier this year I visited the Center to learn more about how they support individuals released from the NWIPC.
Thank you to the Asia Pacific Cultural Center for putting on a fantastic Chinese Spring Festival!
There are many immigrant-owned businesses in Tacoma, particularly in District 4. Thank you to City Manager Hyun Kim for joining me in to visit a number of businesses and learn about how Tacoma can work for them.
It was great to see the 2026 Rally for Peace and Welcoming event at Lincoln High School. I can always count on the Tacoma Refugee Choir to orchestrate a beautiful event of art and culture!
I attended the Global Community Event at Birney Elementary. This special event celebrates the rich cultural diversity of our school community—Birney Elementary is home to many multilingual students representing 17 languages across more than 20 countries. I was invited to read a culturally relevant book to a class and choose Dear Little One by Nina Laden.
