State of Washington, et al., v. Trump., et al

Filing 99

DECLARATION of Lee Po Cha in Support of State of Oregon's Motion to Intervene filed by Plaintiff State of Oregon re 94 MOTION to Intervene Attorney Scott J Kaplan added to party State of Oregon(pty:pla) (Kaplan, Scott)

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I N THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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F O R T H E WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON

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AT S E A T T L E

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STATE OF WASHINGTON, et al.,

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Plaintiffs,

Case No. C17-0141JLR
DECLARATION OF LEE PO CHA

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V.

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DONALD J. TRUMP, et a l .
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Defendants.
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I , Lee Po Cha, declare:

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1.

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competent to testify about them.
2.

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I am the Executive Director of Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization

("IRCO"). I work at IRCO's office in Portland, Oregon.
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I have personal knowledge of the facts set forth in this declaration and I am

IRCO's mission is to promote the integration of refugees, immigrants and the

community at large into a self-sufficient, healthy, and inclusive multi-ethnic society.
4.

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IRCO is a community-based organization that serves the needs of immigrants,

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refugees, and community members in Oregon, empowering people from around the world to

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build new lives and become self-sufficient by providing more than 150 culturally and

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linguistically specific social services, including employment and vocational training, English

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language learning, community development, early childhood and parenting education, youth

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academic support, and gang prevention.
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DECLARATION OF LEE PO CHA

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
100 SW Market Street
Portland, OR 97201
[phone]/Fax: [phone]

SP3/rh2/8051196-vl

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5.

IRCO works closely with the State of Oregon and various local faith-based

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organizations that specialize in providing immediate resettlement services to Oregon's refugee
populations.
6.

A substantial portion of IRCO's clients come from countries subject to President

Trump's Executive Order of January 27, 2017, particularly Iraq, Somalia, and Syria. The pause
to the refugee admissions program and travel suspension imposed by the Executive Order
immediately disrupts IRCO's ability to fulfill its mission, serve its clients, maintain its programs
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and operations, maintain current levels of employment, and work with government and

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community partners. Already, in the 2017 fiscal year to date, we have experienced a 50%
reduction from the anticipated number of refugee arrivals seeking employment services. In

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addition, I expect the pause to the refugee admissions program and travel suspension to have
major fiscal consequences on IRCO beginning in the 2018 fiscal year.
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I f the 120-day travel ban is given effect, the local refugee service system will be

impacted, potentially forcing IRCO to reduce services and lay off employees.
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The indefinite suspension of Syrian refugees entering the United States will have

both an immediate and long-term negative impact on IRCO, by reducing the number of refugees
that IRCO serves and had planned to serve, causing disruption to IRCO's programs, operations,
and funding.

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I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
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EXECUTED on February 17, 2017.
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DECLARATION OF LEE PO CHA

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
100 SW Market Street
Portland, OR 97201
[phone] / Fax: [phone]

SP3/rh2/8051196-vl