Community members demand protection from ICE at Tacoma City Council meeting

By Hannah Saunders

Protesters took to the streets of Tacoma on January 27 to demand that ICE be kicked out of the city. While a crowd rallied outside of the city council chambers, holding signs that said “STOP THE DEPORTATIONS!” and “INSERT MAGA FASCISTS HERE” with a picture of a guillotine, community members provided testimony on the inside during the community forum portion of the council meeting.

“The children are being the bait,” said Florentine Pam. “And then you don’t hear about them. You don’t know where they are. There has to be some rule to tell you who’s in the detention center and what’s happening to them.”

Pam doesn’t want children to be afraid going to school, and asked the council to do whatever is in their capacity as it relates to protecting students at schools. She also noted her German heritage, and the horrors of World War II.

“I believe it is happening again,” Pam said.

Leah Montag took to the stand and cited how the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) is nearing the end of its contract, which expires on March 27. Montag noted how ICE is working to obtain a larger contract that includes more beds, and that the NWDC is not being emptied out, which means ICE intends to keep it open, despite the facility’s noncompliance with land-use.

“What will this city attorneys office and this city council do?” Montag asked.

Alex Pretti held his hands over his head when ICE executed him, which is just one example of how it operates, Kelly Cloudsdale said. She brought up how citizen observers were not the first victims, with Tacoma’s community members dying after deportation from medical neglect.

“Our community ties have no borders, and we do not forget the value of someone’s life just because they no longer stand on U.S. soil,” Cloudsdale said.

When Tacoma community members step up to defend their neighbors, use of force as a response is expected. Cloudsdale said the city must have a plan on how to meaningfully respond to ICE, and to take all actions it can to protect Tacoma residents.

As community members continued to provide remarks, the crowd outside could be heard from inside the chambers, and they continued to hoist hand-made signs and demanding that ICE get out of Tacoma.

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