By Lorilyn Lirio
Amid heightened federal immigration enforcement and growing concern among immigrant and refugee communities, the Olympia City Council proclaimed Jan. 22 as Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Day, reaffirming the city’s commitment to its sanctuary city policies.
The proclamation, issued at a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13, condemns enforcement actions by federal immigration authorities that, according to the city, “undermine community trust, separate families, and create an atmosphere of fear among immigrant and refugee residents.”
The city council also urged residents to petition elected state officials to enact legislation that would expand state and local protections for immigrants and their families across Washington.
“Pro-immigrant measures are desperately needed to compensate for the weakening and removal of protections at the federal level,” the proclamation states.
Accepting the proclamation on behalf of the Washington Immigration Solidarity Network (WAISN), Campaign Manager Ernesto Oliva said the designation reflects Olympia’s ongoing effort to foster a welcoming community, and comes at a time when federal policies continue to erode protections for immigrant refugee communities.
He noted migration has been around for a long time and has shaped the country, but many immigrants and refugees continue to face barriers related to race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, disability, class and immigration status.
Oliva outlined WAISN’s 2026 policy program, which he said was developed through community listening sessions and guided by the organization’s steering committee.
Priorities include expanding access to Apple Health, securing funding for a statewide deportation defense hotline, and advancing legislation to protect communities from mass deportation efforts.
Additional priorities focus on improving safety, meeting basic needs and expanding access to public services.
“Our work is about protecting our communities, not putting them at further risk,” Oliva said.
Mayor Dontae Payne thanked immigrant advocates for their work and said the proclamation carries particular weight amid current national conditions affecting immigrant and refugee communities.
Payne expressed concern over federal immigration enforcement practices.
“I am outraged. I think what is happening is really despicable, and we should be ashamed,” he said.
He criticized the treatment of immigrants and refugees, saying federal actions have targeted people who are not criminals while creating fear and instability in communities.
“People are being rounded up by our government, and we are told the residents of this country are criminals, but it seems the criminals are actually inside our government agencies,” Payne said.
While acknowledging that proclamations alone do not change policy outcomes, Payne said the city has taken concrete steps within its authority to protect residents.
He pointed to Olympia’s sanctuary city policies and recently adopted tenant protections that remove Social Security number requirements for housing applications, a change he described as protecting the community.
WAISN is a multilingual, multicultural coalition and network of more than 400 immigrant leaders, allies, and immigrant-serving organizations that provides direct services and advocates for immigrant and refugee communities across Washington.