OLYMPIA — Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) issued the following statement regarding the detention of Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez:
“I am deeply troubled by the detention of Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez, a well-known farmworker activist and labor rights advocate who has dedicated his life to improving conditions for Washington’s agricultural workers. His arrest and transfer to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma raise serious concerns about immigration enforcement being used to silence community leaders rather than address true public safety threats.
“Washington state has made it clear through laws like the Keep Washington Working Act that we reject the use of local and state resources for immigration enforcement. It was passed to keep families together and hardworking community members like Lelo from being targeted solely based on immigration status. Harmful federal policies claim to target criminals but instead criminalize immigrants, tear families apart, and punish those who enrich our communities and economy.
“We demand our state’s laws be respected and that those who preach law and order remember the existence of civil liberties and due process.”
