The Spokane City Council has begun considering a proposal from Mayor Lisa Brown to allocate $100,000 as Spokane immigrant aid and refugee assistance. This move has sparked debate over funding sources and the organization selected to administer the aid.
Spokane immigrant aid: Proposal spurs debate over funding and management
According to Spokesman Review, Mayor Brown proposed redirecting the funds from the Spokane Police Department’s public outreach budget to the Spokane Immigrant Rights Coalition (SIRC). The coalition would channel the money through its Community Justice Fund to provide rapid, time-sensitive financial help.
Sebastion Ruiz, policy liaison for the SIRC member organization Mujeres En Acción, explained that the fund covers urgent needs. This includes sudden transportation, temporary lodging, childcare, and mandatory medical exams for immigration hearings.
“Sometimes immigration check-ins or hearings in Tacoma change with very short notice, meaning households have to drop everything,” Ruiz said.
The proposal faced immediate scrutiny from Councilman Michael Cathcart. He questioned the use of police outreach funds, asking whether the money could support lobbying.
It also raised concerns over SIRC’s past affiliation with Fuse Washington, a left-wing political advocacy group that has supported the mayor.
Accusations of mismanagement and leadership disputes emerge
Deputy City Administrator Maggie Yates clarified that the contract explicitly prohibits using the funds for lobbying or legal representation.
Councilwoman Kitty Klitzke defended the funding source, noting the police chief chose to designate the money from the outreach fund.
“It’s fair for him to make that choice if he feels that would improve the relationship between the community and police officers,” Klitzke said.
Jennyfer Mesa, executive director of Latinos En Spokane, a former SIRC member, argued her organization should have received the funds. She accused the city of failing to notify her group of the opportunity and claimed SIRC is not led by immigrants or people of color.
Additionally, City Hall officials countered that they opened the process to relevant organizations and selected SIRC legitimately. Yates added that while SIRC is not a registered nonprofit, it legally administers funds through a properly registered member organization.
Despite the controversy, the council appeared ready to advance the proposal. Councilman Paul Dillon moved to expedite its approval, setting a potential vote for February 23.
In a separate development, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has announced that generous Zakat and Sadaqah donations from more than 47,000 global donors reached 280,000 Palestine Refugees in 2025.
In Guatemala, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has closed its operations due to funding issues. This shutdown affects programs helping displaced people, migrants, and vulnerable communities facing violence.
