More than 500 people braved the cold with their monarch butterfly signs – symbols of immigration, freedom, and movement – to support undocumented immigrant rights during an advocacy day Jan. 30 in Olympia, organized by the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN).

Brenda Rodríguez López, executive director of WAISN, said she wasn’t afraid despite warnings that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers might be present during the protest.

“There have been sightings — confirmed sightings and detentions — in places like my hometown in Pasco, and that makes me enraged that people are being hunted down,” López said.

Rafael Hernandez came with CAFÉ Wenatchee, an advocacy group, and said reports of ICE officer sightings in Washington have left the immigrant community feeling threatened.

Other speakers, including WAISN representatives and lawmakers, expressed gratitude to the community while also demanding health-equity for immigrants, an end to ICE collaboration with the Department of Corrections, domestic workers’ rights, anti-violence and anti-segregation measures, limits on non-safety traffic stops, legal aid for immigrants and support for newly arrived migrants.

“I showed up today because immigrants like myself, like my family, like the people here today, deserve to live with dignity and respect,” López said.

Democratic legislators said they are taking action to protect undocumented and refugee rights in Washington. Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo, assured the crowd that state lawmakers would do their best to protect undocumented immigrants and refugees in Washington, regardless of federal policies.

“If we unite just like we’re doing today, we will see success,” said Rep. Julio Cortez, D-Everett. 

Zoe Mondragon, 7, who woke up at 3:30 a.m. to travel to the rally, summarized her feelings this way. “Sometimes I feel like it’s not fair,” Mondragon said. “We’re all humans.”

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