‘We hear a growing silence’: Immigrants go quiet as deportation fears grow
Deportation fears are causing immigrants, even those here legally, to disenroll from state programs meant to help them.
Author: Eric Wilkinson
Published: 5:23 PM PST February 10, 2025
LYNNWOOD, Wash. — The line ran dozens of cars deep as hundreds of refugees and immigrants waited in a Lynnwood parking lot for food on Monday.
“The community has been helping in many ways over the last three to four weeks,” said Van Kuno, executive director of Refugee and Immigrant Services Northwest.
The help began when President Donald Trump took office and immediately began his clampdown on immigration across America, inspiring events like Monday’s Lynnwood food giveaway.
“A lot of damage has been done,” said Kuno.
Refugee and Immigration Services Northwest helps immigrants assimilate into American society, teaching them the language, finding them jobs and housing, and putting their children in school.
Under the Trump administration, Kuno’s agency is preparing for a 30% cut. That would mean a dozen workers gone and far fewer people to help all those in need.
Kuno believes the president’s policies will have a snowball effect on those already desperate for help, and those working to help them.
“We will have to turn people away and you will see more families sleeping in the car or sleeping in the streets,” she said. “The homeless shelters will be impacted. The food banks will be impacted. The school districts will be impacted because the family doesn’t have income so they have to go on free and reduced lunch, so the school district will have to pay for that.”
As organizers gave away $100 grocery store gift cards donated by Verdant Health Commission they said events like that one are increasingly necessary because immigrants, even those here legally, are disenrolling from state food and medical programs for fear they or a loved one will be deported.
Some are not going to the grocery store or even to see a doctor. Drive-through food pickups are their new normal.
“Pop-up events that are quickly organized will be critical so people feel safe, or doing a drive-through event where they’re not stopping,” said the commission’s Lisa Edwards.
Kuno, a refugee from Vietnam, advised we must welcome current immigrants as she was welcomed to the U.S. 50 years ago.
“Take care and look out for one another,” she said. “That is what Americans and America are about.”