June 5th, 2018
At 7:30 am, 9 activists locked together with “lockboxes” set up a blockade on 2nd Ave. at Spring St. in downtown Seattle in protest of deportations and ICE’s treatment of detainees. Led by chants of “Chinga La Migra” and “Fuck ICE”, activists held up the morning traffic until approximately 2 hours before streets were re-opened. Nine activists were arrested after being cut from their lockboxes by the SPD “cut team”.
Maru Mora Villalpando explains why they are on 2nd Ave. protesting ICE.Â
“From 1000 2nd Avenue in Seattle to the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, we say, ICE out of Washington State! Activists are locked down RIGHT NOW outside Washington State’s deportation epicenter at 1000 2nd Avenue in downtown Seattle. Come down NOW and show support, as we say, Abolish ICE! Chinga la Migra! Bring your signs, bring your friends, as we rally on the public sidewalk.
Why are we at 1000 2nd Avenue?
1000 2nd Avenue is the deportation epicenter of Washington State. Everything we consider “la migra” is housed here. It’s time for us to stop allowing the business as usual of deporting our community members in this anonymous downtown office building. We’re here to say: “Chinga la Migra!” “Abolish ICE!”
What parts of the deportation pipeline are at 1000 2nd Avenue?
ICE’s lawyers: On the 29th floor is the Northwest headquarters for the ICE Office of Chief Counsel, the lawyers who face off against our community members argue for their deportation every day.
ICE’s investigators: On the 23rd floor is the Northwest headquarters for ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations, the agency’s investigative branch. Although Seattle and King County claim to be “sanctuaries” for immigrants, the Seattle Police Department and the King County Sheriff actively collaborate on joint task forces with this branch of ICE leading to prosecutions and deportations.
Seattle Immigration Court: On the 25th floor, the Seattle Immigration Court, under the control of avowed white supremacist Jeff Sessions’ Department of Justice, processes thousands of deportations every year.
The Border Patrol: On the 22nd floor, Customs and Border Protection has their Seattle field office. This agency is charged with tracking down and arresting our people on the border, and feeding them into the deportation machine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has become Trump’s police force. The US spends more money on immigration enforcement than on all other federal law enforcement agencies combined. Trump’s cops have absolutely no oversight, and they are taking their marching orders from a president with a Racism First agenda. Trump’s cops have no place in our city, and we’re taking to the streets today because we want them gone.
Accessibility info: Several bus lines and the light rail serve 1000 2nd Avenue. We will be on public sidewalks. Legal observers and peace keepers will be present.”
The Dignity Virus 
Stop Ice forever. Homeland Security must be disbanded.