TACOMA, Wash. — A rally was held outside the Northwest Detention Center on Tuesday, drawing protesters from across Oregon and Washington to advocate for the release of two Filipino women who are currently in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The gathering focused primarily on Lewelyn Dixon, a former lab technician at the University of Washington, who has been detained since February, along with a woman referred to as “Michelle.”
Supporters assert that both women have strong connections to the U.S. and are facing deportation under what many consider unjust conditions. “It’s very grim,” said Johnny from the Tanggol Migrante Network. “It’s very dark. You can see it from talking to the Filipinos in detainment. They feel it. There can be moments of low morale.”
Demonstrators gathered along the sidewalk, chanting slogans and displaying signs in hopes of conveying their message to those inside the facility. “We definitely hope that they hear us and feel our energy,” Johnny continued. “They’re aware that we are here today in support of them. We’re here to be loud, proud, and offer moral support—especially for Michelle, as she is on trial today.”
Dixon, a green card holder who has lived in the United States for over 50 years, was apprehended upon returning from a trip to the Philippines, according to her attorney. Her continued detention is linked to a nonviolent misdemeanor charge from 2001, and her next court hearing is slated for July.
Michelle, on the other hand, is being held on charges that advocates state have already been expunged. Protesters argue that these cases underline broader systemic issues within the immigration detention framework. “Regardless of who they are, we don’t agree with the ‘good or bad immigrant’ narrative,” stated Jen, a protester. “We believe all people deserve humane and decent treatment, and we want them to know they have a community behind them.”
This rally was part of a larger national movement known as the “Defend Migrants Campaign,” which included similar demonstrations near detention centers across the country. “You have to really know the intricacies of the system to even know that these people are in detainment,” Johnny remarked.
Concerns have been raised regarding a significant increase in the detainee population at the Northwest Detention Center, which has reportedly grown to over 1,300 since November. This sharp rise has alarmed both protesters and some lawmakers who are advocating for reform in immigration policies.
