I have been a Diversity trainer for over 30 years, conducting Multicultural training for education and businesses in 36 different states. I am a Minority Leadership Trainer for NEA - the National Education Association.

I also work for OCA-GS - Organization of Chinese Americans of Greater Seattle. We are a civil rights group that supports Pan-Asian American and multicultural issues.

My first point is - The National OCA and our local chapter strongly supports comprehensive immigration reform.

I would like to give the Council a packet of documents of the Greater Seattle OCA chapter work on immigration reform, that includes a copy of our letter campaign to our legislators, signed by 10 community groups; (OCA-GS, JACL Regional, JACL local chapter, KAVA, Eastside API, APIC, CISC, El Centro de la Raza, Chong Wah Benevolent Association, ROAR) plus a copy of 21 pages of petitions signed by supporters.

It is no coincidence that conservatives across the country are pressing to close our borders and criminalize our current immigrants. The majority being immigrants of color.

Case in point;
The group with the largest number of visa over-stays is not from Asian countries, Latino countries or the Mid East. The largest number of visa-overstays are IRISH. Now I do not want a witch hunt after the Irish, but compare this group to those with Asian, Latino or Mid East names being checked by the government. Are the Irish names being investigated as vigorously? I think not.

This is clearly a case of color and race. OCA-GS does not want unfair immigration laws to target other groups - which most frequently is aimed at groups of color.

My second point is about Section 203 of the King County Elections Department, Section 203 provides voting material in languages other than English. OCA-GS has had a representative on the 203 Board for several years.

Yes, English is important, and yes, they want to learn English. But until they get fluent, they can learn with first language help. They can vote sooner with first language help.

Section 203 is a demonstration that people can and do learn about political and civic issues in another language.

So our task is to get more immigrants on a path to citizenship so they can vote for you. We need immigration reform so we can have more voters.

My third point is a story about my oldest brother Wing Luke. You may already know about the Wing Luke Asian Museum and the Wing Luke Elementary School in Seattle. Wing was elected to the Seattle City Council in 1962. He was the first person of Asian ancestry elected to public office in the NW and West Coast.

Wing and our mother were victims of those early Chinese Exclusion Laws and were not able to come to the USA until 1931 when Wing was 6 years old.

Wing was not yet a citizen when he was elected President of the student body at Roosevelt High School in North Seattle

Wing was not yet a citizen when he was selected as one of 9 students in the nation to visit the White House because of his innovative ideas to reduce juvenile delinquency.

Wing was not yet a citizen when he was drafted to fight in the Army for the United States during WWII.

Near the end of the war, our family was ousted from our hand laundry and living quarters which was near the corner of 43rd NE and University Way. The landlady tripled the rent. She said “We are at war with those people and I can't tell them apart.” This was a clearly a case of color and race.

Wing came back after the war, became a citizen, became an attorney, and worked on Indian Fishing Rights, Open Housing, land laws, historic and cultural preservation, Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square.

I mention Wing Luke's story because I believe there are OTHER Wing Luke type stories among our varied immigrant population - success stories waiting to happen for the greater good of society.

In summary;