Statement of Solidarity
Delivered by WPEA Classified Staff Chief Shop Steward Lia Andrews at the June Board of Trustees Meeting
The faculty union shares this statement in solidarity with affected students, staff, faculty, and the broader campus community.
“To Trustees, Dr. Singh, and members of the Edmonds College Community.
I am speaking today as a union steward, but also as an alumna, a Latina, and a staff member who cares deeply about whether our students feel safe enough to come to campus.
A student was recently detained by ICE on our campus. For the safety and protection of the student and all involved, I will not discuss any personal details. But what I will say is this - that student was on campus to complete their classes and build their future. That student is one of us.
Students and employees heard about what happened through informal channels before hearing directly from the college. The college has now acknowledged the incident, and I understand there are legal limits on what the college can do when federal agents act in a public space.
However, legal limitations cannot be the end of our response.
Our students and all members of our campus community need more than an explanation of what the college could not do. They need to know what the college will do to fulfill our obligation of care and our college mission of providing a safe educational space to all students.
On behalf of our staff in solidarity with those impacted by this deeply traumatic incident, I ask the Board and college leadership to respond with urgency, clarity, and care:
First, I ask the college to provide concrete support to connect students with existing community-based, bilingual, and immigration-informed resources.
Second, I ask the college to continue to clearly publish and train our employees on protocols for immigration enforcement.
Third, I ask that the college affirm, clearly, that students belong here regardless of immigration status, language background, or country of origin, and that the college will not voluntarily assist immigration enforcement beyond what is legally required.
We can make our internal resources available, but students will not utilize them if they do not feel safe to do so. The lived impact on our students is our responsibility.
This moment demands visible and outspoken commitment and solidarity from leadership. The test is what we do when students are afraid. Right now, students are afraid. We cannot fail this test.”