Washington State dropped $340 million in federal COVID cash to help immigrants, undocumented ones too, with $1,000 checks. The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network ran it, aiming to fix the financial mess for those left out of other aids. Job losses, less work, COVID bills, and no cash for rent hit them hard.
Immigrant Support
The cash aimed to help those who kept our places running but got zero from unemployment boosts or stimulus checks. It showed how hard immigrants have it, with Washington vowing to back everyone, papers or not.
You had to be 18, live in Washington, and be pandemic-hit to get it. They made sure applying wouldn’t mess with immigration status or green card hopes.
Distribution Delays
But, handing out the money got sticky. It was supposed to start in the fall but got bumped. Resettling Afghan refugees ate up the state’s attention and resources, delaying the cash handouts.
Even with the wait, tons applied, showing the urgent need among undocumented immigrants. The delays came from the fund’s setup hassles and the extra work from the Afghan crisis. It pointed out the cracks in how we get aid to people fast when things go south.