Dear members of the WA Congressional Delegation,

We are entering a new chapter in our democracy, one made possible by the tireless work of grassroots leaders, Black, Latinx, immigrant and AAPI voters. The last four years were painful and challenging for our communities and the new 117th Congress presents a critical opportunity to stand up for immigrant communities everywhere.

It starts with supporting legislation and a budget strategy that will: • create a roadmap to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants without burdensome requirements that disadvantage immigrants based on English proficiency, income, religious belief, race, ethnicity, gender and sexual identity; • protect the principle of unifying families in the family visa program; • work towards ending harmful immigration detention and enforcement programs; • restore the United States of America’s standing in the world, by restoring and improving our refugee and asylum systems and increasing admissions.

We urge you to publicly state your support for including legalization of undocumented essential workers in COVID relief either through the reconciliation process or another avenue.

Our immigration system is outdated and needs an overhaul to reflect the values we hold close to our hearts as a nation: opportunity, unity, and freedom.

As such, we the undersigned, request your urgent attention to passing immigration relief as quickly as possible in the 117th Congress. Immigrant communities have waited decades for relief and the time is now. Each of our districts represent the diversity, resilience, and value of our immigrant neighbors and families. We stand with them and urge swift action.

Thank you,

Lisa Callan, State Representative – 5th Legislative District Sam Cho, Commissioner – Port of Seattle Jeannie Darneille, State Senator – 27th Legislative District Mona Das, State Senator – 47th Legislative District Debra Entenman, State Representative – 47th Legislative District Brenda Fincher, Kent City Councilmember Joe Fitzgibbon, State Representative – 34th Legislative District Roger Goodman, State Representative – 45th Legislative District Kirsten Harris-Talley, State Representative – 37th Legislative District Bob Hasegawa, State Senator & Majority Caucus Chair – 11th Legislative District

Patty Kuderer, State Senator – 48th Legislative District Debra Lekanoff, State Representative – 40th Legislative Disrict John Lovick, State Representative – 44th Legislative District Liz Lovlett, State Senator – 40th Legislative District Nicole Macri, State Representative – 43rd Legislative District Timm Ormsby, State Representative – 3rd Legislative District Tina Orwall, M.S.W., State Representative – 33rd Legislative District Jamie Pedersen, State Senator – 43rd Legislative District Strom Peterson, State Representative – 21st Legislative District Alex Ramel, State Representative – 40th Legislative District Emily Randall, State Senator – 26th Legislative District June Robinson, State Senator – 43rd Legislative District Christine Rolfes, State Senator – 23rd Legislative District Cindy Ryu, State Representative – 32nd Legislative District Rebecca Saldaña, State Senator – 37th Legislative District Mike Sells, State Representative – 38th Legislative District Tana Senn, State Representative – 41st Legislative District Sharon A. Shewmake, State Representative – 42nd Legislative District Maria Siguenza, Executive Director, WA State Commission on Hispanic Affairs Tarra Simmons, State Representative – 23rd Legislative District Vandana Slatter, State Representative – 48th Legislative District Jamila Taylor, State Representative – 30th Legislative District My-Linh Thai, State Representative – 41st Legislative District Sharon Tomiko Santos, State Representative – 37th Legislative District Amy Walen, State Representative – 48th Legislative District Lisa Wellman, State Senator – 41st Legislative District Emily Wicks, State Representative – 38th Legislative District Claire Wilson, State Senator – 30th Legislative District