KENT, Wash. — The deadline for a group of about 200 asylum-seekers to move off land owned by King County in Kent came and went on Tuesday without any arrests made. The group, from Venezuela, Congo, Nigeria and Angola told KOMO News they left their home countries to escape violence.
“Life here for us is not easy. We would like the government to help and assist us. We don’t have any place to stay,” said Chibuzo Robinson, who is from Nigeria.
Kent police gave 48 hours' notice on Sunday that they could be arrested for trespassing if they did not pack up and leave, but nobody came to arrest them. When that deadline came, KOMO News called Kent police to explain.
An email came back at 3:56 p.m. from Assistant Chief Jarod Kasner, explaining that, "Today, the city was advised that the King County Sheriff's Office will not participate in the enforcement of the trespass order. The city will not take action in the enforcement of trespass on county property without the partnership of the King County Sheriff's Office."
The group, as a whole, is asking King County to open up the motel it owns right next to the property they’re camping on. Instead of getting that request granted, Kent police gave them a notice Sunday afternoon they were trespassing and had 48 hours to leave.
ALSO SEE | Asylum-seekers in Kent given deadline to vacate lot, face possible arrest
KOMO News asked King County on Monday and Tuesday morning whether or not the county planned to do anything to help the asylum-seekers and got a response Tuesday afternoon.
The county's email to KOMO News explained, "We understand the rationale for the request by asylee seekers to use the hotel in the short term, but the reality of doing so is much more complicated than simply unlocking the doors and turning on the lights. And given the limits of the permissible uses at this site based on our legal agreement with the city of Kent, we have not completed a full assessment. However, we know that full operations and capital for an emergency shelter, even in the short term, are beyond the County’s available resources."
A number of asylum seekers and their supporters rushed from the lot on Central Avenue North to city hall, to make it in time for the city council meeting, which started at 7:00pm . They wanted to ask if the mayor or council would authorize the motel for them to stay in temporarily.
One individual from Venezuela told KOMO News it took him six months to get a work permit. He has had it in his wallet for about two weeks, but still hasn't been able to find a job.
Others said they can’t apply for a work permit without an address but they can’t afford to pay rent without a job. They've been surviving, thus far, with donations of food, clothing and cash, which Rosario Lopez told KOMO News is how they were able to buy tents and tarps to cover their tents. She told KOMO News the surrounding community clearly supports them by donating to their well-being.
The entire situation is playing out in King County on the same day that President Joe Biden said in order to "gain control" at the U.S. – Mexico border and "restore order" there, he will restrict people seeking asylum when the number of such encounters at the border reaches 2,500 per day.
ALSO SEE | Fact Check Team: How President Biden's executive order will work to limit asylum claims
Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) immediately released a statement that she is disappointed in the president’s executive order.
As the ranking member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, Jayapal released a statement that said, in part, “This attempt to shut down the border to asylum seekers uses the same section of U.S. immigration laws that convicted felon Donald Trump used to implement the Muslim Ban and in attempts to cut off all access to asylum.”
While she also said there are some differences from former President Donald Trump’s actions, it utilizes the same failed enforcement-only approach that penalizes asylum seekers. Jayapal also said that it “furthers a false narrative that these actions will 'fix' the border.”
The president’s order does not have any bearing on the group in King County seeking asylum, but many of them in the group do fear the possibility being sent back to their home countries.
