Attributed to Lindsay Goes Behind, Chief Impact Officer, Seattle Foundation
The recent news of the detention and deportation of a parent outside a local preschool is not only heartbreaking, but unacceptable. Actions that create fear, separate families, and target vulnerable communities are the direct result of policies and enforcement priorities that disregard human rights and public safety.
These choices inflict deep and lasting harm on children and families and weaken the broader communities that make Greater Seattle strong, resilient, and interconnected – a region our foundation has proudly called home for nearly 80 years.
Tactics of this kind have no place in Seattle or anywhere else. Seattle Foundation stands firmly with our region’s immigrant, refugee, and communities of color who are being racially profiled and unjustly targeted.
Belonging, safety, and stability are essential to a healthy and thriving society. Diverse cultural communities are integral to the social and economic fabric of our region. As these unjust methods are increasingly deployed, we encourage local leaders and elected officials to continue to push forward with bold and broad action to implement and defend policies that keep our communities whole.
We are a foundation shaped and driven by the communities we serve and remain committed to investing in their well-being and long-term success.
In a moment when fear and uncertainty are rising, it is incumbent upon us all to advocate for policies and practices that protect the rights and dignity of every resident and champion a Seattle where all families – regardless of immigration status, skin tone, or cultural identity – can live, learn, and grow with opportunity, safety, and joy.
