Four Pillars of Deportation Defense - How to protect our immigrant and refugee communities

In anticipation of unprecedented attacks on immigrants and immigrant justice, join Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network to learn what to expect, how to support immigrants and how to take deportation defense actions.

In this workshop, learn about the WAISN's Deportation Defense Hotline, Know Your Rights with ICE, How to be a  Rapid Responder if there is ICE activity in your neighborhood, the Fair Fight Bond Fund, and WAISN's Court and Immigration Appointment Accompaniment Programs.

Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network is the largest immigrant-led coalition in Washington. We are a powerful, volunteer-driven network of immigrant and refugee-rights organizations and individuals distributed across the state that strives to protect, serve and strengthen communities across the state. We work to provide support, capacity, and resources to organizations’ efforts to build power and a united voice statewide.

Adriana Cortés González, Membership Organizer

Adriana is a Mexican woman whose work is deeply rooted in migration and community participation. Her family’s history reflects both internal and international migration across generations. Due to the experiences of discrimination based on nationality, migration status, and language that she and her family experienced, she decided to dedicate her life to social justice.

Adriana recently moved to Seattle and has the opportunity to keep working with root organizations led by migrants as a Membership Organizer at WAISN. In this role, her goal is to build collective power across Washington State, championing the rights and dignity of all immigrants and refugees by strengthening organizational engagement and relationships.

Yahaira Padilla, Deportation Defense Organizer

Yahaira Padilla grew up undocumented and is a beneficiary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). She was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and came to the US at the age of 4 along with her mother and siblings.

In 2006, Yahaira moved from East Los Angeles to Seattle, Washington, where she started organizing in High School as she faced the reality and challenges of being an undocumented student. Yahaira joined WAISN in 2020.

As the deportation defense organizer at WAISN, Yahaira shares her story and helps immigrant communities understand the broader institutions and systems that have targeted them historically so they reclaim their story. Yahaira understands the power of community organizing and knows that united they can fight back against the deportation machine.