September 28, 2024 Dena Jensen

Link to ‘Introduction – An imposition of indignity: the tale and trail of Bellingham’s immigration board suspension ordinance’ : https://noisywatersnw.com/2024/02/23/introduction-an-imposition-of-indignity-the-tale-and-trail-of-bellinghams-immigration-board-suspension-ordinance-noisy-waters-northwest/

Chapter One

First, some fresh news

Bellingham City Council Member Hannah Stone will be presenting an ordinance at Monday’s City Council, September 30, 2024 Committee of the Whole meeting, that would dissolve the Immigration Advisory Board. People can attend the meeting which starts at 1:00 p.m., and the topic of dissolving the board is also on the agenda for the Council’s regular meeting at 7:00 p.m that night.

There is an option for community members who attend in person to make public comments at the evening meeting. Council agendas currently note, “Remote public comment via Zoom has been suspended until further notice. Exceptions for those requiring an accommodation for disability may be made.”

Council Member Stone is recommending a vote to approve the ordinance which caps off months of silence about the fate of the board – which began meeting in June 2020 – since Council Members had taken their final vote to suspend IAB meetings in February of this year. Council Member Stone had first suggested a pause of the IAB to its members the preceding December.

Stone’s proposal follows months of closed-door meetings related to matters surrounding the IAB that were held between Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund, one of her deputy administrators, Janice Keller, and two City Council members, Jace Cotton, and Stone herself. IAB members who have not been allowed to meet since their January meeting this year, were not included in any of these meetings, nor in the decision to propose dissolving their board.

The ordinance to dissolve the board comes in opposition to reassurances made by various Council Members prior to the vote to suspend Immigration Advisory Board meetings, that the intent of the suspension was not to discontinue the IAB itself.

This past January, a list of proposed next steps that Deputy Administrator Keller had drafted was presented by her to City Council Members publicly while they were considering suspending IAB meetings. Included among the 5 items on the list were the following bullet points:

“Ordinance update: Determine updates needed to the IAB ordinance, with selected IAB members, to be presented to Council for consideration.  

“Appointment process: Determine application and appointment process, with selected IAB members.”

These steps were never taken.

According to City Council practice, there should be three of City Council’s regular and/or committee meetings where this ordinance – along with an accompanying resolution to form a limited-term workgroup focused solely on one aspect of work the IAB had been previously doing – will be considered, with the third and final meeting likely resulting in a deciding vote on them. Monday’s Committee of the Whole and regular Council meetings will make up two of those three.

Now, on to what IAB members have had to say

Government agencies currently hold established and formidable platforms for projecting their own accounts about their actions and intentions. On the other hand, community members continue the struggle to add context, call for accountability about actions and the tales our governments tell, and to find belonging within democratic structures. The struggle becomes particularly demanding when part of the story told by our governments serves to further marginalize communities who are already marginalized .

While they remained meeting as the most recent members of the Immigration Advisory Board, 7 people of color – out of 8 filled positions – had their voices, perspectives, and recommendations recorded at monthly government meetings of their board before those were suspended early this year. The second to the last time this happened was on December 19, 2023 where the stage was set by Council Member Stone, formerly a Council liaison to the IAB, of presenting board members with her suggestion that there be a pause to the operations of the board and requesting their responses.

To help resurface and amplify the responses of Immigration Advisory Board members to Stone’s suggestion that night, along with their thoughts about the significance of their roles serving the City, I will be updating this blog post over the next few weeks with transcriptions of some of the members’ remarks at their December and January meetings.

Editor’s note: Acoustics and microphones in the meeting spaces do not always lend well to being able to clearly hear each word, or even many words of certain speakers. And my own limiting, English language-speaking background may put me at somewhat of a disadvantage in picking up some words of people who speak numerous languages fluently. However, I will be devoting focus and attention to getting words and their intended meanings correct and I’ll include links to the specific meeting recordings from which the remarks came, so others can listen for themselves.

Selected remarks of IAB Member Tara Villalba beginning at 00:35:00 during the December 19, 2023 Immigration Advisory Board meeting:

[Speaking to Council Member Stone] “I want to – I want to ask about something that you said. Well, first, I’m glad you’re here. Thank you for coming. You said – you had said breaking point. You also said a pause – is it necessary to pause? And so, I am personally concerned that the City is considering pausing the work of the IAB, or discontinuing the IAB.

“My experience, in the year that I’ve been on this board, has been that the City says things, but then, either doesn’t follow up on it, or does something different from what the sentiment was of the words that they used.

“And so, I am worried and apprehensive hearing those words, that, you know, that 1. Last month that Council Member Martins described the IAB as a hot potato that nobody wants to touch, and then after that, seeing either Janice or Council Member Martens here, and then you coming saying those things, it makes – it makes my heart drop at what there – what is in store for us that we don’t know, because it’s – because it’s so opaque how the City wants to deal with us.

“And I want to offer a reminder that, like Lelo said, we are not – we’re not on opposite sides trying to fight each other. The City passed a resolution that we have a public health crisis because of racism, and because of the housing shortage, and because of the climate crisis – that we have these public health crises that is making our lives very difficult. 

“And the City was trying – what I understand before I joined this board was that the City wanted to make some forward movement on addressing those crises, by trying to – especially racism – by trying to bring the communities closer that are impacted by racism and by climate change and by the housing crisis – but bring them closer into the City, so that the City’s responses could be better informed and more deeply grounded in the community that are impacted by those crises.

“That’s what I see as the context of our work and our existence. The community organizations that pushed for an immigration resource – or an Immigration Advisory Board, they were also trying to address the public health outcomes from racism and from climate change. They are also trying to stem the damage that racism is wreaking on our community.  

“So I don’t think we are at odds. But I think that people’s, you know – systemic racism is making people who have power afraid of people who are asking to make the power accountable and transparent and moveable, and to be able to move the resources, which is the problem to begin with. The problem is that the resources aren’t going to the places that are impacted. “

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Selected remarks of IAB Member Homero Israel Jose Garrido beginning at 00:17:45 during the December 19, 2023 Immigration Advisory Board meeting:

“Well, it is important that we work together with the City, because as a community that’s the right way to do it. There are a lot of non-profit organizations that been working with people we know – housing, and people in need, and immigrants.

“But the work that we’re trying to achieve as a board is, like – well, we have – every subcommittee has its own work, but in the case the of the resource center is, I think, is a key to keep working on that, because especially, like at the participation of the City, [indistinguishable] – it means a lot for the community.

“Is, though, like we don’t want to see another nonprofit coming with that idea, because we got back to the basics of every member whose idea – the words come to mean to the well-being of the whole community. And by paying their taxes, they are doing their part.

“And a response of the – a chief response from the City would have been to achieve a better way to – I understand a [indistinguishable]. And the disconnection, I think, the frustration – that sometimes it happens is because the pace that this is moving way too slow, make it feel like it’s being done on purpose, or there’s something going on/not happening.

“But you know, the part we have of the plan – like a layout, a whole vision – we keep waiting on the City to continue the work, that it belongs to them. It’s just the friction that we do have, I think it should stop, should – shouldn’t be there. We should work together, but sometimes showing the City the progress that we are expecting on the process, because sometimes we do feel that we are out of the loop.

“We don’t know what’s – I mean, we don’t – we’re not getting the explan- – the whole process, so we don’t know how far we are [indistinguishible] or not.

“And I mean, I think a simple part, that, like, what we have in [indistinguishable] board that we have to trust to each other. It is really important. That’s the basic bond of that of the City on any board, not just this board.”

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Selected remarks of IAB Member Imanat Kang beginning at 00:17:45 during the December 19, 2023 Immigration Advisory Board meeting:

“I’d love to add on to what [indistinguishable] said and Homero said. I think, like, going back to the tensions between the board and the City, with a lot of new members like me, Jian, Daniel, and Gabriella, we’re kind of, like, lost when it comes to the tensions. And I think that we kind of get, like, pulled into them. But yet we’re kind of confused.

“Like, personally, I think I can’t speak for anyone else, but I – but [indistinguishable] Homero said, this is a big city that have a lot of influence on outer cities in Whatcom County, and I think, like, it’s just like what we do can influence a lot of what they do. And then a lot of people that live in Bellingham do go work out in those other communities, and if they can’t feel safe with where they work, how can they feel safe with where they live? – is what I’m kind of stuck on.

“It’s like, is well, working you spend so much time out there. I know we don’t have a big influence on what they do, but I think it always starts with what we’re doing. And I think with so many new members on the board – and we would all love, even the old members, to kind of get over that tension and kind of build towards what we want to build in Bellingham.”

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Selected remarks of IAB Member Jian He beginning at 00:23:00 during the December 19, 2023 Immigration Advisory Board meeting:

“Well, first of all, thanks. We appreciate your presence, and a person really appreciate your work that you mentioned as an attorney that [indistinguishable] immigrations.

“And I heard that we have some tensions and conflicts, and inconsistencies with the Board and the City Council from the last month, which I wasn’t able to attend.

“And what we want to point out is that the the City [indistinguishable] says on their website is an advisory office, that we assist the Council and the Mayor office to make decisions, and as in this – as in the IRC meetings, we mentioned that it’s really kind for us to know how we can assist and advise on how the City make decisions. So then we can make our – use our own influence to assist how this process and those terms and those policies is done.

“But one thing, personally, and I believe that’s the case for the board, is that we – it’s hard for us to figure out what’s up to in the Council and what’s up to in the Mayor.

“And if we can’t figure that out, it would be hard for the board, as well. So it’s not like all of us in the subcommittee to know how and in what way and what’s the best way for us to assist how the Council work.

“And that’s why I really appreciate that you can come today. And we can hopefully solve these tensions, and back to a normal track so we can cooperate together to work on the immigration topics around these areas of this city specifically.

“I’m just asking – I know there’s a lot of way for communication between the board and the city organs – and this does not necessarily need to be a [indistinguishable] hearing things that every time there’s a representative come. But I do, I definitely believe that that’s an important way to make sure that we know both – what both sides are doing, rather than we’re completely isolated.

“I think that’s the – how we stop all the conflict and stop all the tensions.  And there’s been a lot of inconsistencies, lot of mistrust, a lot of misunderstanding of these issues.

“And I don’t know where would the Council publish those information because I’d be browsing through the website, and like the public hearings, and public comments part.
But I’m wondering if that’s possible.

“And I don’t know which subcommittees is going to be the role that we can have those specific informations come to us, for either we have represented to that and keep track on what calendars doing, so we know that what’s the progress and in what way we can have our voice get heard.

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Selected remarks of IAB Member Alfredo (Lelo) Juarez Zeferino beginning at 00:28:59 during the December 19, 2023 Immigration Advisory Board meeting:

“Well, thank you for coming, Hannah, and thanks for everybody for attending. I just wanted to say that it’s very important to respect everybody, and that also very important to remember why we are here.

“Myself, I am here because I do believe that together we – that the City, the board, our community, we can create a place

where our community, not just a specific group – like I say, I’m a farmworker, so I don’t just advocate for farmworkers – but everybody to have a place to ask for help, and also a place where they can say what they need to say. And that’s why I’m here.

“And so the thing is, I don’t understand where this tension really is because I don’t really see this as us versus the City.

And I really do you understand that we’re an advisory board for the City. And the immigration advisory – the IRC, the Immigrant Resource Center is like a recommendation, something that our community asked us, and that’s what we’re trying to do.

“And that’s something I’ve been focusing on a lot because I really believe in it and I believe it’s something that we could do as a board because we’re working [indistinguishable]. 

“And so, when the city tells us there’s a – these steps to take to establish that, and it takes a really long time to do it, it’s almost like them just following this, and not really wanting to do it.

“But I think, when we come back to the retreat we did last year, we agreed to be

honest with each other and I just don’t see that. I don’t see a lot of it, okay?

“And again, it’s not when you see us it’s us versus them.  Like, I believe we all should
come together, and together we can do something, I wish – all create something that works for everybody. And so yeah, let’s all just do that.”

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Selected remarks of IAB Member Daniel beginning at 00:44:57 during the January 16, 2024 Immigration Advisory Board meeting:

“I’ve been here for a few months, and I think one of the things that you got to hear the most is miscommunication or no communication at all. And reading through all this kind of makes me, as part of that: no communication. If the board was out of line – we’re not doing our job – we were never approached by anybody from the City: Hey, you guys are not doing what you’re supposed to, or you guys are not in the line with what’s supposed to be.

“So we, we’re doing the best that we can do with the work that our community needs. I come from a migrant family, as well, was brought up here as a kid, and I worked in the fields, and I worked my way to get out of the farm. So I know the needs of my community. I’m also an associate pastor and in our – in Ferndale. So I’m in contact with a lot of my community, Hispanic community. And the work that we bring or the message that we bring here is not the things that we have, it’s the need that they need up – out there.

“And I mentioned this many times, sometimes it feels like a like a waste of time, because we bring up same issues and nobody’s listening to us despite that on the City’s website that they have all this and all that for the community, the reality is, if it’s there, is really hard for the community to access it.

“So this is – this is a voice that they have. And it would be  – we would be going backwards if this gets shut down. I don’t think it’s the right move. I don’t think it’s – if we truly care for our community, I don’t think that will be the best way to go. I think there’s other ways to do it. But the work shouldn’t stop, because there’s some tensions.

“Like I said, I’ve been here for a couple of months. By the way, I feel my personal feeling is, are we poking the bear? And the bear is getting uncomfortable? That okay, you guys are getting out of your – of the way we want you guys. So you guys need to go back to the box where we want you guys, or does the City really want to work with our community?

“And there may be some people out there say, well, maybe the migrant community doesn’t really provide a whole lot. Well, let me tell you, everybody that lives in the County pay taxes one way or another, so their voices needs to be here – heard. I don’t think this is the right move from the City.

“If there’s something that the board is doing wrong, show us the way. There’s something that but we’re not – we’re not doing it right, meet with us. Tell us: ‘hey, if your community need this, you can’t do it this way, but there’s other ways to get it done’ – instead of just shooting it down and shutting it down.

“So I don’t – I don’t think this is the right move to shut it down. And [to City officials] thank you so much for being here. My hope, when I joined the board was that we would get the Mayor here and talk to – so he can hear us – right? And he never came. And thank you so much for – thank you so much for being here, as well.

“It means a lot. It means a lot because we have come and we wait for you guys to show up, and nothing. We send emails, and nothing. So this – so please don’t stop it.  And please keep getting involved and please be involved with our committee. Thank you.”