King County Executive Dow Constantine recently introduced positive reforms to the inquest process that addresses how investigations of the death of an community member at the hands of law enforcement are conducted. “On behalf of our members throughout King County, OneAmerica strongly supports the positive steps taken by the King County Executive to strengthen accountability and sensitivity to the needs …
By Sarah Sumadi It’s often while anxiously waiting in line at U.S. ports of entry that legal permanent residents first think about applying for citizenship. Returning to the United States after a trip abroad is especially stressful, because re-entry isn’t guaranteed. Immigration officials inspect residents’ green cards while reviewing their full background file and questioning them about their travel, and …
OneAmerica joins the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) and others to launch the Campaign to Tear Down the Second Wall and to relaunch Naturalize NOW Campaign. These efforts take a stand against recent anti-immigrant actions taken by the Trump Administration and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in order to protect and build power for the immigrant community. OneAmerica …
Earlier this year, Washington State enacted the Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA). Under previous state law the majority of Washington’s local governments were required to use at-large voting in general elections. So, the same majority of voters can decide the result for every council or school board seat in a town, city, or county. As a result, some communities, …
By Bonnie Stern Wasser, Staff Attorney, OneAmerica How might Judge Brett Kavanaugh rule on immigration cases if confirmed to the US Supreme Court? A review of the slim number of immigration cases he has written about provides a little insight as to how he might view the powers of the Executive and Congress to create and carry out the immigration …
This post updates two prior posts on the President’s Executive Order and on the #WalkAMile Week of Action. A federal court in San Diego mandates that children be reunited within 30 days. On June 27, a federal court in San Diego issued a national injunction in the ACLU’s class action lawsuit against the Trump administration’s separation of children. The injunction …
from the desk of Bonnie Stern Wasser, Staff Attorney, OneAmerica On June 20, 2018, the President issued an Executive Order (EO) strangely named “Affording Congress an Opportunity to Address Family Separation.” The EO was issued in the wake of public uproar after CBP and ICE started separating children from their parents as part of Attorney General Sessions’ “zero tolerance” policy. …
OneAmerica partnered with a vibrant coalition of allies (#FamiliesBelongTogetherWashington) to organize a week of sustained action against family separation caused by the Trump administration’s policy of zero tolerance against migrants seeking asylum at the southern border. The intensity of support from the broader community across Washington State was uplifting–even as the United States Government defended its policy of ripping children away from their …
As of July 1, the Washington Department of Licensing has begun issuing driver licenses and IDs that comply with federal REAL ID Act requirements. For now, the only change Washington residents will notice is that newly issued Standard Driver Licenses and IDs will have the marking “Federal Limits Apply.” This new marking will have no impact until October of 2020. …
As one of the leaders of Front and Centered — a coalition of organizations of color fighting climate change starting with equity — OneAmerica has signed onto a statement supporting Washington state Initiative 1631. Our organization’s support of I-1631—and our work to advance environmental justice, more broadly—arose from the needs of our community. Over the years, we’ve helped shape the development of …
