JUUstice Washington

A Unitarian Universalist State Action Network

Fair Fight Bond Fund Accepting Applications for Those Detained by Immigration in WA

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The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network is thrilled to share that the Fair Fight Bond Fund is open and accepting applications for people who are detained by immigration in the State of Washington and need support with paying bond.

To request assistance with paying a bond, a request form must be completed. This request form will be reviewed by the Fair Fight Bond Fund steering committee. The steering committee is made up of seven community members, including people who have been directly impacted and have experienced being in immigration detention. All requests for funds will be fully considered on a case-by-case basis and the steering committee will try to pay as many bonds as possible, so long as funds are available. The steering committee will aim to meet on a weekly basis to review applications and give responses as soon as possible.

The steering committee will aim to prioritize individuals who are facing especially difficult situations due to being detained. This includes applicants who are facing physical and/or mental health issues that are aggravated by being detained; applicants who are the primary caretakers to dependents who are facing immediate hardship due to the applicant’s detention; applicants who face serious economic hardship and have no or limited support, options, and resources to pay their bond; applicants who will face negative long-term effects on their immigration status due to being detained; applicants who are members of the LGBTQ community; and applicants who face marginalization based on their language, race, ethnicity, or religion.

Please find the English version of the application at this link: https://bit.ly/FairFightBondFundSupportEn.

And the Spanish version of the application at this link: http://bit.ly/FairFightBondFundSupportSpa.

If you would like a PDF version of this application, please send an email to bond@waisn.org.

We hope to have this application available in other languages soon. Please email vanessa@waisn.org if you are able to support with translating this form into other languages.

Applicants who are able to pay for part of the bond can note this on the application. It is not required to pay a part of the bond, but for those who can and want to, we provide this option as it helps the bond fund to cover more bonds.

Immediate request for Action!! Trabjadores Unidos por la Justicia

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Trabjadores unidos por la Justicia needs your support.  They are currently struggling to create a union Workers United for Justice (TUJ) union at Allan Brothers, Inc., for their farmworkers and families.  They are trying to form this union in order to seek fair wages, safe working conditions, access to health care, the ability to retire with dignity and other basic human needs.

Allan Brothers, Inc. apparently has been engaged in intimidating behavior threatening to fire the workers, report them to ICE and threatening deportation of them and their families, and other tactics to prevent them from voting to form this union.

Morale among the farmworkers is suffering and they need to know we support them. We also need to show Allan Brothers, Inc., that we are behind the farmworkers. It’s a simple ask: take a picture of yourself with a sign to show your support and post it to their Facebook page!

Trabjadores unidos por la Justicia: https://www.facebook.com/trabajadoresunidosworkersunited/ 

 

Help with Immigrant Relief Applications Needed

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Since Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) launched the WA COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund, over 55,000 people have applied and 16,000 applications have been approved! This is thanks to the tireless work of our community and our organizational partners doing vital outreach and application support. We have two weeks left to get as many applications as possible. That’s where you come in. 

Due to COVID-19, we haven’t been able to host in-person events to help our community members apply. But you can help by volunteering to be a Virtual Application Helper.

The timing is completely flexible–just list the hours you’re available to help and wait for a community member to sign up. We also welcome any languages, so no need to only speak Spanish.

Ready to volunteer? Join a required Application Assistance training:

  • Nov. 30, 5:30-7:00 
  • Dec. 1, 6:00-8:00pm
  • Dec. 2, 5:30-7:00pm
  • Dec. 3, 6:00-8:00pm

Click here for the Zoom link

What if I have already been trained? Please email Denisse Guerrero or Margot Spindola to be added to Calender.

In community,

Brenda Rodriguez Lopez, WAISN Co-Director

Funds Available from Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund

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Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund

COVID-19 financial relief —by and for immigrants.

As immigrants, we’ve made Washington our home. If you’re an immigrant experiencing hard times because of COVID-19, and you aren’t eligible for federal financial relief or unemployment insurance, this fund is for you.

The Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund provides a $1,000 one-time direct payment (up to $3,000 per household).  Eligibility includes:  WA resident; at least 18 years old; been significantly affected by the pandemic (such as losing work, being infected by the virus, or caring for a family member who was infected); ineligible to receive federal stimulus dollars or unemployment insurance money due to immigration status.  Application and documentation required.  For assistance, email relief@immigrantreliefwa.org or call 1-844-724-3737 (Mon-Fri, 9AM-9PM).

Demand Health and Safety Protections for Farmworkers

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From Community to Community (C2C-partner of the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship):

 

Update! On Monday we asked our supporters to call the Department of Health and L&I to demand health and safety protections for farmworkers. We now have the direct phone number for Joel Sacks, Director of L&I. Please call him directly at (360) 902-4293. Demand that proper ventilation is required in Farmworker housing. Demand that workplaces are shut down in response to covid outbreaks. We will not tolerate the ongoing exploitation of Farmworker lives!