>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THE MARCH 27th, 2025
MEETING OF
THE LIBRARIES, EDUCATION AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER.
IT'S 9:31 A.M. I'M MARITZA
RIVERA, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE
ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> HERE.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE- CHAIR
RINCKE.
>>
PRESENT.
>> CHAIR
RIVERA.
>> PRESENT.
>> FIVE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA WILL
BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED.
THERE ARE TWO ITEMS OF BUSINESS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
WE HAVE THE APPOINTMENT
OF JANET CEBALLOS TO THE
FAMILIES
EDUCATION PRESCHOOL AND
PROMISE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
AND AN
UPDATE FROM THE OFFICE
OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS
ON
THE STATUS OF
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ACTIONS.
WE WILL NOW OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD
RELATE TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR
WITHIN
THE PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE.
CLERK, HOW
MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED
UP TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE NO
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND NO REMOTE
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS,
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
CLOSED. WE CAN PROCEED TO OUR
ITEMS OF
BUSINESS.
CLERK, WILL
YOU PLEASE CALL TODAY'S FIRST
AGENDA ITEM INTO
THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM
1. APPOINTMENT 303 # TO
9, APPOINTMENT OF JANET CEBALLOS
AS
MEMBER OF THE FAMILIES EDUCATION
PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR A
TERM TO DECEMBER 31, 2026.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK.
THIS APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN READ
INTO THE RECORD.
I BELIEVE MISS CEBALLOS IS
JOINING US VIRTUALLY TODAY.
BUT I DON'T SEE HER.
IS SHE ON THE?
SHE IS
ON. GREAT.
WELCOME, MISS CEBALLOS.
JANET HAS MORE THAN 20 YEARS
OF EXPERIENCE AS A SOCIAL WORKER
IN KING COUNTY.
SHE RECEIVED HER MASTERS OF
SOCIAL WORK FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND HAS
HELD
ROLES AS A SOCIAL SERVICE
MANAGER
FOR THE ALZHEIMER'S FOUNDATION,
MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER
FOR PROVIDENCE HEALTH IN
SEATTLE,
A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER AT
THE HIGH LINE SCHOOL DISTRICT,
AND
IS CURRENTLY SERVING
AS A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. IN HER ROLE, JANET
DELIVERS DIRECT MENTAL HEALTH
AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SERVICES
TO STUDENTS AND IS EXPERIENCED
IN CRISIS PREVENTION AND
INTERVENTION.
JANET IS BRINGING A WEALTH OF
PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT
AND EXPERIENCE TO THE
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND I
REALLY WANT
TO THANK
HER FOR AGREEING TO SERVE AND
VOLUNTEERING HER TIME.
JANET, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A
COUPLE OF WORDS?
>> HERE I AM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE A PART
OF THIS COMMITTEE.
AND I HOPE
I CAN WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH
EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU,
JANET. AND I KNOW YOU WILL.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
VOLUNTEERING. I ALWAYS SAY
THIS, AND I AM GOING TO SAY IT
AGAIN.
THESE ARE VOLUNTEER
POSITIONS, AND WE VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE
FOLKS' WILLINGNESS TO JUMP IN
AND HELP WITH THESE
IMPORTANT ISSUES AND GIVE
OVERSIGHT TO THIS IMPORTANT
LEVY.
SO THANK YOU FOR AGREEING
TO
SERVE.
COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
NO?
ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
VICE-CHAIR RINCK.
MOVED AND SECONDED
TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
ALL RIGHT.
WILL
THE CLERK FLEES CALL THE ROLL ON
THE CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>>
AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>>
YES.
>> VICE-CHAIR
RINCK.
>> YES.
>> AND CHAIR RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK.
THANK
YOU, JANET, FOR BEING HERE THIS
MORNING.
WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THE LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
IT. APPRECIATE
IT.
>> AND THIS
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION WILL BE
GOING TO
FULL COUNCIL AND THEN YOU,
WHERE
YOU WILL BE CONFIRMED BIT THE
FULL COUNSEL. SO THANK YOU.
>> WONDERFUL, THANKS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CLERK, WILL YOU -- WELL --
WE ARE WAITING FOR DIRECTOR
MOHAMED TO JOIN US.
I AM GOING TO CALL FOR A
FOUR- MINUTE RECESS TO GIVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP FROM
HER
OFFICE.
IT IS
9:36. WE WILL RECESS UNTIL 9:40.
[ RECESS ]
>>> IT'S 9:41 A.M.
AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE RECESS
UNTIL 9:52 A.M. TO GIVE DIRECTOR
MOHAMED AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET
HERE. SHE HAS -- WON'T BE ABLE
TO
JOIN US UNTIL THEN.
WE HAD A QUICK MEETING THIS
MORNING, QUICK PART OF
THE FIRST HALF OF THE MEETING,
SO
SHE WILL BE HERE
MOMENTARILY. SO
WE'LL RECESS TO 9:52. THANK
YOU.
[ RECESS ] .
>>> ALL RIGHT.
COLLEAGUES AND THOSE WHO MAY
BE WATCHING THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE.
IT'S 9:53 WE ARE READY TO
RESUME
OUR LIBRARIES, EDUCATION AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE MEETING.
CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>>
PRESENT.
>> VICE-CHAIR RINCK.
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> PRESENT.
>> WE HAVE FIVE COUNCILMEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK.
ALL RIGHT.
COLLEAGUES, WE ARE JOINED BY
HAMDI MOHAMED, DIRECTOR OF
THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE
AFFAIRS, DIRECTOR MOHAMED
WILL BE GIVING AN UPDATE.
I WILL SAY, COLLEAGUES, THAT AS
YOU KNOW, THIS COMMITTEE
OVERSEES FOUR DEPARTMENTS,
AND SO WHAT I TRY TO DO IS
ROTATE
THE DEPARTMENTS AND
THEN, OF COURSE, DEPENDS ON WHAT
MIGHT BE
COMING UP AND WE HADN'T HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OUR GREAT
FRIENDS AND PARTNERS AT
THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE AFFAIRS
YET. AND THEN WHEN I
WAS SPEAKING WITH DIRECTOR
MOHAMED, IT
SEEMED IN BRINGING THE
DEPARTMENT
THROUGH CHAMBERS AT THIS
COMMITTEE, IT MADE MOST SENSE
GIVEN THE CLIMATE TO GIVE AN
UPDATE ON ALL OF THE THINGS
THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE
IMMIGRATION
SPACE, PARTICULARLY
REGARDING ALL OF THE CHAOS AND
REALLY THE
TERRIBLE THINGS THAT
ARE HAPPENING AS A
CONSEQUENCE OF THIS -- THE
ACTIONS OF THIS LATEST
ADMINISTRATION.
SO, MOHAMED, DIRECTOR
MOHAMED, I'M GOING TO TURN IT
OVER TO YOU
TO GIVE AN UPDATE.
THEN IF YOU HOLD YOUR
QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES, THEN
THERE WILL
BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR QUESTIONS
AND
COMMENTS AFTER DIRECTOR MOHAMED
GIVES HER UPDATE.
GO AHEAD.
WHY DON'T YOU STATE YOUR
NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THEN YOU
CAN
START YOUR UPDATE
DIRECTOR. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE THIS
MORNING.
>> THANK
YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING,
HONORABLE
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
AND MADAM CHAIR
RIVERA, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
FOR
THE RECORD, MY MAIM IS
MOMENTUM MOHAMED.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
AFFAIRS.
I AM JOINED BY OUR COMMUNICATION
MANAGER HAROUN WHO
WILL
INTRODUCE HIMSELF SHORTLY AND
ALSO WILL PROVIDE UPDATES
REGARDING
COMMUNICATIONS. BEFORE I BEGIN,
I WANTED TO GIVE A HUGE THANK
YOU
TO COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOR
YOUR STEADFAST LEADERSHIP AND
FOR
ELEVATING THESE CRITICAL ISSUES.
OUR DEPARTMENT IS IN
YOUR COMMITTEE AND YOU
CONSISTENTLY ASK QUESTIONS OF
OUR
DEPARTMENT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO
ENSURING THAT
BOTH CONSTITUENTS, YOUR
COLLEAGUES HAVE TIMELY
INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN A
PRIORITY OF YOURS.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
I ELEVATE THAT AND THANK
YOU BECAUSE THESE ARE UNUSUAL
AND CHALLENGING TIMES, AND
OUR OFFICE IS TRULY PRESSED
RIGHT
NOW AND PEOPLE ARE ASKING
FOR INFORMATION AND IT'S
HELPFUL WHEN WE HAVE OUR
COUNCILMEMBERS
ALSO SUPPORTING THAT AND
EDGE INSURING THAT THEIR
CONSTITUENTS
HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION.
YOU ASK ME FOR THAT AND
I APPRECIATE THAT AND
YOU CONSISTENTLY ASK FOR
INFORMATION TO PASS ALONG TO
YOUR COLLEAGUES
AND IT'S VERY THOUGHTFUL AND I
JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND
SAY THANK YOU.
I HAVEN'T
PRESENTED IN FRONT OF THE
COMMITTEE, BUT I HAVE BEEN
IN FRONT OF COUNCIL SEVERAL
TIMES.
WE PRESENTED ON JANUARY 13,
AND THEN CAME BACK IN FRONT
OF COUNCIL FOR THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION
AND POLICY CHANGE ON
MARCH 6th. SO FOR THE LISTENING
PUBLIC, THIS HAS BEEN,
OBVIOUSLY,
A
PRIORITY OF THIS COUNCIL, AND
OUR OFFICE.
DURING THOSE SESSIONS I
DID PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF
THE EVOLVING IMMIGRATION
ISSUES AND THE LANDSCAPE AND THE
POLICY SHIFTS THAT WE ARE
ALL SEEING AND HOW THAT IS
IMPACTING OUR
COMMUNITY, HOW IT'S
IMPACTING OUR ECONOMY, AND ALSO
HOW
IT IMPACTS THE WAY THAT
OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ENGAGING
WITH
OUR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND
FOR BACKGROUND PURPOSES DURING
THAT TIME I DID SHARE LABOR
ABOUT
WHAT WE SAW HAPPEN IN
2016 AND THEN THROUGHOUT 2020
FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WHERE THERE WAS A NUMBER OF
EXECUTIVE
ORDERS THAT WERE INTRODUCED,
FAMILY
SEPARATION POLICIES, THE TRAVEL
BAN IN 2017.
THEN AGAIN WE SAW AN ATTEMPT TO
END DACA IN 2017.
THERE WAS THE PUBLIC CHARGE
RULES THAT
DISCOURAGED IMMIGRANTS FROM
ACCESSING SERVICES LIKE HEALTH
CARE AND
HOUSING AND THEN ASYLUM
RESTRICTIONS IN 2019, THE REMAIN
IN MEXICO POLICIES AND SO FORTH.
THOSE SIMILAR POLICIES ARE BEING
REINTRODUCED.
FAST FORWARD TO
TODAY, THE RECENT EXECUTIVE
ORDERS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN
PLACE, AND
I
HAVE SHARED THIS ON JANUARY
20th, 2025, PRESIDENT TRUMP DID
SIGN A SERIES OF EXECUTIVE
ORDERS.
THERE WAS THE EXPEDITED REMOVAL,
THE FEDERAL STATE AGREEMENT
TRYING TO HAVE
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVE AS
IMMIGRATION
OFFICERS. THE SANCTUARY
JURISDICTIONS THREATENING TO
STRIP
FEDERAL FUNDS FROM CITIES THAT
ARE
DEEMED SANCTUARY CITIES.
INFORMATION SHARING,
SECTION 18- A, INCREASING
PRESSURE ON
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
SHARE IMMIGRATION STATUS, AND
THEN
SECTION 20 WHERE THEY
INTRODUCED THE DENIAL OF PUBLIC
SERVICES CUTTING ESSENTIAL
SERVICES
FROM UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
SO ALL OF THOSE EXECUTIVE
ORDERS WERE INTRODUCED.
A LOT OF THEM ARE BEING
CHALLENGED IN COURT. AND THERE
IS MANY THAT
I, OBVIOUSLY, DID NOT STATE, BUT
I DO WANT TO REMIND US ALL
THAT DESPITE THESE FEDERAL
ACTIONS, STATE LAWS DO REMAIN IN
PLACE
IN WASHINGTON STATE.
THE KEEP WASHINGTON
WORKING ACT IS STILL IN PLACE.
THAT LIMITS LOCAL
COLLABORATION WITH FEDERAL
AGENCIES, IMMIGRATION LAW
ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT A JUDICIAL
ORDER, THERE IS THE COURT'S OPEN
TO ALL
ACT PUT IN PLACE GUARANTEEING
PUBLIC ACCESS TO COURTS
REGARDLESS
OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
ITS POLICIES IN PLACE ENSURING
THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING
IMMIGRATION STATUS OF OUR
RESIDENTS
TO ACCESS SERVICES OR TO
REPORT THINGS LIKE CRIMES
AGAINST
THEMSELVES. SO I SAY THAT TO SAY
THAT THESE
POLICIES ARE IN PLACE AND I
KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF
MISINFORMATION THAT OUT THERE.
SO SO JUST A REMINDER.
AGAIN THE EXECUTIVE
ORDERS THAT WAS INTRODUCED BY
THIS FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION, THE FEDERAL
PRESIDENT TRUMP,
THOSE, A LOT OF THOSE EXECUTIVE
ORDERS ARE
BEING CHALLENGED IN MULTIPLE
COURTS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. LEGAL EXPERTS AND
CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS ARGUE THAT
MANY OF THOSE
EXECUTIVE ORDERS
VIOLATE
CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS AND
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS AS
WELL.
COURTS HAVE HISTORICALLY CHECKED
EXECUTIVE OVERREACH, AND
WE EXPECT THAT TRADITION TO
CONTINUE.
AND SO OUR OFFICE CONTINUES
TO TRACK THOSE POLICY CHANGES
AND
WE KNOW THAT
OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL, A.G.
BROWN, IS
ALSO CHALLENGING A LOT OF
THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AS WELL
OR IS A
PART OF THOSE LAWSUITS.
AND THEN I WANT TO SAY
THAT REGARDLESS OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE
EXECUTIVE ORDERS, WE DO
SEE THE CHILLING EFFECTS,
THE CONFUSION IN OUR IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES
ARE AFRAID TO ACCESS ESSENTIAL
SERVICES, GO TO WORK, OR
EVEN SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.
I KNOW YOU ARE HEARING
THAT. WE ARE HEARING IT AS WELL.
AND SO LOCAL CITIES ARE
STEPPING UP, CITIES AND COUNTIES
ACROSS THE NATION ARE WORKING
TO COUNTER THE CHILLING EFFECT
BY
INCREASING OUTREACH, LEGAL
SERVICES, AND KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
EDUCATION, AND WE
ARE COMMITTED TO ALSO DOING THE
SAME TO
PROTECTING OUR
RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF
IMMIGRATION STATUS AND MAKING
SURE THAT THEY FEEL
SAFE AND SUPPORTED AND THAT THEY
HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION.
AND I WANTED TO ALSO JUST
SHARE AND MAYBE I HAVE IN THE
PAST,
TOO, THAT SECTION 17 OF THE --
OF TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE
ORDER ON SANCTUARY JURISDICTION,
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS IN A
JOINT
MULTIJURISDICTIONAL LAWSUIT
CHALLENGING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S ATTEMPT TO
DENY FEDERAL FUNDS.
DEPUTIZE LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT FOR FEDERAL
IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT, AS OUR
CITY ATTORNEY ANNE DAVIS STATED
THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE OF FEDERAL
OVERREACH INTO LOCAL
CONTROL, AND THOSE LAWSUITS
REFLECT OUR
CITY'S STANCE THAT THE
DECISIONS
IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY MUST BE
MADE AT THE LOCAL TO LEVEL
AND NOT THROUGH POLITICAL
PRESSURES
FROM D.C.
AND SO WE'RE TRACKING THAT
LAWSUIT AS WELL.
AND SEATTLE JOINED OTHER
JURISDICTIONS LIKE OUR
JURISDICTION KING COUNTY,
PORTLAND, SAN FRANCISCO, NEW
HAVEN IN THESE LEGAL CHALLENGES.
ONE UPDATE THAT I WAS NOT ABLE
TO SHARE DURING THE
PREVIOUS TIMES THAT I HAVE COME
BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE
IS UNACCOMPANIED MINORS AND
LEGAL ACCESS TO AID.
I WANTED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON
THAT.
UNACCOMPANIED MIGRANT
CHILDREN WHO ARE AMONG THE
MOST
VULNERABLE IN OUR IMMIGRATION
SYSTEM HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACK.
ON FEBRUARY 18th THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION ISSUED A SUDDEN
STOP WORK ORDER THAT
HALTED FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
LEGAL SERVICES
SUPPORTING
APPROXIMATELY 26,000
UNACCOMPANIED
CHILDREN, NAVIGATING THE
IMMIGRATION
PROCEEDINGS.
THESE LEGAL SERVICES OFTEN ARE
THE ONLY SUPPORT THAT
IS AVAILABLE FOR MINORS.
SOME WHOM ARE JUST TOO YOUNG
TO COME IN FRONT OF A JUDGE AND
TO SHARE THEIR CASE AND THEIR
ISSUE, AND ARE OFTEN
WITHOUT PARENTS OR ANY LEGAL
GUIDANCE,
GUARDIAN, EXCUSE ME.
FOLLOWING A LOT OF JUST PUBLIC
OUTCRY, OUTREACH TO D.C. AND
CONGRESS, THE ADMINISTRATION DID
RESCIND THE
ORDER FOR THREE DAYS LATER ON
FEBRUARY 21st
ALLOWING LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS
TO TEMPORARILY RESUME SERVICES.
HOWEVER, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS
SHORT LIVED.
THIS LAST WEEK ON MARCH 21st,
2025, THE ADMINISTRATION ISSUED
A TERMINATION OF
THE UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN'S
PROGRAM, UCP, EFFECTIVELY
ENDING FEDERAL
FUNDING FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION
FOR MINORS.
AND THIS IS LIKE --
THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST THINGS
THAT
CAN HONESTLY HAPPEN IN OUR
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOUNG KIDS
COMING BEFORE
JUDGES, YOU MIGHT HAVE
SEEN THEY ARE EXPECTED TO
REPRESENT
THEMSELVES, TO SHARE
WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE AND TO
UNDO THIS IS
UNCONSCIONABLE
AND SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT SEEN,
AND, YOU KNOW,
OUR MAYOR HARRELL SAID IN A
PRESS RELEASE ON MARCH 23rd, I
QUOTE, THE DECISION TO CUT
THE UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN'S
PROGRAM FORCING MIGRANT CHILDREN
AS YOUNG AS 3 YEARS OLD
TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES IN COURT
IS
UNCONSCIONABLE AND STANDS
IN DIRECT OPPOSITION TO OUR
VALUES
AS A WELCOMING CITY.
NO CHILD SHOULD EVER BE PUNISHED
FOR WHERE THEY WERE BORN.
SEATTLE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT
PROVIDE CRITICAL LEGAL
ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING
REPRESENTATION
TO IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE CHILDREN. SOME OF WHOM
ARE THE
MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
AND SO OUR OFFICE IS WORKING IN
COORDINATION WITH A NUMBER OF
OUR -- THE LOCAL
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL BE
AFFECTED BY THIS
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE KIND
IS
HAVING TO CONSIDER SHUTTING DOWN
SOME OF THEIR OFFICES
BECAUSE OF THESE CUTS.
AND SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT
WE MONITOR AND ARE TRYING
TO FIGURE
OUT WAYS TO SUPPORT THEM AT THIS
TIME.
WITH THAT SAID, THE NEXT
STEPS KIND OF OUR COMMUNICATION
STRATEGIES, BUT OUR OFFICE
IS FOCUSED ON TWO THINGS.
ONE IS EXTERNAL, AND INTERNAL
EFFORTS IN RESPONDING TO
THE MANY CHANGES THAT WE'RE
SEEING IN THE IMMIGRATION SPACE.
EXTERNALLY WE ARE
WORKING CLOSELY TO PROVIDE
ACCURATE
INFORMATION THROUGH
TRAININGS, SERVICE PROVIDER
TRAININGS, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS,
RESPONSES TO
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND
JUST WORKING ON BUILDING TRUST
BETWEEN OUR
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND
INTERNALLY WE ARE --
[ NO AUDIO ]
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE
OUR COMMUNICATION MANAGER
TO SHARE MORE ABOUT HOW WE ARE
ENSURING
THAT WE ARE PROVIDING CLEAR
INFORMATION.
COMMUNICATION IS ABOUT
BUILDING TRUST AND MAKING SURE
THAT OUR
RESIDENTS KNOW THEIR RIGHTS AND
WHERE THEY CAN TURN TO FOR
SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HONORARY COUNCILMEMBERS
AND MADAM CHAIR RIVERA, GREAT TO
BE HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE
COLLABORATION AS WELL.
SO I STARTED IN MID- FEBRUARY
AND
BEFORE I HAD
STARTED THERE WAS ALREADY THIS
KIND OF REALLY PRONOUNCED NEED
FOR
MORE COMMUNICATIONS FROM OUR
OFFICE.
AS HAMDI MENTIONED, EXTERNALLY
AND INTERNALLY.
ONE BIG THING THAT WE HAVE
WORKED ON HAS BEEN MAKING
SURE THAT OUR
ANY COMMUNICATION WHETHER OUR
WEBSITE, NEWSLETTER,
SOCIAL MEDIA HAS
VETTED TRUSTED INFORMATION
THAT'S ON THERE
AND THAT'S ALSO LOCALLY
CONTEXTUALIZING WHAT'S
HAPPENING FEDERALLY.
THAT'S OUR APPROACH.
WORKING ON DESIGNING AND
CREATING NEW ORIGINAL
INFO GRAPHICS, FACT SHEETS,
THINGS THAT ARE CONTEXTUALIZING
WHAT
IS HAPPENING TO OUR COMMUNITY
AND PUTTING OUR TRANSLATED AND
ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION AS WELL.
A BIG PART OF MY ROLE NOW,
TOO, IS REESTABLISHING
OUR RELATIONSHIP AND TRUST WITH
ETHNIC MEDIA PARTNERS AS
WELL, AND MAKING -- YOU
KNOW, ACKNOWLEDGING THE MASSIVE
ROLE THAT THEY PLAY
THAT THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THAT
THEY
ARE ALSO WORKING TO VET
AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY PUT
OUT TRUSTED
INFORMATION. WE WANT TO WORK
HAND
IN HAND WITH
THEM. SO THAT'S A BIG FOCUS
RIGHT
NOW AS WELL.
AND AS HAMDI MENTIONED,
IT'S ALSO ENHANCED
CONSULTATION WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE
AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU
KNOW, KEEPING THEM UP TO DATE
ON WHAT'S HAPPENING FEDERALLY
AND THEN ADVISING AT TIMES
TO COMMENT ON CERTAIN
THINGS THAT AS HAMDI MENTIONED,
AND THE
MAYOR'S QUOTE, MAYBE GO
AGAINST OUR VALUES OR OUR, YOU
KNOW,
TRULY
UNCONSCIONABLE THINGS WE HAVE
BEEN SEEING.
THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW
EXAMPLES LIKE THE STATEMENT FROM
MAYOR HARRELL LAST WEEK AND
A PRESS CONFERENCE AROUND THE
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT BAN THAT
WAS --
THERE WAS AN INJUNCTION
IN FEBRUARY AND THE DEPUTY
MAYOR SPOKE AT THAT PRESS
CONFERENCE AND OFFERED SOME NICE
COMMENTS
AS WELL. AND I THINK IT'S
PARTIALLY
THE COMMUNICATION MESSAGING IS
LIKE HAMDI SAID, MAKING SURE
THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS KNOW THAT
THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE
HERE
TO PROTECT THEM EVERY WAY THEY
CAN.
AND ANOTHER WAY
IS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO
REALLY MEET PEOPLE
WHERE THEY ARE AT WITH BOTH SAFE
IN MACHINE PERSON AND VIRTUAL
TRAININGS.
THAT'S INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL.
INTERNALLY, IT'S A LOT
OF TRAININGS AROUND KNOWING HOW
TO
INTERACT WITH FEDERAL
IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT AND DEVELOPING NEW
TRAININGS
BASED ON THE OTHER
SHIFTING LAWS AND ORDERS AND
EXTERNALLY WE HAVE
WORKED WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS
LIKE NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS PROJECT AND OTHER
PARTNERS TO
DO KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAININGS
THAT ENABLE OTHER SERVICE
PROVIDERS TO THEN GIVE
TRAININGS. SO WE HAVE KIND OF
TRIED TO
DO, HAVE A FEW APPROACHES IN THE
TYPES OF EVENTS WE DO SO THE
KNOWLEDGE IS AS SHAREABLE AS
POSSIBLE.
WE ARE DOING ANOTHER
TRAINING FOR OED FOR BUSINESS
OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES SO PEOPLE
AT
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE
COMMUNITY
IN
SEATTLE UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS
AND UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS ARE
SHIFTING AS WELL.
I THINK AS WELL
AS HAMDI MENTIONED,
THE INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS IS
A MASSIVE PART OF THIS BECAUSE
WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE CITY STAFF ARE
EMPOWERED
IN COMMUNITY AS THEY ARE IN
CITY,
YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS AS
WELL, THAT THEY KNOW AS MUCH
ABOUT
THE CHANGING LAWS
AS WELL AND A THEY KNOW ABOUT
THE
PROTECTIONS
LOCALLY THAT WE HAVE IN SEATTLE
AND WASHINGTON AS WELL.
AND ANOTHER PART IS THAT WHEN WE
WORK WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
ARE KIND OF THINKING ABOUT
LANGUAGE
ACCESS AND TRANSLATION AS
A FUNCTION OF A LOT OF
THEIR COMMUNICATIONS AS
WELL BECAUSE WE SEE THAT OUR
CITY IS
REALLY DIVERSE AND WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING
THE INFORMATION IN A WAY THAT
SPEAKS TO THEM.
AND ALSO THAT THAT
ALSO MEANS -- THAT'S PART OF
THE REASON WE TRIED TO BOOST OUR
SOCIAL MEDIA
KIND OF
PRESENCE. I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU
KNOW, LOOKING FORWARD, WE
ARE ALSO CONSULTING VERY CLOSELY
WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON WHAT
OTHER TRAININGS OR, YOU KNOW,
CITY OFFICIAL GRAPHICS OR THINGS
THAT
WE CAN PUT OUT
THAT WOULD BE -- THAT WE CAN PUT
OUR STAMP ON
AND FEEL LIKE IT'S SOMETHING
THAT HE IS COMMUNICATING WHAT
PEOPLE'S RIGHTS ARE.
WE ALSO ARE HAVING
CONSTANT CONVERSATIONS AS HAMDI
MENTIONED, IT'S REALLY A
DAILY CHECKING IN WITH STAFF
AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SEE
WHAT
THE SITUATION IS ON THE
GROUND DAY BY DAY.
I WILL SAY IT'S REALLY BEEN
A CONSTANT PROCESS AND TAKING
IT THAT INFORMATION AND
DECIDING EXTERNALLY HOW WE ARE
GOING TO
COMMUNICATE THAT AND ALSO
INTERNALLY. SO THAT'S KIND
OF BECOME PART OF THE FLOW OF
THINGS IS MAKING
SURE WE ARE CHECKING IN
WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS,
COMMUNITY MEMBERS EVERY DAY AND
DOING THE KIND OF, YOU KNOW,
TANDEM ACT OF
COMMUNICATING THAT EXTERNALLY
AND
INTERNALLY. ALSO THE, YOU KNOW,
MAKING A
LOT OF DECISIONS WITH COMMUNITY
PARTNERS AND WITH MEDIA OUTLETS
AND INTERNALLY ABOUT
WHICH MESSAGES TO ELEVATE ONCE
WE
VET THINGS SO WE ARE NOT
SPREADING FEAR AND GIVING PEOPLE
CONTEXT AS TO HOW THINGS ARE
EVOLVING.
SO, YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW,
THE RENEWED RELATIONSHIP AND
TRUST
WITH ETHNIC MEDIA A BIGGER
BOLSTERED PRESENCE KIND OF
EXTERNALLY AND THEN A
REALLY MUCH DEEPER COORDINATION
INTERNALLY IS KIND OF HOW WE ARE
APPROACHING THINGS WITH
COMMUNICATION.
A LOT OF EVENTS THAT
TRYING TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY
ARE
AT AND TRYING TO BE
VERY SAFE IN HOW WE ORGANIZE THE
EVENTS.
SO THAT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW,
WE KIND OF SEE COMMUNICATION
AS HAMDI SAID, COMMUNICATION
BEYOND JUST MESSAGING.
COMMUNICATION IN
TERMS OF BUILDING TRUST AS A KEY
FUNCTION
OF THIS POLITICAL MOMENT HOWEVER
LONG IT LASTS.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR
MOHAMED AND OSMI FOR BEING HERE
AND SHARING THE INFORMATION.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. I HAVE
DONE OUTREACH.
OUTREACH WAS ONE OF THE
FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I
STARTED MY
CAREER ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO.
AND SO IT CANNOT BE UNDERSCORED
THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING
OUTREACH, PARTICULARLY WITH THE
CHAOS THAT IS
BEING INTENTIONALLY CREATED BY
THIS
ADMINISTRATION, YOU KNOW.
THE IDEA AS A HUMAN AND AS A
MOM,
THE KBRD THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO
TAKE AWAY LEGAL
SERVICES FROM OUR -- FROM
CHILDREN IS
REALLY -- I CAN'T EVEN FIND
WORDS, BUT I'LL SAY
ABHORRENT. I AM GLAD THAT THEY
REVERSED THAT.
BUT THIS IS THE POINT ALL
OF THIS CHAOS TO YOUR
POINT, DIRECTOR MOHAMED, YOU
KNOW, THEY ARE REVERSING THINGS,
BUT
THEN THE CHAOS THAT HAS
BEEN CREATED BY THE INITIAL
PUTTING OUT OF AN
ORDER AND REVERSAL OF IT, IT
HAS LASTING IMPACTS WHETHER OR
NOT IT'S REVERSED.
AND SO I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM
SO GRATEFUL AND I HAVE
SAID THIS BEFORE, I'M GOING TO
SAY IT AGAIN, I FEEL VERY
GRATEFUL FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP,
EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING ON THE
COMMUNICATIONS
PIECE OF THIS AT THIS
MOMENT. IT'S REALLY CRITICAL
BECAUSE
WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE
COMMUNICATING ACCURATE
INFORMATION IN THE MIDST OF THE
CHAOS. THE CHAOS IS BY ZBEE DEE
ZION.
THEY WANT TO CONFUSE PEOPLE.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT FOLKS IN COMMUNITY HAVE
THE PROPER INFORMATION, ALL THE
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAININGS
EQUALLY
IMPORTANT, AND EXTERNALLY AND
INTERNALLY SO THAT OUR
STAFFS THROUGHOUT THE CITY KNOW
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND TOWARD
THAT END I WAS VERY PROUD
TO CO-SPONSOR WITH SARA
NELSON'S LEADERSHIP WITH MY
COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE WHO IS JOINING US
VIRTUALLY, THE SHIELD
LAW THAT WE PASSED
THIS WEEK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE
SHIELDING OUR EMPLOYEES FROM,
YOU
KNOW, NOT -- NOT ENFORCING THE
THINGS
THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO DO
AND REALLY MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE
CONTINUING TO PROVIDE ALL OF THE
SERVICES THAT
WE PROVIDE TO ANYONE WHO IS IN
SEATTLE.
AND SO I AM GLAD TO -- TO DO
OUR PART
THAT WAY. AND I WILL SAY THAT,
YOU KNOW,
THIS IS REALLY, IT HAS BEEN A
ONE
SEATTLE APPROACH. MAYOR HARRELL
SENT DOWN THAT
SHIELD LAW, VERY MUCH IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EXECUTIVE
AND THE COUNCIL, AND EVERYTHING
THAT WE HAVE DONE HAS BEEN
ONEONE APPROACH UNDER YOUR
LEADERSHIP, DIRECTOR
MOHAMED, AND I KNOW THAT WHAT
YOU HAVE
SHARED TODAY IS ONLY
BASED ON OUR
CONVERSATIONS WHICH I BACK TO MY
COLLEAGUES WHEN WEWE CHAT,
I
REPORT BACK USUALLY AT COUNCIL
BRIEFINGS.
I KNOW YOU ARE DOING SO
MUCH MORE EVEN THAN YOU HAVE
SHARED
TODAY IN TERMS OF
COMMUNICATING WITH OUR COUNTY
PARTNERS.
WE HAVE A KING COUNTY
COUNCILMEMBER WHO USED TO BE THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE
NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
PROJECT. SO WE HAVE SOME REALLY
GREAT PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY
AND THE STATE LEVEL UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP
OF GOVERNOR FERGUSON AND,
OF COURSE, ATTORNEY GENERAL
BROWN.
SO WE REALLY ARE ALL WORKING
TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE
STATE AND IN
THE CITY AND IN THE COUNTY ARE
SUPPORTED, AND THAT WE ARE
NOT GOING TO FOLLOW THESE
ABHORRENT EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DECIDED
TO PLAGUE US WITH.
SO I REALLY WANT TO SAY THAT I
VALUE YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
I VALUE EVERYTHING YOU'RE
DOING.
THE BUILDING RELATIONSHIP IS
CRITICAL BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE VERY
AFRAID AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE THE CALM IN
THIS STORM AND THAT REALLY IS --
FALLS ON YOU ALL, AND
I RECOGNIZE THAT, AND ALSO
WE'REWE'RE DOING IT IN
PARTNERSHIP, AND TO
YOU, COLLEAGUES,
AS DIRECTOR MOHAMED SAID
EARLIER, WE ARE
IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION
TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING,
WHERE WE ARE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
SHARING INFORMATION AND TOWARD
THAT END,
DIRECTOR MOHAMED, IF YOU SEND US
FACT SHEETS, OSMY, WE CAN
SHARE BECAUSE WE HAVE
NEWSLETTERS WE SEND OUT SO THAT
FOLKS KNOW WHAT
THE CITY IS DOING, THEY CAN
FEELFEEL ABOUT OUR CONSTITUENTS
CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE WORK,
HARD WORK
THAT YOU ARE TO GO, THE WORK
THAT WE ARE
DOING COLLABORATIVELY WITH
THE COUNCIL, MAYOR'S
OFFICE, DEPARTMENTS ON THIS, AND
THAT
THEY HAVE INFORMATION
THAT THEY CAN SHARE WITH THE
NEIGHBORS AND
FOLKS THAT THEY
ARE INTERACTING WITH ON A
REGULAR
BASIS.
SO MY COMMITMENT TO SHARE
INFORMATION AS WELL.
ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
NO? KOUCHL MOORE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION.
IT WAS VERY
HELPFUL.
ALSO VERY REASSURING TO KNOW
THAT THIS WORK IS GOING ON
AND THAT WE HAVE SUCH A
COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT ALL
OF
OUR IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS ARE
PROTECTED AND WELL INFORMED.
ONE QUESTION I
HAD RELATES TO THE LEGAL
REPRESENTATION FOR
YOUTH AND JUVENILES.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE
PROGRAM NOW, BUT THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION JUST ELIMINATED
FUNDING FOR THE SPECIAL
VISAS, AND I'M WONDERING IF THE
CITY IS
WORKING WITH SOME OF THE
PRIVATE LAW FIRMS TO ENSURE
THAT THERE IS PRO BONO
REPRESENTATION BECAUSE WE KNOW
WITHOUT A
LAWYER IN THE IMMIGRATION
PROCEEDINGS PARTICULARLY WHEN
YOU
HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE 5, 6, 7, 8
YEARS OLD, THEY WIND UP
BEING DEPORTED WHEN MANY OF THEM
ARE ACTUALLY HERE ON AN
ASYLUM, SEEKING ASYLUM BECAUSE
THEY ARE
VICTIMS OF
VIOLENCE AND ABUSE IN
THE COUNTRIES THAT THEY HAVE
FLED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR COMMENTS ALWAYS THAT YOU
PROVIDE TO
ENSURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS
KNOW THAT YOU STAND WITH THEM IN
THESE REALLY CHALLENGING
MOMENTS. AND OUR HISTORY.
THE PROGRAM THAT THEY JUST ENDED
ON MARCH 21ST, THE
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN'S
PROGRAM, UCP, THIS
IS GOING TO HAVE A HUGE,
HUGE IMPACT ON ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE
KIND, KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE,
NIRP, SOME ORGANIZATIONS ARE
HAVING TO ACTUALLY SHUT DOWN
THEIR ENTIRE OFFICE
BECAUSE THEIR FUNDING ALL COMES
FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
THROUGH THE UCP PROGRAM.
SO THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO
ACTUALLY PROVIDE THAT
LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE
CHILDREN THAT ARE GOING
THROUGHTHROUGH
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.
AND LET ME SAY OUR IMMIGRATION
SYSTEM IS A CIVIL SYSTEM AND
NOT A CRIMINAL SYSTEM.
BUT THE TWO
LOOKALIKE. AND SO THE
IMMIGRATION
DETENTION SPACES OR CENTERS,
THEY OPERATE
LIKE JAILS.
AND SIMILARLY, WHEN KIDS
ARE COMING THROUGH THE COURT
SYSTEM, THEY ARE HAVING TO
DEFEND
THEMSELVES IN COURT AND
PROVE THEIR CASE.
AND SO THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN
DO NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
AND SO WE'RE DOING WHAT WE
CAN IN OUR OFFICE.
WE HAVE STOOD UP A RAPIDRAPID
RESPONSE PROGRAM AND HAVE
REDIRECTED SOME OF
OUR CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM DOLLARS
TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES
THAT ARE MORE PRESSING
HAPPENING IN THIS TIME TO MEET
THE MOMENT.
AND WE ARE IN
COORDINATION WITH
KIND AND WE'LL PROVIDE SUPPORT
TO THEM.
IN ALL HONESTY, THE IMPACT IS SO
HUGE AND GREAT THAT WHAT WE CAN
OFFER AS AN OFFICE IS A DROP IN
THE BUCKET.
AND SO WE'RE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT OTHER
CREATIVE WAYS TO
ELEVATE THAT NEED.
SO WE'RE TALKING TO OUR PARTNERS
AT THE STATE.
WE ARE GOING TO -- TO THE
COUNTY, AND THERE IS EVEN
SOME FOUNDATIONS THAT ARE
INTERESTED
IN PROVIDING SUPPORT.
SO TO YOUR POINT, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, THIS IS A TIME
WE
RECOGNIZE THESE ISSUES ARE
REGIONAL AND WE HAVE TO DO COME
TOGETHER TO HELP ADDRESS THEM.
WE ARE THINKING OF OTHER WAYS
TO ELEVATE THE NEED AND BRING
NEW PARTNERS TO THE TABLE THAT
COULD POTENTIALLY SUPPORT.
BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, KIND
IN PARTICULAR IS CONSIDERING OR
IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING
TO SHUT DOWN
THEIR OFFICES BECAUSE OF THE UCP
PROGRAM BEING
RESCINDED OR BEING
TERMINATED.
>> AND I CAN JUST ADD REALLY
QUICK, WE HAVE OUR LEGAL DEFENSE
LDN PROGRAM AND WE ARE STILL
WORKING WITH NIRP AND KIND AS
THINGS ARE SHIFTING.
SO WE ARE REPRESENTING --
WITH THOSE GROUPS REPRESENTING
CLOSE
TO 100 CHILDREN AT ANY TIME.
SO AS THINGS
ARE SHIFTING. BUT AS HAMDI
MENTIONED, YOU
KNOW, THE SHIFTS ARE
EXTREMELY ABRUPT RIGHT NOW.
I
THINK KIND IS ASSESSING AND A
LOT OF THESE GROUPS THAT HAVE
MORE NATIONAL PRESENCES ARE
ASSESSING WHERE THEY CAN
AND REQUEST WORK.
KIND IN PARTICULAR WORKS
WITH 900 LAW FIRMS THAT WERE
HELPING
PROVIDE
THAT PRO BONO SUPPORT. THAT
ENTIRE NETWORK IS
BEINGBEING AND WE STILL
HAVE SOME FUNDING TO STILL HELP
SOME
OF
THOSE GROUPS. BUT AS HAMDI
MENTIONED,
THINGS ARE
SHIFTING RAPIDLY. WE ARE WORKING
ON
RAPID RESPONSE FUNDING TO HELP
THOSE NEEDS AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE PROVIDE
FUNDING THROUGH THE LEGAL
DEFENSE
NETWORK THAT YOU ADMINISTER
THROUGH THE CITY.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE SOME
CHILDREN THAT YOU ARE
SUPPORTING.
ALSO SOUNDS LIKE KIND IS
WORKING WITH PRO BONO ATTORNEYS
TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES AS WELL.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR AT SOME
POINT, DIRECTOR
MOHAMED, I KNOW THINGS ARE
SHIFTING AND
IDS HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE
NEED IS AND
HOW MANY KIDS ARE GETTING CAUGHT
FROM OUR CITY AND, YOU KNOW,
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF KIND IS
TRACKING THIS OR WHO IS
TRACKING WHAT THE NEED IS IN
TERMS OF
LEGAL
SERVICES, FOR INSTANCE. THAT
WOULD BE REALLY
HELPFUL. .
I KNOW IT'S A MOVING PIECE.
SO WHEN THINGS ARE MOVING
AND SHIFTING SO RAPIDLY, IT
BECOMES
HARD TO FIGURE OUT.
BUT YOU ALL HAVE PARTNERSHIPS.
SO LET'S STAY IN TOUCH ABOUT
THAT SO WE CAN GET MORE
INFORMATION TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO BEST SUPPORT, IF YOU
WILL.
THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, DID YOU
HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS?
SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN
TO CUT YOU
OFF IF YOU WERE TRYING TO SAY
SOMETHING.
>> OH, NO.
I JUST WANTED TO JUST EXPRESS MY
HUGE DISMAY AT THE
INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED,
BUT
ALSO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
RAPID
RESPONSE TEAM
AND DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO
TRY TO FILL THE
HOLES.
AND ALSO TO THE
EXTENT THAT COUNCIL CAN BE OF
ASSISTANCE
IN
THAT AROUND DOLLARS, GETTING
MESSAGES
OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, MORE THAN
HAPPY TO
ENTERTAIN THAT.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, VICE-CHAIR
RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA.
AND THANK YOU COLLEAGUES TODAY
FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION.
I WANT TO PUBLICLY EXPRESS
MY HEARTBREAK AND ANGER THAT WE
ARE HERE AND SEEING WHAT WE
ARE SEEING IN THIS MOMENT.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE FOR HER
QUESTION AS WELL ABOUT WHAT
AREARE AND
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ADDRESS
THIS
MAJOR CHANGE IN
OUR SERVICE
ECOSYSTEM NOW. I HAD A SIMILAR
QUESTION ALONG THOSE LINES.
I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND AND
FETA SENSE OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE
TO
BACKFILL THAT LOSS OF
THAT FUNDING FOR LEGAL SERVICES
FOR
KIDDOS. WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IF
THERE ARE
UPDATES SHOULD KIND BE
IN A POSITION WHERE THEY ARE
CLOSING THEIR DOORS, UPDATES
HOW THAT IS SHAPING UP
AND CERTAINLY WOULD LOVE TO KNOW
IF FOUNDATIONS
IN THE PHILANTHROPIC WORLD IS
ABLE TO SUPPORT IN THIS MOMENT.
SO ANY UPDATES ON THAT FRONT
WOULD CERTAINLY BE REALLY
WELCOME. TREMENDOUSLY CONCERNED
ABOUT
THAT.
AND BUILDING ON THAT POINT,
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO CASES
THAT HAVE BEEN GRABBING SOME
HEADLINES SPECIFICALLY AND I
WANT TO NAME LUELLEN DIXON AND
JUAREZ, TWO
CASES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE
REALLY
ACTIVATED A NUMBER OF
MEMBERS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
CASES OF DETENTION, I
BELIEVE BOTH ARE CURRENTLY
DETAINED AT
THE
NORTHWEST DETENTION CENTER IN
TACOMA.
THERE ARE ACTIONS TONIGHT,
CALLS TO ACTION.
I'M CURIOUS.
I KNOW THESE ARE TWO CASES THAT
HAVE MADE SOME
HEADLINES, PARTICULARLY RELATED
TO
WHAT SEEMS TO BE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL DETAINMENT
CANDIDLY.
I'M WONDERING IF YOUR OFFICE IS
TRACKING OTHER CASES OF
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
EXPERIENCING UNCONSTITUTIONAL
DETAINMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
VICE-CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTIONS
AND ALSO YOUR COMMITMENT
TO HELPING ADDRESS THESE ISSUES
AND FOR
STANDING UP THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON ALL THINGS FEDERAL
ADD
ADMINISTRATION POLICY CHANGES.
WITH THE QUESTION ABOUT KIND AND
SOME OF THESE OFFICES
CLOSING, I'M HAPPY TO CIRCLE
BACK AND
SEE IF WE CAN GET YOU GUYS
SPECIFIC
DATA THAT THAT
WOULD BE HELPFUL
FOR YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY
PULLED THAT
INFORMATION YET, BUT HAPPY
TO -- THE SHORT ANSWER IS HAVING
TO SHUT DOWN AN ENTIRE OFFERS
MEANS
HUNDREDS OF CASE LOADS THAT
WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED, AND
THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT
TO DO ABOUT IT AND PARCEL OR --
SO BUT I CAN TRY TO SEE
IF WE CAN
GET THE EXACT NUMBERS THEY ARE
DEALING WITH.
THE QUESTION ABOUT DETENTION.
THERE IS A LOT OF STORIES
WE DEFINITELY HEAR.
THE ORGANIZATION WHITE --
THE WASHINGTON SOLIDARITY
NETWORK, HAS A HOTLINE, AND
THEIR
HOTLINE RECEIVES CALLS FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE
EITHER DETAINED OR KNOW SOMEBODY
GETTING DETAINED AND THEY HAVE
SAID THAT
THEIR CALLS HAVE TRIPLED AND A
LARGE AMOUNT OF THEIR CALLS
DO COME FROM THE CITY OF SEATTLE
IS WHAT NEVER RECENTLY
SHARED WITH US.
I DON'T HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF
THAT DATA, BUT THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT
I CAN ASK THEM FOR AND PROVIDE
PACK TO THE COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU.
WHAT IS CLEAR AS WE ARE
SEEING MORE CASES OF DETAINMENT
WITHIN THE CITY, WE ARE SEEING
A CHILLING EFFECT.
PEOPLE ARE -- THERE IS A CULTURE
OF FEAR AND I KNOW OUR
OFFICE HAS HEARD ABOUT PEOPLE
DECIDING
NOT TO SEND KIDDOS TO SCHOOL OUT
OF FEAR OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN
AND FAMILY SEPARATION.
IMPACTS ARE
SO REALLY. I WANTED TO NAME
THESE TWO
CASES THAT OF
COMMUNITY LEADERS AND
CERTAINLY THERE IS A LOT OF
RALLYING AROUND THEIR CASES,
PARTICULARLY FOR TODAY.
MY SECOND -- PARDON ME,
THIRD PIECE HERE THAT I WANTED
TO
NAME SOMETHING THAT CAME TO
OUR OFFICE'S ATTENTION RECENTLY
RELATED TO DATA SECURITY
AND WE HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT
OF QUESTIONS ABOUT DATA
SECURITY,
CITY-BASED DATA AND I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR STARTING YOUR
PRESENTATION OFF BY NAMING
THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEP
WASHINGTON
WORKING. IT IS TREMENDOUSLY
IMPORTANT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW
AND UNDERSTAND JUST HOW POWERFUL
THAT LAW IS AND IT'S FANTASTIC.
AND IT IS ALSO COME TO
OUR ATTENTION THAT THERE
ARE SOME ELEMENTS OF THIS THAT
COULD PRESENT A CHALLENGE
AND NAMELY I WANT TO SAY IT'S
COME TO OUR
ATTENTION, ANY DATA STORAGE
OUTSIDE
OF WASHINGTON STATE IS NOT
COVEREDDY
KEEP WASHINGTON WORKING.
WE HAVE BEEN FIELDING A NUMBER
OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR
NOT CITY DATA IS SCORED ON
CLOUD-BASED SERVICES.
IF IT IS THAT COULD PRESENT
A CHALLENGE TO TAKE
THAT DATA. WE HAVE SEEN OTHER
CASES
HAPPENING IN CALIFORNIA AND
ILLINOIS WITH
SUBCONTRACTING OUT FOR CLOUD-
BASED SERVICES
AND THAT DATA THEN BEING ABLE TO
BE
TAKEN AND USED BY I.C.E.
AND SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN
SPEAK TO A LITTLE BIT MORE
OF THAT AND PARTICULARLY
IF THERE ARE AVENUES WHERE WE AS
A CITY
CAN EXPLORE TRYING TO FIND
WAYS TO KEEP THAT DATA
WITHIN WASHINGTON STATE SO WE
CAN REALLY EMPOWER KEEP
WASHINGTON WORKING TO DO ITS JOB
AND REALLY
PROTECTING THAT DATA.
>> YEAH. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION.
AND, OBVIOUSLY, DATA
SECURITY BREACHES AND EVEN
CYBERATTACKS
IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE SEEING
ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE AN
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION THAT WE
COULD HAVE WITH SEATTLE I.T. AS
WELL.
BUT THE -- OUR CITY POLICY
THAT SAYS WE DON'T ASK
ABOUT IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS
SHOULD HELP THE CITY FROM
COLLECTING ANY INFORMATION THAT
WOULD
THEN
JEOPARDIZE SOMEONE'S STATUS.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE
ENCOURAGE
AUTOMATIC÷÷ DEPARTMENTS TO DO,
NOT COLLECT THAT INFORMATION.
I WANT TO SAY THAT THE CITY
IS FOCUSED ON USING ITS
RESOURCES
ON CITY BUSINESS BUT THE
CITY DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH
FEDERAL AGENCIES ACTING
UNDER JUDICIAL ORDER OR
OTHERWISE WITHIN
THE
LAW. AND SO WE JUST DON'T
COLLECT THE
INFORMATION.
SO A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION
SHOULD NOT BE STORED IN OUR
SYSTEM.
BUT TO DO A MORE DEEPER DIVE,
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE IFIF WE
CONNECT WITH SEATTLE I.T.
AND PROVIDE YOU WITH A BRIEFING.
MADAM CHAIR, I DON'T KNOW
IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE
IS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION
DISCUSSION OR IF YOU ALL WANT TO
-- IF
YOU WANT US TO MAKE THAT
CONNECTION.
NOT SURE HOW WE START THAT
CONVERSATION BUT I
AM HAPPY TO LOOK INTO IT AND
HELP THE KOURN.
>> APPRECIATE THAT
CLARIFICATION, WHAT LAWS WE ARE
ABIDING BY AND THE DATA
CONGRESSMAN- ELECT THAT IS
HAPPENING.
I WILL SAY THE POINT AROUND
SOME OF THE NEW FORMS OF
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY THAT
HAVE ONLINED AND
THE COMPANY CHUR OF VIDEO. BUT
SOME OF THE THOSE VIDEO
FOOTAGE WHICH WOULD TO
MY UNDERSTANDING BE STORED ON
CLOUD- BASED TECHNOLOGY
AND TECHNICALLY ACROSS STATE
LINES COULD BE VULNERABLE.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE A CONTINUED DISCUSSION
ABOUT
THAT AND WHAT KIND OF -- IF
THERE
IS ANY -- IT SOUNDS LIKE
THERE COULD BE VULNERABILITIES
IN
THAT. SO HOW CAN WE BE ABLE TO
KEEPKEEP DATA STORED IN
WASHINGTON
STATE IS
CERTAINLY THE CONVERSATION I'D
LIKE THIS TO
HAVE.
>> YEAH, THOSE ARE
OBVIOUS SERIOUS CONCERNS.
IF WE CAN BE HELPFUL IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS, HAPPY
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST
ADDRESS
THAT.
>> THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR
RAISING
THAT. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I
WILL
WAYMO LET YOU WEIGH IN, TOO.
WE BOTH HAD
PRIVACY CONCERNS WHEN WE PASSED
THAT
LEGISLATION THAT WE INCLUDED IN
THE
ORDINANCE IN PART BECAUSE OF
THESE PARTICULAR
ISSUES THAT YOU'RE RAISING AND
SOME
OTHER ISSUES AS WELL AS PEOPLE
ARE GETTING REPRODUCTIVE AND
GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE, ALL OF
THAT WENT INTO CONSIDERATION
AND WE PUT SOME SAFEGUARDS INTO
THE
LEGISLATION.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I KNOW
YOU
WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS AS
WELL. I'LL LET YOU.
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU.
I SAW AN ARTICLE ABOUT I THINK
SOME JURISDICTIONS
COOPERATING WITH I.C.E. AND
THEIR DATA.
I HAD BEEN REALLY CONCERNED
ABOUT THAT VIS-A- VIS
ALPR. SO I DID PUT IN SOME
ADDITIONAL
PROVISIONS RELATING TO
CONTRACT TERMS BECAUSE THE
CONTRACT IS
STORED ON THE CLOUD, NOT IN THE
STATE.
SO I PUT IN SOME ADDITIONAL
PROVISIONS RELATING
TO NOTIFICATION AND HAS
REQUIRING THAT AS A
TERM THE CONTRACT THIS HE AGREE
NOT TO SHARE
THETHE AND TO KEEP US APPRISED
IF THEY
WERE -- SUBPOENAS.
BUT WE RECENTLY FOLLOWED UP
AFTER READING AN ARTICLE IN
"THE GUARDIAN" AND RECEIVED THE
MESSAGE FROM BRIAN MAC, THE --
WHO IS OUR VENDOR, THAT THEY
DO NOT SHARE ANY OF OUR DATA
WITH THIRD PARTIES, WHICH
WOULD INCLUDE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. THAT IS THEIR
COMPANY POLICY. IT'S ALSO BAKED
INTO
OUR CONTRACT SPD'S CONTRACT FOR
ALL DATA, NOT JUST
ALPR PER THE ORDINANCE AND ALSO
PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED CONTRACT
LANGUAGE.
SPD DOES NOT SHARE ALPR DATA
WITH ANY THIRD- PARTY
COMPANIES. THEY HAVE NOT
RECEIVED ANY PDR,
SUBPOENAS, WARRANTS OR OTHER
REQUESTS FROM ANY PARTY FOR
ALPR DATA SINCE WE WENT LIVE
LAST
YEAR. AND THEY DO NOT RESPOND
TO
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS
PER LAW AND POLICY.
SO AGAIN I THINK THERE IS
ALWAYS
ROOM. WE ALWAYS NEED TO BE
VIGILANT
AND MINDFUL ABOUT DATA BEING
SHARED AND I DON'T SHARE
THAT INFORMATION TO MINIMIZE
THIS AS A
CONCERN. JUST TO PROVIDE A
LITTLE BIT OF
REASSURANCE THAT WE ARE PAYING
ATTENTION AND TO DATE
DATA PER POLICY AND LAW IS
NOT BEING SHARED.
BUT AGAIN SOMETHING THAT WE DO
CONTINUE TO NEED TO BE VIGILANT
ABOUT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE.
AND THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THERE
BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID,
YOU AND I WERE VERY MUCH ACTIVE
WHEN
THIS -- WE WERE GOING
TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE WERE PROTECTING
FOLKS
AS PART OF THAT, THE ALLOWANCE
FOR THAT TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY.
SO, I DID WANT TO SAY
ALSO THAT I WANTED TO MENTION
THE TWO
CASES THAT COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK YOU RAISED.
ALFREDO JUAREZ
FROM SEDRO- WOOLLEY AND THEN
LUELLEN
DIXON
FROM PIERCE COUNTY. AND SO THOSE
ARE TWO FOLKS.
BUT THEY ARE OUTSIDE
OF SEATTLE, BUT THAT ARE CAUGHT
UP IN THIS.
BUT THAT'S JUST TWO OF MANY,
MANY PEOPLE, AND OF
COURSE WE HAVE SEATTLE RESIDENTS
WHO
ARE ALSO CAUGHT UP IN THIS,
AND WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN AND
I
AGAIN APPRECIATE ALL YOUR
EFFORTS
THERE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO BEST SUPPORT THE NEED IN
SEATTLE.
AGAIN, CAN YOU
CLARIFY BECAUSE THE
UNACCOMPANIED
MINERS, THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE WAS
REVERSED IN
TERMS OF
TAKING THE LEGAL
ASSISTANCE AWAY. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE -- THIS IS THE
POINT,
FOLKS. SINCE THERE IS SO MUCH
CHAOS, I
AM BACK AND
FORTH. PEOPLE, EVEN WE MIGHT
NOT HAVE THE LATEST.
SO I WANT TO SAY AGAIN
FOR THE RECORD THAT THIS
WAS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT HAD
BEEN
ISSUED AND IT RECENTLY GOT
REVERSED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
DAYS.
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR,
FOR THAT
QUESTION. IT IS CONFUSING, AND
IT CAN
CONFUSE US BECAUSE THERE IS
MEMOS AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT GET
INTRODUCED AND OVERTURNED AT
TIMES.
SO WHAT HAPPENED, THE
TIMELINE IS ON FEBRUARY 18th THE
LEGAL
AID WAS HALTED. THEY BASICALLY
PUT OUT A STOP
WORK ORDER, AND THEN
THE ADMINISTRATION THEMSELVES,
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION,
THEN RESCINDED THAT THREE DAYS
LATER, AND THEN NOW THIS LIST --
ON
MARCH 21, THIS PAST WEEK, THEY
PERMANENTLY TERMINATED THE
UCP PROGRAM AND
PUT IT TO AN END. SO IT WENT
BACK AND FORTH.
BUT AS OF NOW THEY'VE CUT ALL
OF
THE FUNDING FOR THE UCP PROGRAM,
WHICH IS THE UNACCOMPANIED
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM WHICH IS A
FEDERAL PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
UPDATE BECAUSE AGAIN IT'S LIKE
THE
BACK AND FORTH OF -- IT
SEEMINGLY EVERY
DAY, IT'S HARD TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT'S WHAT, AND IT'S
IMPORTANT TO GET THE
INFORMATION
OUT THERE. SO THANK YOU FOR
CLARIFYING.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
>>
AND I THINK YOU HAD SOMETHING?
>> I WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING ON
BEFORE.
AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
VARIOUS I.C.E. RAIDS IN MEDIA
AFFECTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
IT'S
DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
TRACKING VERY HEAVILY
LOCALLY AND THEN ALSO ON A
BROADER FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL SO
THAT WE'RE SEEING KIND OF WHERE
IN
TERMS OF LIKE THE KNOW YOUR
RIGHTS TRAININGS INTERNALLY AND
EXTERNALLY, WE ARE
MAKING SURE THE TRAININGS
ARE AS ADAPTIVE AND REFLECTIVE
TO
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TERMS OF
RAIDS OR
CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE PEOPLE
ARE -- HAVE AS UP TO DATE
KNOWLEDGE IN TERMS OF
THEIR RIGHTS AND
ALSO WE ARE SHARING AGAIN LIKE
MESSAGING THAT
MAKES SENSE
WITHOUT TRYING TO SPREAD ANY
FEAR.
BUT I THINK THAT WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE PEOPLE A
SENSE OF THE
RIGHTS THAT THEY HAVE AND THE
GRAY AREAS THAT ARE KIND
OF
COMING OUT OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
ALSO, JUST HOW WE
ARE WORKING TO -- TO
COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE'S POINT, WITH OUR
PARTNERS WITH
KIND, NIRP, OTHERS ON WHAT DO
WE DO NOW THAT THEY
HAVE ELIMINATED THE UCP.
THAT'S ALL REALLY
CRITICAL, OBVIOUSLY.
AND SO WE'LL KEEP PARTNERING
AND WE'LL -- I'M SURE -- I
WILL --
MY COMMITMENT IS TO MAKE
SURE WE KEEP OUR LINES OF
COMMUNICATION
OPEN, DIRECTOR MOHAMED
WHO I'M SHARING WITH.
COLLEAGUES, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO WAIT TO GET INFORMATION FROM
ME.
EVERYONE CAN REACH OUT
TO DIRECTOR MOHAMED DIRECTLY.
KNOW WE ARE IN REGULAR CHECK-
INS TO GET MORE
INFORMATION. AS I LEARN MORE, I
WILL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO
SHARE.
SO, YES, GO AHEAD, DIRECTOR
MOHAMED.
>> IF I COULD JUST SAY I
APPRECIATE THE GRACE YOU
GUYS GIVE BECAUSE IT IS AN
EVOLVING
SPACE AND THE
IMMIGRATION POLICIES ARE --
WE'VE
ALL HEARD IS
THE TERM OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM
IS
BROKEN. AND SO IT'S --
THE POLICIES CHANGE.
THEY
EVOLVE. THEY LOOK SIMILAR
TO EACH OTHER AT TIMES ACHBLTD
SO THEY'RE
EASY TO GET CONFUSED.
SO I APPRECIATE
THE GRACE THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE
AND
THE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE
CLARIFICATION AND, MADAM
CHAIR,
YOU ALWAYS ARE THINKING ABOUT
YOUR COLLEAGUES AS YOU ASK
ME FOR INFORMATION AND ARE
ALWAYS BEING THOUGHTFUL AND
MAKING
SURE THAT YOU -- WE
GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION SO THAT
YOU CAN
ALSO ACCURATELY GET THAT
INFORMATION OUT TO YOUR
COLLEAGUES.
AND SO IT'S A POSITIVE
AND HEALTHY CHANNEL OF
COMMUNICATION
THAT WE HAVE, AND I WILL
TRY TO DO MY ABSOLUTE BEST TO
MAKE
SURE THAT WE GIVE YOU THE
INFORMATION
THAT YOU
NEED SO THAT EVERYONE HAS TIMELY
INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MOHAMED.
I KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK
TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS
AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE EN
CARE OF AND THAT WE HAVE THE
INFORMATION. MORE IMPORTANTLY,
THAT YOU ARE
PROVIDING THE SERVICE TO FOLKS
IN COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THAT'S THE
POINT. AND WE CAN SIT HERE AND
TALK
ABOUT HOW WELL WE WORK
TOGETHER, AND WE DO, AND THAT IS
IMPORTANT, SO THAT'S WHY WE
WANT
TO SHARE HOW WELL WE
ARE WORKING TOGETHER FOR FOLKS
THAT
ARE
VIEWING.
LIKE, WE ARE ALL IN THIS
TOGETHER.
WE ARE.
AND EVERYONE IS
GIVING FOCUS TO THIS AT THE CITY
AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO.
AND IT IS EVER EVOLVING, BUT
I
FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WITH YOU
THERE AND YOUR TEAM, YOU
ARE DOING A GREAT JOB
KEEPING APPRISED AND WITH OUR
EXTERNAL
PARTNERS, YOU WORK SO
WELL WITH THE EXTERNAL PARTNERS
THAT WE ARE GETTING
AS BEST INFORMATION WE CAN GIVEN
THE CHANGING
EVERYDAY LANDSCAPE.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF
YOUR EFFORTS, COLLEAGUES.
UNLESS ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS, I WANT TO THANK
DIRECTOR MOHAMED AGAIN AND ASMI.
I WILL DO ONE THING
BECAUSE MY CLERK REMINDED ME
THAT
WE NEVER READ THIS ITEM INTO THE
RECORD.
APOLOGIES FOR THAT.
SO CLERK, CAN YOU READ THE ITEM
INTO THE RECORD?
>> FOR CLARIFICATION THIS
ITEM THAT WAS DISCUSSED WAS
AGENDA ITEM 2
STATUS OF FEDERAL
IMMIGRATION ACTIONS FOR BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK.
AGAIN, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR
MOHAMED.
THANK
YOU OSMI FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU ALL.
ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES.
SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS
THIS CONCLUDES THE MARCH 27,
2025, MEETING OF
THE LIBRARIES, EDUCATION AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE.
COLLIES, AS YOU KNOW, WE
ARE GOING TO BE STARTING OUR
SELECT COMMITTEE FOR THE
FAMILIES, EDUCATION PRESCHOOL
PROMISE
LEVY.
THE LIBRARIES, EDUCATION AND
NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE MEETINGS WILL BE
PAUSED SO THAT WE CAN
TAKE UP THAT WORK.
THERE WILL BE PROBABLY ONE
MORE OF THE LIBRARIES, EDUCATION
AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE
MEETING BETWEEN NOW AND THE END
OF JUNE
WHEN WE ARE LOOKING INTO THE
LEVY, DOING OUR LEVY WORK TO
PROBABLY TAKE CARE OF SOME OTHER
APPOINTMENTS.
BUT THIS WILL PROBABLY --
THE SECOND-TO- LAST COMMITTEE
MEETING
UNTIL THE END OF JUNE
AFTER WE ARE DONE WITH OUR LEVY
COMMITTEE WORK.
ALL
RIGHT. IF THERE IS NO FURTHER
BUSINESS,
THIS MEETING WILL ADJOURN.
HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS,
IT'S VI.C.1044 A.M. AND THIS
MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
[ MEETING ADJOURNED ]