For the second time in a month, Centralia City Councilor Adrianna Garibay spoke out against the Lewis County Board of Commissioners’ “non-sanctuary” resolution during her council report.
On Tuesday, however, her comments came after the commissioners unanimously voted to declare Lewis County a “non-sanctuary” jurisdiction.
Garibay, a first-generation immigrant from Michoacàn, Mexico, directed some of her comments directly at Commissioner Sean Swope, who put the resolution forward in June and was in virtual attendance at Centralia’s meeting.
Multiple councilors, along with Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston, also provided comments in support of Garibay while mostly avoiding mentioning the resolution specifically.
Garibay, who attended Tuesday’s Lewis County Commissioners meeting but did not provide public comment, started her comments during the council meeting by sharing her disappointment at the resolution. The policy “reaffirms” the county’s position in wanting to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement while complying with Washington state law, according to the text of the resolution.
“I heard someone in there say that we shouldn’t show our emotions and that that’s not going to change anything. Yes, we can show emotions,” Garibay said. “If we don’t share what we feel, how are we going to change things? This last week, I’ve been having people coming into my office telling me how fearful they are of this resolution. It’s creating fear and hate and division.”
Garibay then looked up at the screen showing the virtual attendants and directed her comments at Swope.
“People who hate us, they feel support from you, Sean, and the rest of the commissioners. I got three teenagers crying in my office saying, ‘I do not want to go back to high school.’ These kids are telling me nasty things,” Garibay said. “And do you know why? Because that’s what we’re teaching them. They don’t get things just because. That’s what they get in their houses.”
Garibay explained that, while she came to the United States illegally in 1998, she did everything she had to do in order to accomplish her dream of pursuing an education and career in the U.S.
“I’m not afraid to say it. I came here with a dream. And yes, I came here illegally, but I did everything I had to do,” Garibay said. “I am not here doing anything bad. I came here to work. I came here looking for a better life for my kids. Is there anything wrong with that? No, there’s not. Everybody knows, but they just don’t want to see it.”
Garibay then spoke to Centralia Police Chief Andy Caldwell and said the Hispanic community is afraid when they see police and asked the department to reaffirm its status on immigration enforcement.
“I want the police department to reaffirm that you guys are not going to do anything … that you guys are not going to ask for the citizenship or the status of the Hispanic community here,” Garibay said.
The Centralia Police Department has stood by the Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs’ Dec. 18, 2024, statement that local law enforcement agencies are focused on criminal violations that affect local community safety and quality of life. Washington state law does not permit the housing of individuals in local jails solely for federal administrative matters such as immigration status, the statement notes.
Garibay expressed her frustration with the resolution and reaffirmed that she will fight for the Hispanic community, a vow she gave the city council during her 2023 interview for the vacant position.
“I don’t know how to explain the feelings that I have in my heart. It’s hard for me. I worry about my community. I want to cry and I want to cry loud. I want to scream and I want to scream loud,” she said. “I want to help my community. I want to stand up for them, and I will find all the information for them because that’s why I got here. I’m going to fight for this.
“I am not afraid of you, Sean. If you’re listening, I’m not afraid of you. I will do whatever I have to do, but I will speak up for my community,” she continued.
Smith Johnston addressed the overall climate in Lewis County and the nation surrounding immigration but kept her comments broad and without mention of the commissioners’ resolution.
“There are forces at work to divide us, and I say that in an incredibly non-partisan way although the forces are very partisan, but on all sides of multiple issues. We are being asked to see people as other, see other people as bad and fight,” she said. “Sometimes you do have to fight. I understand that, but the more we can find ways to bring ourselves together and to act as a community of one that is seeking to make the best circumstances for everyone in our community, the better off we’re going to be. We need to fight division, and we need to seek ways to continue to act with kindness.”
Councilor Sarah Althauser also kept her comments broad but shared a similar sentiment to the mayor while acknowledging that she has heard stories of people in the community feeling afraid.
“I believe our city should always be a place where school kids, our families and our neighbors feel safe and supported, regardless of what’s happening around us. Our commitment, my commitment, is to build a community rooted in kindness, inclusion and mutual respect,” she said. “We can lead with compassion and ensure that everyone who calls Centralia home feels that sense of true belonging.”
Deputy Mayor Chris Brewer admitted he didn’t know much of the details of the Lewis County commissioners’ vote Tuesday but planned to study the resolution and its “possible implications.” He reiterated his comment from last month that, “We all need to take care of each other.”
“Despite any discussions that happen, we need to take care of our neighbors, no matter what they look like, no matter if we agree with them or not. We have a responsibility to our fellow man to be friendly, to invite people in and to make sure that everybody is welcome here in Centralia,” Brewer said.
Five residents also spoke against the resolution during the public comment period. Multiple speakers urged the City of Centralia to make a stance and reject the action taken by the county commissioners. Lujan Rodriguez, of Centralia, provided an emotional and passionate comment where she expressed her disappointment in the approval of the resolution.
“My immigrant family has called Centralia home for over 30 years. As someone who has a very diverse racial, ethnic and mixed status family, I can tell you firsthand that they come here, not only to the U.S. but Lewis County itself, for opportunities and a future,” she said. “When I heard this resolution passed, I heard that people in my family do not belong here. I know we do. We are an integral part of Centralia and Lewis County overall. We provide growth, both in economy and culture, and do not deserve being villainized for political gain. We are your neighbors who are being used as a scapegoat to serve a personal agenda that is real harm to the people you also represent.”
Rodriguez emotionally requested the city council to speak up for the Hispanic community that makes up approximately 19.8% of the population of Centralia and 40.6% of the Centralia School District population, according to Centralia’s 2025 comprehensive plan update.
“I want you to speak up against this resolution and let the county know that Centralia stands with the immigrant community and you reject the fear mongering that this resolution brings, and that Centralia, a city celebrating 150 years since it was founded by a black man, George Washington, who also faced racism and bigotry in his time, chooses unity and support for your neighbors like he consistently did over and over again,” Rodriguez said. “To say nothing is saying something. You must announce things you are against or one might believe that you support things you really do not.”
In putting the resolution forward, Swope has said he hopes to preserve more than $37 million in federal money earmarked for Lewis County. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a list of “sanctuary jurisdictions” earlier this year that included Lewis County, along with most of the state’s counties, due to the state’s stance on immigration enforcement.
On Tuesday, Swope said that, according to his own correspondence with the federal agency, a new version of the list would soon be released and that jurisdictions on the list could lose federal funding.
“Resolution 25-158 reaffirms that Lewis County is not a sanctuary county and declares our full commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law,” Swope said. “It's important to make clear this resolution does not change our policies. It confirms our existing position and takes a critical step to ensure Lewis County is removed from the Department of Homeland Security’s list of sanctuary jurisdictions.”
