learn all about jcira's history
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The Beginnings
JCIRA's roots go back long before we became a formal 501c(3) nonprofit organization in 2017.  As early as 2007, a small group of Jefferson County residents began working on immigration issues. What prompted this response?

• Border Patrol (BP) agents were picking up people on the streets and taking them to their office in Port Angeles. Sometimes they were released. Often, they were not. They were transferred to the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma, a privately run for-profit prison.
• BP trucks were parked outside of schools in Forks, instilling terror in local immigrants.
• Greyhound buses on the Seattle-Port Angeles route were randomly stopped by the Border Patrol, questioning those on board about their citizenship status.

• BP agents were monitoring the Port Townsend-Keystone ferry route, attempting to locate immigrants.

Port Townsend residents and activists responded by:

• Organizing a large gathering in Chimacum in November 2007. Between 300-400 people attended the meeting, moderated by Scott Wilson, editor/publisher of the Port Townsend Leader, with speakers from the ACLU, the Border Patrol office in Blaine, and others.

• Producing a video “Keep the Border Patrol on the Border,” which featured Father John Topel of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Port Townsend, along with John Nash of Nash Farms, and actual accounts from those who had been stopped by the Border Patrol. Presented in English with Spanish subtitles, the video was included on a Facebook page for several years and is still available for viewing on request.

• Conducting a large public meeting at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, which featured Jorge Baron, executive director,  Northwest Immigrant Rights Project; Annie Benson, Seattle immigration lawyer; and Father John Topel.

With the negotiation of an agreement between the ACLU and the Border Patrol to address the violations of Constitutional rights and racial profiling, BP activities were reduced. However, because federal government claims the power to conduct warrantless stops within 100 miles of the actual linear border, the BP was still ever-present. 

• Activists organized a protest at the location of a planned new BP building in Port Angeles in 2012, with the participation of Port Townsend residents. The group continued to advocate for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers over the time, both individually and through their local churches and civic groups.

• Even before the 2016 national election campaign, concern grew about Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policies and the possible danger of BP and Immigration and Customs Enforcemernt (ICE) actions resuming again.

Local activities to defend immigrants intensified and became more organized. In 2017, the group that became Jefferson County Immigrant Rights Advocates applied for and received non-profit status. Since then, JCIRA has continued to work for and support immigrants to create a community where diversity is appreciated and all feel welcome.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT JCIRA'S FOUNDERS

What JCIRA has done recently

​JCIRA has made significant achievements during the last year, thanks to generous grants and dedicated
volunteers. We can now do even more together to support immigrants and become a unifying presence
in our community.
​
To name just a few examples, JCIRA has:

• Opened a new multicultural center to serve everyone, with assistance for immigrants andasylum seekers and classes available to the community.
• Hired staff, including an outreach coordinator and gained new immigrant volunteers.
•  Supported an Afghan immigrant family and helped them to achieve independence.
•  Offered a variety of classes and programs open to all, including ESL classes, Spanish-language classes, Zumba, and conversation circles, and provided a space for community gatherings for groups such as BIPOC and the Jefferson County Foundation.
• Partnered with other immigrant advocacy groups, such as WAISN and took part in lobbying efforts.
•  Collaborated with the Jefferson County Library on programs to benefit children and families,such as the Welcoming Library, and others.

Protest at NW Detention Center during pandemic.

Early JCIRA demonstration.

Photo from Forks event.

On October 15, 2022, several JCIRA members took part in Dia de Culturas, the Hispanic Heritage Festival in Forks. The event, which was held at the Peninsula College Forks campus, was the first Hispanic festival since the early 1990s—and what a celebration it was!
 ​

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YEARLY SUMMARIES Prior to 2022​

Below you'll find summaries of JCIRA activities and achievements during the early years of 2016-2021, with the most recent years listed first.
​

2021
 
January – June 

• JCIRA members sent out Spanish language texts concerning the importance of vaccines. Names were drawn from several lists and from past recipients of the JCIRA Fund. In addition, several Spanish videos were made encouraging people to get the vaccine.

• In February, JCIRA joined with WAISN and immigration activists around the state for a virtual event to mark Immigrant & Refugee Day to fight on behalf of the rights of immigrants and refugees in Washington.

• From January through April, JCIRA participated with WAISN in a campaign to urge all supporters to contact their legislators on bills that would affect the immigrant community.

• Bi-weekly updates with a call-to-action were mailed to 540 recipients.

• In May/June, one of our sponsored refugees was granted awork permit and started a childcare job.

• The family of a sponsored immigrant, which included five additional people, suddenly received approval to enter the U.S. They arrived in Port Townsend with two-three days' advance notice. They stayed with JCIRA members and were provided with clothes and assistance by the Hadlock Community Methodist Church and others. Four of the family members left after a week to settle on the East Coast, while one stayed behind, and JCIRA took on the sponsorship of that person.

• On June 15, 2021, the JCIRA Fund Committee decided to cease giving $500 grants, due to dwindling funds. 

       Total amounts given out from JCIRA fund, as of 6/28/2021:
                              2018            $      1,000
                              2019                  13,740
                              2020                198,250
                              2021 (July)         23,500

•  After June 15, people requesting assistance were referred to OlyCAP (for Jefferson     County) or Serenity House (for Clallam County).  Both agencies had received federal funds for those affected by the pandemic, including undocumented residents. The monies were focused on rent and mortgage assistance, to prevent homelessness in the near future.

July – December​

• A fundraising dance scheduled for August 14 was postponed due to Covid-19 safety concerns.

• Several JCIRA members participated in a protest at the NWDC on October 10, 2021.

• On October 31, a group of JCIRA members from Jefferson and Clallam counties attended the 7th annual Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) commemoration at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) organized by La Resistencia to honor those who lost their lives as a result of inhumane treatment by the U.S. Immigration Service and to demonstrate for shutting down the NWDC. Speakers included Maru Mora Villalpando, Justmaine Maitre of the Haitian community, and Caroline Andrade, representing students.

​2020
 January – March

• Larry Jensen and Jean Walat were elected as JCIRA Co-Chairs. New board members Lucero Figueroa, Sara Lopez, and Linda Murphy were voted in.

• Annie Benson and Monserat Padilla spoke at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (QUUF), focusing on ICE interference in courts and WAISN as a statewide immigrant rights action group.

• A JCIRA Benefit Dance, the “People’s Dance,” was held at Rosewind Common House.

• PT Songlines held a benefit for JCIRA at the Cotton Building.

• JCIRA members took part in WAISN Immigration Advocacy Day in Olympia and visited the offices of local representatives.

• Several members of JCIRA attended the virtual WAISN Advocacy Days from Feb 16-18 and spoke directly with legislators about important immigrant legislation.

• Covid arrived with Covid-virus deaths appearing in a Kirkland nursing home. (Information provided for historical context.)

• Two JCIRA members attended a trauma workshop in Town Hall, Seattle. (Hundreds crowded close together, no masks yet, no social distancing yet.)

• JCIRA members participated in a Community Connections tabling event in Port Angeles.

• Quilombo Benefit Dance was held at Finn River. Two asylum seekers attended, as well as many others.

• Lockdown arrived and a switch was made to online Zoom meetings. 

• Stimulus funds were announced--but not for undocumented people. JCIRA fund requests suddenly increased, with most from Forks, where salal workers could no longer work.

 
April – July

• JCIRA’s first masks for immigrant families were made and distributed, mostly fashioned by Port Townsend community members.

• JCIRA Fund rack cards were distributed in schools to parents, teachers, and staff.

• The first Spanish outreach was made to parents in public schools, thanks to the services of a JCIRA volunteer

 August – December

• The “Immigration Nation” Netflix series of six video episodes began via Zoom, with discussions after each episode.

• Between March 1 - August 5, $180,600 had been distributed to Olympic Peninsula families, almost all of it possible through JCIRA’s receipt of funds from the Jefferson Community Foundation (JCF).

• JCIRA's work with two asylum seekers (one from El Salvador and one from Guatemala) continued.

• A Jefferson County Foundation Fundraising video included a segment on JCIRA.

• The free ESL evening classes resumed, sponsored and supported by JCIRA.

• JCIRA initiated outreach with community members in Sequim and Port Angeles for distribution of ERAP (federal funds through the WA State Commerce Dept) and WAISN Washington Immigrant Relief Funds (WIRF).

• We assisted a local immigrant with a difficult housing issue, which turned out to be a scam. JCIRA helped set up GOFUNDME to recapture the money lost during that time.

• JCIRA members started working with WAISN to help distribute WIRF funds.

• The first vaccine distribution in Jefferson County took place in mid-December.

2019
January – June

• Regular visits were made to a local resident who was detained at the Northwest Detention Center and ongoing support was provided to his family, currently living in our community.

• A JCIRA member, who had visited and volunteered at the Southern Border, reported on asylum seekers and the conditions there.

• Members of our group took part in a webinar on "Dismantling Detention."

• JCIRA rack cards were designed, printed and posted in Jefferson County community locations.

• JCIRA members met with Sheriff Joe Nole to discuss immigrant-related issues.

• Racial justice workshops held at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (QUUF) were attended by many JCIRA members.

• A large demonstration (130 people) was held at the Hadlock four-corners, protesting against Trump’s Emergency Executive Order. While there, 75 people signed requests to their elected representatives to revoke the Order and “to continue to resist the anti-immigrant agenda of this administration.”

• Demonstrations were held at NWDC in support of detainees and their families, providing food, conversations and help, as needed.

• Rep. Kilmer met with JCIRA members in Washington, DC, to establish a relationship and consider future meetings on the Peninsula.

• JCIRA met with Head Start parents at the Chimacum Elementary School library.

• The JCIRA Board of Directors established a Legal Defense and Family Support Fund.

• JCIRA members attended workshops and seminars at Clallam Bay Correctional Center,  which focused on needed changes in prison, issues of clemency, and the role of ICE after prisoners had served their terms and were released.

• A benefit concert for JCIRA was held by the Ladies Chamber Orchestra and Benevolent Society (74 attendees) at the First Baptist Church in Port Townsend.

• JCIRA met with the President of Peninsula College in Port Angeles.  The discussion included ESL classes, scholarships for immigrants, classes in Spanish, and non-discrimination against undocumented students.

• Joanne Murayama, active member of the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, gave a presentation to JCIRA about her parents’ experience in Japanese camps during and after World War II. She also invited our involvement in quilt project for Clallam Bay Correction Center inmates.

• A demonstration was held at the Port Townsend Farmers Market and downtown at the Triangle, to protest Trump’s threats of raids. Fifty people participated and postcards were signed and sent to Kevin McAleenan, Acting Director, Department of Homeland Security.

• JCIRA set up an information table at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Port Townsend.

July – December

• JCIRA made presentations at the Sequim/Port Angeles Indivisible and Unitarian groups.

• As part of a MoveOn national demonstration to “Close the Camps,” we participated in a demonstration at Rep. Kilmer’s office in Port Angeles.

• JCIRA sponsored a “Lights For Liberty” demonstration downtown at Nifty Fifties, plus a march, which received newspaper coverage. There were 260 people protesting “Kids in Cages.” Another JCIRA group participated in a similar rally at NWDC.

• Members attended a postcard-writing party at Pippa’s in Port Townsend, which focused on closing the migrant camps and encouraging divestment of the financial backers of the prison-industrial complex. There were 175 postcards sent on that one day.

• Fifty-six people attended a regularly scheduled JCIRA meeting, half of whom had attended the “Lights for Liberty” demonstration earlier in the month.

• A JCIRA member conducted a Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship sermon, regarding immigration, compassion and equanimity.

• A presentation was held at Jefferson County Progressives about the situation at the Southern border, as well as to provide information on local Jefferson County immigrant issues.

• JCIRA members shared recently received information about Expedited Removal with Hispanic community at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church, with Police Chief Evans, and with Sheriff Nole.

• A recently formed JCIRA Education Committee met to plan activities involving all Jefferson County schools.

• JCIRA met with Reverend Coe Hutchison of Grace Lutheran Church about possible shared projects.

• A meeting was held with Rep. Kilmer to bring him up to date on JCIRA activities and to pose several issues of concern. The meeting was held in the conference room of First Security Bank in Port Townsend.

• JCIRA conducted an information table at the Jefferson County Democratic Party Fish Feast. A visit by Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson was the highlight of the event.

• JCIRA worked with Pacific County Immigrant Support (PCIS) to support the family of a NWDC detainee by assisting with legal fees and attending his bond hearing, which was, unfortunately, denied.

• JCIRA met with individuals in Forks to discuss the ongoing relationship between the two groups.

• JCIRA conducted its first public meeting for the Port Ludlow community.

• Sudden ICE raids in Port Orchard and Bremerton on September 23, resulted in an alert to all area organizations, including the JCIRA Rapid Response Team (RRT).

• JCIRA representatives attended the WAISN state meeting in Ellensburg.

• KPTZ interviewed JCIRA about an upcoming benefit dance at Finn River.

• Two JCIRA members conducted an RRT training for Kitsap Advocating for Immigrant Rights & Equality (KAIRE) in Bremerton.

• Quilombo Funk Dance at Finn River benefitted JCIRA.

• Another NWDC demonstration was held with La Resistencia with 12 JCIRA members attending.

• Entre Hermanos, a Seattle organization working with LGBTQ people, including immigrants, met with JCIRA to discuss supporting asylum seekers, the first of several such meetings.

• A JCIRA member contacted lawyers at Santa Fe Dreamers Project concerning the possible sponsorship of transgender people now detained in the Cibola Detention Center.

• Father Peter, of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church, announced his voluntary departure from the U.S. because his visa was not renewed on time.

• JCIRA members participated and supported the traditional public celebration and procession fro Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe on December 12.

• JCIRA met with Father John Topel, pastor of St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church, to discuss ways to involve the Seattle Archdiocese in JCIRA's work with the local Hispanic congregation.

2018
January - April

• Allison Arthur conducted interviews and wrote an article about JCIRA for the Port Townsend Leader.

• JCIRA held a meeting with Olympic Peninsula representatives of Senator Cantwell’s office and Senator Patty Murray’s office. We discussed how legislators might be able to help immigrants with their legal issues.

• JCIRA representatives met with Ariel Speser, Jefferson Clallam Pro Bono Lawyers, to learn about free legal non-immigration services available to local immigrants.

• We met with filmmaker working on global migration at the Port Townsend Film Festival office.

• Another JCIRA member began a class to earn the CLINIC Accredited Representative certification.

May – December

• JCIRA placed signs in English and Spanish in all Jefferson Transit buses with a hotline number to call if readers saw ICE or Border Patrol activity (including arrests, checkpoints, raids, or harassment) on public buses.

• A large contingent of members and ESL students marched in the annual Rhody Day parade, again increasing visibility.

• JCIRA joined with a group of more than 650 protestors to protest BP activities at the Port Angeles U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters.

• Participants from JCIRA attended demonstrations in Seattle and at the Northwest Detention Center to protest the treatment of Maru Mora Villalpando, then an undocumented activist and mother, who was directly targeted by ICE for her work fighting against immigrant detention and deportations. At NWDC, JCIRA joined with La Resistencia, which put on a mock trial of ICE.

• More than 250 people participated in a Port Hadlock protest of the Trump administration's immigration practices.

• JCIRA volunteers helped Habitat for Humanity to support local immigrant families.

• On September 3, JCIRA members stood witness outside the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma to show support for detainees and their visiting families.

• JCIRA joined in La Resistencia's October 12th campaign kick-off rally to shut down the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma.

• Members participated in a vigil at the NWDC on November 10.

• The Port Townsend Leader published a public statement against hatred, initiated by JCIRA, together with community partners.

2017
January 

• Several JCIRA members began attending workshops in Forks to support family protection and to learn which documents were needed to do that. A session devoted to non-violence and participation in public demonstrations was led by an experienced California advocate. Lesley Hoare was (and still is) the key person organizing these sessions in Forks.

 ​

• A JCIRA member attended an all-day Immigration Services program at the Seattle Center, sponsored by the City of Seattle, where 750 volunteers and 100 lawyers  helped more than a thousand immigrants receive free legal advice and complete the necessary applications.

• Many concerned Jefferson County residents participated in the January 21 nationwide Women's March in Seattle. The program energized many local groups on issues including immigrant rights, foreign policy, the economy, healthcare, education, and others.

• Presentations were given at a meeting of the local Democrates, and contact increased with the Port Townsend City Council and the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners.

• The first official JCIRA meeting was held, with 18 attending. Meetings every week rapidly increased in size.
• JCIRA purchased and distributed the first 100 yard signs stating IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WELCOME HERE, NO MUSLIM BAN, NO WALLS. 
• Later, there were sign orders for 200 additional signs.

February

• With help from immigration lawyer Annie Benson, JCIRA continued working with the county commissioners regarding their proclamation. It was finally voted and approved by the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners on February 6, 2017. 

• During February, at perhaps the second or third meeting, we adopted the name Jefferson County Immigrant Rights Advocates (JCIRA).

• The first Know Your Rights (KYR) workshop was held during social hour at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church. It was sponsed by Dove House, the local domestic violence agency and was conducted by Ray Garrido and Anita Smith, from the Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center (KIAC). JCIRA members observed, learning from the more experienced presenters.

• A day after the Muslim Ban was announced, JCIRA called for a demonstration to protest the ban. Sixty people participated, coming to the U.S. Post Office in Port Townsend, appearing after phone calls and Facebook postings only the night before.

• JCIRA established a Drivers Group to provide solidarity and safety for immigrants fearful of traveling to immigration or ICE appointments. In addition, we established a Rapid Response Team to witness and document ICE/BP incidents if/when they occurred. 

• A Community Outreach Group was formed to plan and conduct educational/discussion programs about immigration and immigrant rights.  Two presentations were given; one at the Port Townsend Public Library, and the other at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

• JCIRA supported and participated in the formation of the Jefferson Interfaith Action Council (JIAC).

March 

• A second KYR workshop was held at Guadalajara Restaurant in Port Townsend, with Ray Garrido of KIAC, once again presenting.

• JCIRA meetings continued.

• JCIRA members met with the staff of Border Patrol at Port Angeles BP headquarters.

• KPTZ conducted an interview with JCIRA, to describe our purpose and recent actions, inviting others to join us.

• Two JCIRA members started the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) certification to become Accredited Representatives. This status enables them to assist immigrants in navigating the legalities of changing status, obtaining a green card, and moving toward full citizenship.

April 

• JCIRA published the first weekly newsletter.

• Lindsey Schomrem-Wawrin, an attorney in Port Angeles, conducted a workshop for JCIRA members on the legal risks we face in helping immigrants.

May

• A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between KIAC and JCIRA, slightly formalizing the details of our relationship.

• Another JCIRA member started the CLINIC Accredited Representative certification class.

June-July 

• JCIRA became a WA State non-profit corporation on June 29, 2017. We adopted by-laws and elected the first Board of Directors.

• JCIRA was invited to conduct one of the four sessions on immigration (A Conversation about Sanctuary and Support of the Refugee and Immigrant Community) to be held at the First Presbyterian Church in PT.

August - December

• The JCIRA group planned and conducted a demonstration in support of families of the detainees at Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.

• JCIRA members gave a presentation to Board of County Commissioners regrading the county’s receipt of Department of Homeland Security Operation Stonegarden funds.

• In collaboration with KIAC, JCIRA conducted a “Know Your Rights” workshop for immigrants at Blue Heron Middle School.

• Our group became regular participants at Spanish social hour at Catholic Church and also began working closely with the Jefferson Interfaith Action Council.

• JCIRA contacted and supported the local English Learning Language (ELL) program sponsored by the Jefferson County YMCA and Peninsula College.

• Members gave a presentation to Washington State legislators at the 24th District Town Hall regarding ICE intimidation and interventions with shellfish farm workers.

• Two Sea Mar Community Health Center’s Health Navigators were invited to talk about health insurance at Saturday social hour at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church.

• JCIRA applied for 501(c)(3)-EZ tax-exempt status, with approval due in early 2018, to be retroactive as of June 29, 2017, the date of our non-profit application.

• The JCIRA newsletter reached 136 people.

• JCIRA membership was established.

• We conducted our first end-of-year donation drive.

JCIRA protest of Muslim ban and separation of families

 2016
December

• After a presentation to the Port Townsend City Council, urging a statement in support of immigrants in our city, Resolution 17-014 was passed.  Later critiques of that document pushed for more compassion and more clarity in describing action. (A similar request was presented to the Jefferson County BOCC, resulting in a Human Rights Proclamation that passed on February 6, 2017.)
• Simultaneously, individuals interviewed the Port Townsend Police Chief and Jefferson County Sheriff (separately), expressing concerns and asking for details about their respective policies concerning cooperation and procedures that intersected with BP, U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In general, they were cooperative and positive in their support of immigrants.
• A JCIRA member attended a five-hour Immigration workshop sponsored by Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Seattle, with  Executive Director Jorge Baron as presenter. About 500 social workers, teachers, nurses and service providers attended. The workshop was shocking and sobering, including discussions of how to help families prepare for possible deportation and incarceration by ICE and BP. JCIRA shifted into high gear to try to prepare for these actions.
• JCIRA sent a letter to Father John Topel, pastor of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church, which has a large Spanish-speaking contingent, introducing our organization and expressing our desire to work with the church community.