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May 30, 2013, 7:00 PM - June 5, 2013, 12:00 AM
From Sound Alliance:
"In early June, The King County Council will conduct a hearing about a proposed ordinance to instruct county law enforcement agents to stop holding undocumented immigrants who are low level offenders until Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) can transfer them to the NW Detention Center.Individuals with busted tail lights, cracked windshields, misdemeanor charges, witnesses to accidents, victims of domestic abuse, etc. are being arrested and sent to detention, and most are deported. King County jails spent an estimated $3 million tax dollars on these "ICE Detainers" or "ICE Holds" in 2011, according to a new study by the UW Dept. of Sociology. The average stay involved is 29.2 days longer than stays for non-immigrants. Racial profiling also seems evident.
The "Secure Communities" policy specifically calls for 48 hr. holds only for serious offenses, but county officers have been referring all immigration cases to ICE. Families are facing major emotional and financial hardships, and detainees are spending many weeks and months awaiting a hearing. Most have no attorney at all.
On May 30 at 7 pm, an assembly with King County Council member Jane Hague will be held to request her support for this ordinance. The location is Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church at 308 4th Ave. South, Kirkland, 98033 (Corner of State St. and 4th Ave. South, Kirkland.) The parking lot is on 4th Ave. South.An assembly will also be held on June 5 in South King Co. with County Sheriff John Urqhart, who supports the proposed ordinance. Saltwater Unitarian Universalist Church, in Des Moines. is the venue for that assembly. 25701 14th Place S., Des Moines.
These assemblies will be sponsored by Sound Alliance, composed of religious, educational, labor, and community organizations seeking practical