This week, the Bellingham City Council voted to dissolve its Immigration Advisory Board (IAB). In its place, the city has established a new work group to help ensure compliance with the Keep Washington Working Act.
The IAB was created in 2019 to provide guidance on immigration issues. It has previously expressed concerns about protecting individuals’ immigration status, the presence of federal immigration agents in the city, and language accessibility during emergencies.
In February, the City Council suspended the board’s meetings and began evaluating its effectiveness. This decision came after concerns regarding the board’s co-governance model.
City Council member Michael Lilliquist commented on the board’s role during a Committee of the Whole meeting on September 30. “I saw the IAB playing a role that didn’t make sense. It’s not that the activity didn’t make sense, but the mechanism didn’t make sense,” he said.
The Bellingham City Council unanimously approved the creation of the new work group focused on the Keep Washington Working Act.
During the same meeting, Council member Hannah Stone discussed the initiative. “The scope of work outlined in the Keep Washington Working work group is narrow, but it is important. This could lead to significant positive impacts for our community, especially in protecting and ensuring safety for immigrant members in Bellingham,” Stone stated.
Lilliquist noted that the new group would be a more effective way to address the issues previously highlighted by the Immigration Advisory Board.
The Keep Washington Working Act establishes a statewide policy to support both the economy and immigrants in the workplace. It includes provisions to limit local law enforcement from asking for or collecting information about a person’s immigration or citizenship status.
The newly formed group will advise the city on compliance with this act and make policy recommendations.
Lisa Friend, a Bellingham resident, expressed her appreciation for the city’s efforts during public comments at a regular meeting on Monday. She praised the city’s compliance with the Keep Washington Working Act but argued for the retention of the Immigration Advisory Board, given the city’s significant immigrant population.
“Why make it harder for these voices to be heard?” Friend asked. “Yes, that board insisted on action, and yes, that board demanded resources and accountability from the city. All of our boards should be so confident in the leadership that we provide them.”
City council members emphasized that the new group aims to encourage participation from immigrant communities. They have invited former members of the disbanded Immigration Advisory Board to apply for positions in the new work group.
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