Advocates for the welfare of undocumented workers in Washington State did not have to wait for the pandemic to be over to be able to take the initiative to strengthen support for immigrants. Recently, they gathered online for a two-night virtual vigil in what an organizer described as "a technological achievement".

Seattle, Takoma, and Spokane Jesuit ministries sponsored the virtual vigil on social media, along with universities, schools, and local parishes.

Participants, hundreds of Catholics in all, gathered together for two straight hours on both nights, joining in Eucharistic celebration and prayer.

According to reports, the audience also heard from various elected officials and organizations as they discussed the necessity of a COVID-19 relief fund for undocumented workers in Washington State.

A Technological Achievement

Vince Herberholt from St. Joseph Parish in Seattle, said, the event was "a technological achievement to virtually pull this off." Herberholt also helped in organizing the vigil dubbed, "Open All Hearts/Abre Todos Los Corazones."

On the first night of the vigil combined Hispanic traditions with prayers, hymns and testaments from undocumented workers. Relatively, Jesuit priest, Fr. Elias Puentes from parishes, St. Leo and Sacred Heart in Tacoma, explained to viewing participants via YouTube and Zoom, "COVID-19 has taught us that we are all (but not equally) susceptible."

The second night featured Sen. Rebecca Saldana, of Washington State, shared her experience before she got elected as a government official. Growing up a Catholic, the senator took up theology in college at the Seattle University, run by Jesuits.

Her advocacy for immigrants started when she served as a union organizer for farm workers. She explained to the participants; back then, they needed "immigration improvement or modification."

She also added the national government is still refusing to take action and this refusal, and she emphasized, "Makes all of us less safe." Also according to Sen. Saldana, a lot of undocumented workers need to be regarded as necessary, more particularly those working in the agriculture sector.

A Successful Event that Began with Letters

This two-night vigil started and grew from letters sent to Gov. Jay Inslee and state lawmakers in April. The letters which over 400 organizations co-signed were explicitly sent by the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network.

Early last month, 19 Jesuit entities in the state issued another letter early last month. Both letters pushed for the development of a financial relief that would support undocumented workers.

Primarily, these immigrants seek support with paying rent guaranteeing food security. Also, the undocumented workers are apprehensive when, after informing state agencies violations of worker safety concerning social distancing or circumstances linked to COVID-19, their employers pay no attention for taking curative action, or hitting back against the worker.

The said letters detailed how the 250,000 undocumented workers of the state are totally excluded from the $2 trillion stimulus payments which the Congress passed last month.

Undocumented immigrants have been severely affected by business closures amid the pandemic. These businesses include hotels, construction, restaurants and landscaping, among others.

The letter noted too that separating undocumented workers may be "a typical politic tool." It added, in this time of public health crisis, when people fail to go back to their home country, and when impending "poverty and disease" put their lives, the lives of their loved ones, their fellow community members and the whole community at risk, there is a need to reconsider both "the humanity and practicality" of the measures.

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