Keep Washington Working Act

The 2019 Washington state law that protects the rights and dignity of all residents in our state.

Keep Washington Working

In 2019, the Washington legislature passed the Keep Washington Working Act (KWW) to protect the rights and dignity of all residents in our state. This law was created in recognition of the nearly one million Washingtonians who are immigrants making significant contributions to the workplace and our economy.

In response to this legislation, and with consultation from the State Board of Community & Technical Colleges and the Attorney General’s Office, the college has developed a new policy that officially states our commitment to students’ and employee’s safety, rights, privacy, and access to education. The policy, Keep Washington Working Act (ADSV-652-P) is attached and a brief synopsis is listed below. The policy is effective immediately, which is indicated by the P-designation.

Your Privacy Is Respected

Personal information related to immigration or citizenship is kept secure and separate from general student records.
Information shared in the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is protected and kept separate from student records.
TCC does not share or disclose personal information about any person for immigration enforcement purposes without a valid court order or judicial warrant requiring disclosure, except as required by law.

Your Safety and Rights Are Prioritized

TCC prohibits participation in or assistance with immigration enforcement on campus. This includes school facilities, adjacent areas, and parking lots.
Immigration enforcement agents must follow strict protocols, including presenting valid court orders, to access restricted areas of campus or student information. This is handled through our Campus Safety Office.

You Can Access Education

TCC does not discriminate based on immigration or citizenship status, race, color, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, sex, creed, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, sexual orientation, or on any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.

While TCC has always operated in this manner, the ADSV-652-P officially reflects TCC’s commitment to maintaining a safe, welcoming environment where every student and employee is valued and protected.

Federal & State Student Financial Aid

We understand that students and their families may be hesitant to apply for state aid through the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) or the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) due to their immigration status. Completing a WASFA or FAFSA helps colleges determine student eligibility for resident tuition and financial aid. TCC’s Student Financial Aid team can help students determine whether or not they are qualified to apply for the WASFA or FAFSA. Information shared in the WASFA is protected by KWW.

As we are committed to protecting the confidentiality of the information and privacy of students and their families, TCC does not share personal information listed on the WASFA and FAFSA for immigration enforcement purposes without a valid court order or judicial warrant requiring disclosure, except as required by law.

Resources

Counseling Center: If you come across a student who may be feeling fear or stress due to current events, please direct them to our Counseling Center.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Washington’s EAP offers short-term, solution-focused counseling services for employees. Information can be found on the EAP Website.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project: The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education.

We know that recent federal announcements may be causing fear and anxiety for some members of our campus community. Please know that we are here to support you. Below are some resources that may be helpful:

For information on your rights, refer to the Washington Attorney General’s Office Know Your Rights document: https://www.atg.wa.gov/know-your-rights-civil-immigration-enforcement-washington

We remain deeply committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for every student who seeks to grow and create a brighter future. You are an important part of our campus community, and you are always welcome here.

Additional information and resources for youth and families navigating situations and issues related to immigration can be found below.

Organizations supporting immigrant youth and families

Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC)

Legal Counsel for Youth and Children provides free civil legal services to young people (ages 12-24) who are experiencing, or at risk of, housing instability.

Voice: 206-494-0323

Email: info@lcycwa.org

Website: https://lcycwa.org (hyperlinked)

Immigration Resources: https://lcycwa.org/immigration (hyperlinked)

St. Vincent De Paul has an immigration clinic every other Tuesday in Kent. According to their website, http://svdpseattle.org/get -help/resources -connections , they are recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice as an organization that has a Board of Immigrations Appeals accredited representative on staff who can legally provide legal immigration services at the Centro Rendu Kent office location. They offer free immigration consultation twice per month. You can call Centro Rendu at (253)499-4245 to schedule an appointment.

Asian Bar Association of Washington has some legal clinics. Appointments are made by phone at (206) 624-5633, ext. 4111 and (206) 695-7639. https://www.abaw.org/Legal Clinics .(hyperlinked)

Latina/o Bar Association of Washington legal clinics for immigration, criminal, and other areas of law: https://www.lbaw.org/services/clinics . (hyperlinked) Appointments are made by phone at 1-844-502-9832.

Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) has a Citizenship & Immigration service program. Information about this resource is online at: https://acrs.org/services/citizenship and -immigration -assistance . (hyperlinked) You can also get more information by contacting:

Xiangping Chen xiangpingc@acrs.org

(206) 695-7578

American Immigration Lawyers Association has a directory of immigration lawyers that can be searched by location at: https://www.ailalawyer.com/. (hyperlinked)

Washington State Bar Association

The WSBA is responsible for licensing and regulating lawyers in Washington. It also provides legal tools and resources for the public, including publications on legal topics and resources to help people find legal help. Many Washington counties have volunteer programs(hyperlinked) that can connect people with civil legal problems to a pro bono attorney.

Voice: (206) 443-9722

Toll Free: (800) 945-9722

Ethics Line: (206) 727-8284

Website: www.wsba.org/for -the -public/find -legal -help

Legal Directory: www.mywsba.org/personifyebusiness/LegalDirectory (hyperlinked)

Local County Bar Association Referral Services:

Clark County , King County , Mason County , San Juan County (hyperlinked) (email to request referral), Snohomish County , Tacoma -Pierce County , Thurston County (hyperlinked)