1,000-plus rally-goers attend Latino Legislative Day at Capitol: ‘Attacked on every front’
When Lillian Ortiz-Self was first elected to the state House, she was the only Latina in the Legislature. Now the Latino Democratic Caucus counts 11 members.
Ortiz-Self, a Mukilteo Democrat, told attendees of the 2025 Latino Legislative Day on Monday that at one point in her life, she never would have pictured herself at the state Capitol. But eventually the school counselor, moved by the voices of students and parents, gathered the courage to step up and serve in Olympia.
“We cannot be stopped. We will not be stopped,” Ortiz-Self said March 10, facing the steps of the Legislative Building. “We are part of the American dream, and we will continue to fight for that.”
Speaking to the crowd of at least 1,000 people, she added: “We’ve got some work to do. We are being attacked on every front, but we will persist.”
The 2025 Latino Legislative Day, hosted by the Latino Civic Alliance, comes as President Donald Trump has accelerated efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. At the same time, state leaders have doubled down on protecting all Washingtonians — regardless of one’s legal status.
Gov. Bob Ferguson was the state’s attorney general during Trump’s first term. His office at the time successfully co-led a multistate lawsuit against the federal government’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program.
Ferguson told rally-goers Monday that as governor, his role is different. But his “commitment to upholding the rights of each and every Washingtonian remains exactly the same,” he said.
“We’re there to fight for you every single day, and I know that we have some significant challenges going on right now with the federal government,” Ferguson continued. “... I want you to know that my team as governor, we’re dedicated to upholding the values that make Washington state great, and that is leaning into the power and strength of our diversity as a state.”
Lawmakers speaking at the rally also brought up bills aimed at safeguarding the state’s undocumented residents. The lower chamber, for instance, passed House Bill 1232 on Friday. Sponsored by Ortiz-Self, it seeks to ensure all private and public detention facilities abide by basic humane standards.
And Senate Bill 5023 by state Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, a Seattle Democrat, offers robust labor-market protections for domestic workers including housekeepers, nannies, gardeners and caregivers. That legislative cleared the Senate last week.
Shortly after Trump’s second term began, Attorney General Nick Brown filed a multistate lawsuit challenging the president’s push to end birthright citizenship. On Monday, Brown’s office announced a new suit alleging that the sheriff’s office in Adams County has illegally assisted federal officials in enforcing immigration.
Brown told Latino Legislative Day attendees that over the past seven weeks, his office has filed multiple lawsuits against the president.
“We have to make sure that no matter who is in office, that they follow the law,” he said. “We have to make sure that they respect your dignity. We have to make sure that they don’t try to act like kings, but as part of this democracy.”
This story was originally published March 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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