Department of Justice Taken to Task Over Unconstitutional Actions
City Announces Awards to Assist More DACA Recipients
SEATTLE (December 8, 2017) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and City Attorney Pete Holmes sent a strong response to the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding their November letter threatening to withhold federal law enforcement aid. In addition, King County Council Chair Joe McDermott, King County Executive Dow Constantine and King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg issued a response to DOJ.
“Seattle will not be bullied – we will protect our residents. We have both the law and justice on our side. The Department of Justice’s interpretation is unconstitutional, and it couldn’t be more clear that this is a last ditch effort by this President to impose his will on cities,” said Mayor Durkan. “I am proud that our city will fight for DREAMers, immigrants and refugees, and these organizations will continue to assist DACA recipients.”
“Being an inclusive, welcoming community doesn’t make our region a national security risk – it makes us safer, healthier, and stronger,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “No matter how many threats this President or Attorney General make, King County will proudly uphold the American promise that we are a nation of opportunity.”
“Our city is united in opposition to these unethical policies. I stand firm in my conviction to challenge President Trump and the Department of Justice on their unconstitutional interpretation of the federal law and their selective misrepresentation of our municipal law. I stand ready to see them in court again when needed,” said City Attorney Pete Holmes.
“Our immigrant and refugee community is an essential part of the fabric of our city. We must protect anyone living and working in Seattle from this administration’s repeated and unsolicited attacks. When we do so, we, in turn, strengthen our entire community” said Councilmember M. Lorena González (Position 9, Citywide) who is the Chair of the Safe Communities Committee.
Following September’s announcement by the Trump Administration that they would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in March 2018, the City of Seattle’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) quickly convened a roundtable of organizations, and the City announced a one-time $150,000 award for education and outreach support effort for the immigrant community.
With these funds, the Mayor announced several awards to support efforts to provide legal assistance, education, and outreach support to DACA recipients. The recipients include:
• 21 Progress ($5,000)
• Entre Hermanos ($5,000)
• El Centro de la Raza ($25,000)
• Inter-Community Peace and Justice Center ($2,500)
• Korean Community Service Center ($8,000)
• Northwest Immigrant Rights Project ($7,500)
• OneAmerica ($5,000)
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