Immigration – NWSidebar

Mutual Aid and the Law: The Rise and Necessity of Mutual Aid in Immigrant Communities

The concept of “mutual aid” is new to many, but the concept itself is arguably as old as human society. Amid the devastating consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the civil uprisings against racial injustice that spread throughout the U.S. and world last summer, communal support systems have arisen to fill in where other systems have failed. Far more than a buzzword, mutual aid is part of a fundamental shift in the thinking behind structures like social services, nonprofit charities, and even the justice system.

Supporting Our Muslim Neighbors

Supporting the rights of our Muslim neighbors is important; any lessening of their rights affects us all. The time to speak up is now. This year Dee, my spouse, and I became more politically active than we have been in the past. We marched in the MLK Seattle march for the first time and in […]

Immigration Enforcement Must Not Restrict Victims’ Rights, Due Process

Imagine you’re an undocumented resident of Washington state. Last night your significant other came home drunk, threw you across the bedroom, and threatened your life. What do you do? Most legal professionals would advise you to go immediately to the courthouse and file a motion for a protection order. But you hesitate, recalling news reports […]