by Susan F. Martin, Co-president, LWV of the San Juans and Chair of the Immigrants Study, LWV of Washington
As violence escalates in Minneapolis and other parts of the country,ostensibly over the presence of immigrants in American society, the League of Women Voters of Washington is looking to empower its membership across the nation to protect the rights of all, legislatively and by way of programming.
In June, at the LWVUS 57th biennial convention in Columbus, Ohio, Washington state League leaders hope to secure national adoption of its own new policy position, “Protecting the Rights of Immigrants.”
If they succeed, Leagues throughout the country will have the same pathway as the Washington state League to advocate and create programs that, among other goals, seek to ensure access for immigrants to essential services, such as health and behavioral health care.
The push for national adoption of a policy position in the nonpartisan, nonprofit League takes place through a process called concurrence. Much like the run-up to a political campaign, that process involves soliciting support from other state Leagues to put the proposal in front of the full convention, which takes place June 26-28 this year. It’s a labor-intensive effort for a collection of volunteers who are involved simultaneously in other advocacy and program work in their own states and communities.
Shelley Kneip, who carries the Program portfolio on the Washington state League board, has been assisting with the effort. “It’s to educate the delegates on why this should be a national position, which would make it available for anyone in League from throughout the nation to use.”
As Lydia Zepeda, the LWVWA Issue Chair on Immigrants and co-author of the study notes, “federal immigration enforcement has grown more aggressive and deadly in recent months. That makes it important to protect the rights of immigrants.
“Also, since most immigrant families are mixed status, these policies are resulting in family separations. We need to remember that the US Constitution protects the rights of everyone in the United States, regardless of their immigration status.”
If the Washington League’s effort succeeds in Columbus, Leagues nationwide would be able to use the policy position without having to pursue the rigorous process of study and membership consensus required for adoption of an original position.
The Washington League adopted its position on immigrants after two years of study that involved extensive research and interviews with more than 25 scholars, immigrants, refugees, advocates, and others knowledgeable about the plight facing immigrants in the Evergreen state.
The result of that research led to publication of a 78-page report titled “Welcoming Immigrants to Washington,” which details various aspects of the immigrant experience, including contributions, challenges and laws. The report details the League’s role with the immigrant community in Washington as well.
The report also is available for purchase from Amazon in paperback for $4.73 and on Kindle for 99 cents.
After close review of the report, League members from across the state met over a two-month span in early 2025 to reach consensus on various premises, leading to the final policy position. Washington League members adopted that position at the state convention in Vancouver, Washington, in June 2025.
“All residents of the United States, regardless of immigration status or citizenship, should be treated with dignity and respect” begins the LWVWA proposal for national concurrence.
The proposal goes on to state that “xenophobia, racism, discrimination against immigrants, and anti-immigration rhetoric must be condemned at all levels of government, business, and civil society.”
A national position that clearly condemns xenophobia, racism, discrimination, and anti-immigrant rhetoric can buttress the work of the League in fighting the dehumanization of immigrants.
As witnessed in Minneapolis, especially when practiced by government officials, xenophobia and anti-immigrant rhetoric can lead to violence against immigrants and citizens seeking to protect their rights.
Racism and discrimination must be fought, as well. They affect the civic engagement, sense of safety and well-being of all people in a community.
Both practices create barriers to the integration of immigrants and to their feeling of belonging. They also negatively affect the socio-economic well-being and reduce opportunities for the children of immigrants.
The League needs a strong and visible national position on the rights of immigrants.
Condemning xenophobia, racism, discrimination and anti-immigrant rhetoric is just one of several issues this concurrence effort addresses.
It also addresses access to legal and certain essential services, safe working conditions, fair pay and benefits, and the right to unionize.
Contact Susan Martin at smartin@lwvwa.org for additional details about the Washington state effort to secure national adoption of “Protecting the Rights of Immigrants.”
Susan F. Martin, Ph.D., is the Donald G. Herzberg Professor Emerita of International Migration at Georgetown University and served as the Executive Director of the U.S. Commission on Immigration. She is the author of several books about immigration and immigrants. Her most recent is A Nation of Immigrants: Second Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2021. She is co-author of the League study with Lydia Zepeda, Ph. D., Professor Emerita University of Wisconsin-Madison.
