Resolution to close the Keep Washington Working DOC Loophole and support Tuan Pham

June 19, 2025

WHEREAS, on May 20th, 2025, ICE secretly and illegally flew 8 people in its custody to South Sudan, attempting a so-called “third country” deportation. Included on the flight was Tuan Phan, a Washingtonian and Vietnamese refugee of the US wars in Southeast Asia.

WHEREAS,  Tuan is a Vietnamese refugee who has completed a 25-year prison sentence he received when he was 18. He has been remorseful and repented for his actions, and is a devout Muslim and a beloved husband.

WHEREAS, when Tuan completed his sentence, rather than being released to his wife and family, he was handed over to ICE by the Department of Corrections. His deportation was paused by a federal injunction, and Tuan and the other 7 men are subsequently stranded in Djibouti.

WHEREAS, the 2019 Keep Washington Working legislation prohibited collaboration between Washington State agencies, but left a carveout for the Department of Corrections, thus leaving a hole for a prison to deportation pipeline.

WHEREAS, other states, such as Oregon and Illinois, have prohibited their DOCs from collaborating with ICE, while Governor Ferguson has refused to do so. Instead, Gov. Ferguson has been vetoing pardon requests that have come across his desk for refugees and immigrants who have served their sentence and received pardon recommendations from the Clemency and Pardon Board.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED MLK Labor will petition the Washington State Labor Council to advocate for Governor Ferguson and other relevant elected officials to do all they can to bring Tuan home.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that MLK Labor will petition the Washington State Labor Council to advocate for the closure of the “Keep Washington Working” legal carveout for the Department of Corrections that allows the DOC to facilitate transfers to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that MLK forward this policy position to the WSLC 2025 Convention for concurrence.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that MLK Labor will petition the Washington State Labor Council to advocate for measures, such as pardons by the governor, that will make it less likely for immigrants and refugees who have completed their sentence to be deportable.