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- Proposed Concurrence on Protecting Immigrants
Make Protecting Immigrants Part of the League’s National Advocacy Platform—Support Concurrence
The League of Women Voters of Washington is seeking concurrence from Leagues across the country as we work toward adopting our position on Protecting the Rights of Immigrants at the LWVUS National Convention in the summer of 2026.
Upcoming Webinar on Feb 19: Learn More About the Concurrence Proposal to Make Protecting Immigrants Part of the League’s National Advocacy Platform
Feb 19 at 4pm PST / 5pm MST / 6pm CST / 7pm EST
Please join us at this webinar as we go over the proposed position on Protecting the Rights of Immigrants. Members of the concurrence team will be available to answer questions.
The proposed position on protecting the rights of immigrants is based on a LWVWA position that was adopted in 2025. The existing 2008 LWVUS position on immigration addresses who should be admitted to the US. The proposed position on the rights of Immigrants addresses what happens once they are here. If you would like more information, please contact the co-authors of the Welcoming Immigrants committee, Susan Martin (smartin@lwvwa.org) and Lydia Zepeda (lzepeda@lwvwa.org). |
POSITION IN BRIEF: The League of Women Voters believes that all residents, regardless of immigration status or citizenship, should be treated with dignity and respect. This means that residents, regardless of immigration status or citizenship, should have access to essential state-funded services, have the opportunity to avail themselves of legal representation in court and immigration proceedings, and have the opportunity to live and work in safety. The League encourages all elected officials and government leaders to take action to ensure these fundamental rights. It also means that political leaders have an obligation to condemn xenophobia, discrimination, and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Specifically, the League believes
I-1: Xenophobia, racism, discrimination against immigrants, and anti-immigration rhetoric must be condemned at all levels of government, business, and civil society. Elected officials and government leaders should take clear and consistent actions to counter these threats to democracy.
I-2: States should encourage federal policies that protect the rights of immigrants, including through litigation when necessary.
I-3: States should take leadership in ensuring access to legal services for all persons, regardless of immigration status. This is particularly important for immigrants in removal proceedings.
I-4: State and local governments should seek to provide essential services to all residents, regardless of immigration status.
I-5: States should take steps to ensure effective coordination among state agencies and other organizations that interact with immigrants and refugees, including funding to permit such coordination.
I-6: States should ensure safe working conditions, fair pay and benefits, and the right to unionize for all workers, regardless of immigration status.
I-7: States should urge the federal government to issue timely work authorization permits to immigrants and refugees.
Watch this video for a quick overview of the LWVWA study on Welcoming Immigrants.
“Welcoming Immigrants to Washington State Study” is available for download as a free PDF .
The study also can be purchased as a paperback book for $4.73 from Amazon.com and for $.99 as a Kindle edition, also from Amazon.com .
The use or distribution of this study by individuals or other organizations does not constitute the League’s endorsement.
Important Resources
- LWVWA Proposed Position on Protecting Immigrants
- Sample Language in support of concurrence
- LWVUS Survey instructions 2026 re Immigrant Rights Concurrence
- LWVWA Position on Immigrants, as Adopted in 2025
- Article: Protecting Immigrants: Seeking National Adoption of Washington’s Position
- Pros/Cons for Adopting the Position via Concurrence
- Pros/Cons of the LWVWA Position
How Leagues Can Help
What You Can Do Now
- Attend Upcoming Webinar Feb 19 at 4pm PST / 5pm MST / 6pm CST / 7pm EST
Please join us at this webinar as we go over the proposed position on Protecting the Rights of Immigrants. Members of the concurrence team will be available to answer questions.
Register - Request a Presentation
Request a presentation for your league from the LWVWA Immigration Study Committee to learn more about our position on immigrants' rights. - Review the study materials
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- Welcoming Immigrants to Washington State Study (The study is also available for purchase in paperback and Kindle versions .)
- Welcoming Immigrants to Washington State Study Presentation, Recorded 2.6.2025.
- Complete the LWVUS Program Survey by March 10
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- Include support for this concurrence request in your input to LWVUS in the ‘New Program Recommendations’ section of the 2026-27 Program Planning Survey from LWVUS. The LWVUS Planning Surveys help guide the discussion at the national meeting. Planning Surveys were distributed in December and are due March 10.
- Pass a Motion
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- We need to continue to gain support from leagues nationwide to join us in our effort to have our position debated and voted upon at The LWVUS meeting in June 2026. Local leagues and state leagues can join our team by voting to pass a motion that reads: LWVXXX supports putting the League of Women Voters of Washington position on Protecting the Rights of Immigrants on the agenda for the LWVUS national meeting to be debated and voted upon.”
- Pass a Concurrence
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- Concurring with the LWVWA position has a strong influence on whether LWVUS wishes to take up our position at the national meeting. More information on local and state concurrence can be found below.
The Process of Concurrence
LWV positions can be adopted through careful study, proposing a position, and voting by the local leagues and state boards. The second way to adopt a position in your local league or state league is through concurrence.
Concurrence is a process that requires local or state leagues to study the position of another state and vote to concur on the position, adopting the position into their local or state bylaws.
Local League Concurrence
Check your bylaws, but most local leagues have a process to come to consensus on positions. This process is often a simple majority vote after carefully vetting the position.
State League Concurrence
The process of state concurrence should be outlined in your state bylaws. Careful vetting of the position is a part of the due diligence required for state league concurrence.
If your local or state league passes a motion or votes to concur with the Washington League position on protecting immigrants' rights, please let us know at smartin@lwvwa.org.
Timeline
