Spokane Community defends immigrants, demands solutions
60 Organizations across Washington call for immigrant protections, decry federal overreach.
On June 11th, 2025, the Spokane community peacefully protested to demand the release of two young asylum seekers. ICE refused to release them. Then, in the early morning of July 14th, federal agents arrested 9 individuals who had participated in that constitutional act of public witness. These arrests represented a significant escalation by the federal government to stoke fear and stop future actions in defense of our immigrant neighbors in Spokane and across the country.
These actions don’t just harm individuals—they undermine our shared values and the trust that makes Spokane a city where we all belong.
On Wednesday September 10, we held a press conference to hear from immigrant leaders, impacted individuals and community leaders, who will decry federal overreach and demand the Community Solutions outlined in the collective statement below. You can see coverage in the Spokesman here: 60 Washington organizations call for protections for immigrants, decry federal overreach
60 organizations and 1,000 community members signed onto seven demands, calling on the City of Spokane, Spokane City Council, Spokane County Commissioners, state elected officials, philanthropic partners and community to take these actions for the safety and rights of immigrant families and advocates:
- Defend immigrants from the administration. Research and implement promising, effective and innovative strategies to protect our immigrant community and allies from federal overreach, including legislation to require that ICE agents identify themselves and provide valid judicial warrants, and conducting regular Freedom of Information Act requests to find out who ICE is detaining in our city and on what grounds.
- Publicly request that the charges of the 9 individuals arrested be dropped. Protect the advocates, protesters and community members from future attacks by the federal government.
- The City of Spokane and Spokane County create and assist in distributing official signage specifying resident’s and businesses’ right to refuse entry without a warrant.
- The City and County of Spokane, along with philanthropy and civil society create a community fund of at least $500,000 to be used for emergency aid in the form of crisis support, direct services, and mutual aid for immigrant communities and administered by an organization with ties to immigrants.
- Publicly support House Bill 1056/SB5066, the AGO Investigations and Reform Bill at the state legislature and provide enforcement of the Keep WA Working Act by expanding the authority of the Attorney General to investigate patterns and practices of misconduct of law enforcement and local agencies through legal action.
- Pass the City of Spokane Non-Public Areas Ordinance, to create a private right of action to prevent ICE activity on public right-of-ways and designated, permitted private events.
- Ensure the Spokane Police Department and Spokane County Sheriff protect the right to peaceful protest by:
- Providing clarity on how decisions are made during interagency response and when incidents occur within Spokane City limits. In these cases, the Spokane Police Department should retain clear authority.
- Avoiding preemptive shutdowns of protests or use of force against demonstrators engaged in peaceful protest, and providing clear and transparent rules of engagement before, during and after protest activities.
- Providing immediate transparency on communication and deescalation tactics and process including when and how the department and City of Spokane chooses when and when not to use said tactics.
The full list of signatory organizations is below, which includes churches, direct service providers, and advocacy organizations
Asians for Collective Liberation & Asians for Collective Action
Creole Resources
Fuse Washington
Latinos En Spokane
Manzanita House
Mujeres in Action
Muslims for Community Action & Support
Nuestras Raíces Centro Comunitario
Peace & Justice Action League of Spokane
Spokane Alliance
Spokane Community Against Racism
Spokane Immigrant Rights Coalition
Spokane Regional Land Bank
Waters Meet Action Fund
Yoyot Sp’q’n’i
Fix Democracy First
Faith Action Network
Odyssey Youth Movement
Rogue Heart Media SPC
Spokane Community Organized Response Network
SHAWL (Sovereignty, Health, Air, Water, Land)
Family Counseling Northwest
Citizen Nine26
Veterans For Peace, Spokane Chapter #35
Washington Coalition for Police Accountability
I Did The Time
SIMBA
Trending Northwest
Northwest Health Law Advocates
Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN)
Grace Commons Spokane
Colbert Presbyterian Church
Westminster United Church of Christ
Seeds of Power
Whitworth Office of Church Engagement
Greater Spokane Progress
Jasmin Ministries / Maranatha
Refugee & Immigrant Connections Spokane
Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Greater Washington and North Idaho
Shadle Park Presbyterian Church
NAACP
Our Natural Homes
Health Equity circle
Spokane Indivisible
Episcopal Diocese of Spokane
Latino Community Fund of Washington State
Muslims For Community Action And Support
Asian Counseling and Referral Service
Experience Matters
NAACP of Thurston County
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington
Refugee and Immigrant Connections Spokane
Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund
WA Partners for Social Change
Washington Coalition for Police Accountability