On January 14th the Langley Chamber of Commerce held their monthly meeting at the Langley Methodist Church. With heavy hearts we enter January in the midst of our national crisis. It doesn’t go without its woes and anger towards our administration, but we press on as we continue to highlight why we gather here.

“Chief Seattle envisioned a society where indigenous and American people lived side-side in a multiracial society and sharing the land would stave off genocide.”

Our liberties are threatened as ICE continues to increase their presence in major cities. Racist escalation and the criminalization of immigrants is reaching farther than that though. Just over the summer there were ICE sightings on Whidbey Island… and it surely won’t be the last time.

The majority of the meeting invited the guest speakers: Amanda Murphy and Belinda Griswold from SOS Whidbey to highlight how we can step up community safety in case of any alarm due to ICE occupation. They highlighted very practical legal information that we can do as business owners, citizens, and employees. It’s action-orientated for businesses to protect their employees and their customers from any ICE interrogation.

A few families on Whidbey Island have already been broken up by ICE activity on the island. There are also several daily labor men who have been detained and deported as well. So, this is a huge thing for us to be aware and protective of as we enter this escalation of federal lawlessness.

Washing State has the most protective law in the entire country in terms of non-cooperation with ICE. Our governor and Attorney General have made it very clear that they will not bend on this. The regime has actually attempted to intimidate us out of our own law, which is Keep Washington Working, and our state leaders have defended our laws successfully. It’s important that we’re connected and grounded on the fact that our state agencies do not engage in immigration enforcement in any way.

Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network’s (WEISN) key motto: “Spread power, not panic.”

Know Your Rights documents can be found at WAISN Washington.

Steps Businesses Can Take to Protect Workers

1. Create a Business Response Plan
Businesses should develop a clear plan outlining what staff should do if ICE arrives at the workplace. All employees should be trained on this plan, with printed materials available in break rooms and shared digitally as well. Know Your Rights documents are available through the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network.

2. Designate an Employees Only Area
Public areas of a business are accessible to anyone, including ICE. However, private spaces designated for employees are not accessible to law enforcement without a judicial warrant. ICE agents typically do not carry warrants because they are not conducting criminal investigations. If ICE attempts to enter a restricted area, staff can state clearly, “This is a private employees only area. You may not enter without a warrant.” A deportation order is not a warrant.

3. Stand Your Ground Without Engaging
Staff may need to calmly repeat their refusal multiple times. Practicing this response ahead of time, like a fire drill, can help people stay grounded under pressure. It is important not to engage in conversation or argument beyond denying entry to restricted spaces. Individuals always retain their constitutional right to remain silent, and in high stress situations, silence can be one of the most powerful forms of protection.

Spread the word to your neighbors, businesses, and customers. You can sign-up for SOS Whidbey for alerts or become part of the rapid response team that responds as soon as someone spots ICE on Whidbey Island. You can also take WAISN’s “Know Your Rights” training if a flier isn’t enough.

As federal enforcement tactics continue to escalate nationwide, local preparedness rooted in education, solidarity, and constitutional rights remains one of the strongest tools communities have to protect one another.