Labor Day weekend family outing ends in family separation at the hands of ICE
WASHINGTON — On Friday September 4, a family campout at Red Bridge Campground in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest of Washington state ended in an immigration raid. On Monday, September 7 (Labor Day), KING 5 News reported that U.S. Forest Service rangers interacted with the recreators just hours before the families were awakened at midnight by immigration agents; five men were detained. GreenLatinos has called on key members of Washington’s congressional delegation to investigate this heartbreaking incident of family separation on our public lands. In response, GreenLatinos Public Land Program Director, Olivia Juarez issues the following statement:
“Instead of prioritizing natural resource stewardship and education needs over a busy weekend in the forest, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest rangers were acting as immigration enforcement hounds. Family separation in a national forest should stir a sense of injustice in each of us who enjoyed some respite on our public lands this Labor Day.”
GreenLatinos is tracking this incident and remains committed to advancing a fair, accessible pathway to citizenship and asylum for immigrants in a nation of healthy, safe public lands for all to enjoy. For more on GreenLatinos’ stance on immigration and public land issues, see Chapter 3 of the Latino Climate Justice Framework.
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