Asylum Seekers Encampment Next to Vacant King County-Owned Econo Lodge to Remain for Now

by Lauryn Bray

Asylum seekers sheltering in an encampment on a lot next to the vacant King County-owned Econo Lodge in Kent will be left alone for now.

A Tuesday, June 4, deadline to leave the property came and went without any Kent Police Department (KPD) action to clear the lot. In anticipation of being swept from their encampment after threats of arrest, the 240 asylum seekers — primarily from the Congo, Angola, and Venezuela — held a press conference Tuesday to bring awareness to their situation.

The press conference was held days after the City of Kent and King County posted letters near the encampment notifying people that if they did not leave the lot by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, they would be arrested for trespassing.

"Officer M. Wheeler stated that the refugees would have until 3:17 PM on Tuesday, June 4th to fully vacate the camp," said Lauren Kay, community organizer and member of South and East King County Mutual Aid, in a press release. "He and the other officers exclusively spoke in English and did not display copies of the sweep notice in Lingala, Portuguese, French, [or] Spanish."

The group has been camping in the lot next to the Econo Lodge since June 1 after their involuntary displacement from a nearby motel and church. In March 2020, King County purchased the Econo Lodge for use as a COVID-19 quarantine and isolation facility. Today, the building is not being used for anything.

"It's very selfish to have an empty hotel while you have people sleeping outside," said Nathan, an asylum seeker and member of the Congolese and Angolan movement, through an interpreter at the press conference. "No one is here because they want to be here. They're not here because of their own actions. People had to escape wars — people had to escape a lot of things — and all of these wars and violence were caused by the U.S."

"We have exhausted all available funding to assist the immediate needs of asylee seekers at the Kent location and elsewhere in the county," said Kristin Elia, interim director of communication in the Office of King County Executive Dow Constantine. Elia said the County has spent more than $5 million in the last several months and expects another $5 million in State funds to be available in July on housing.

But it won't change the availability of the Econo Lodge to house the asylum seekers.

"King County has a legal agreement at the request of the City of Kent not to use the former EconoLodge property for anything other than the purpose of isolation and quarantine or other city-authorized uses," Elia said."Therefore, we must abide by that and are not actively pursuing this property as a possible shelter. Additionally, the City of Kent asked King County to issue the notice of trespass based on our legal agreement with them. If Kent no longer plans to enforce their request, then the County will not enforce the trespass but will continue our work with the organizations we have funded to do outreach to asylees."

According to a statement from KPD Assistant Police Chief Jarod Kasner published by KIRO 7, "The City understands that these individuals moved onto the County controlled property without the County's permission or knowledge. King County has advised the City that the individuals do not have permission to be on the property and are trespassed from the property. King County has asked for the City's assistance in removing them."

Kasner's statement also said, "The City of Kent was advised that the King County Sheriff will not participate in the enforcement of the trespass order. The City will not take action in the enforcement of trespass on County property without the partnership of the King County Sheriff."

KPD was called to the encampment, but no arrests were made. "KPD are temporarily allowing the asylum seekers to remain in place because there is a conflict between King County Sheriffs and KPD. The latter do not have enough resources to clear the area and insist upon King County Sheriffs providing greater assistance," said Kay.

Though the encampment remains for now, Kay says it is only a matter of time before KPD comes back with help: "King County did deputize KPD, and as soon as Kent has enough support, officers will carry out the sweep."

Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced an immigration order that would prohibit migrants who crossed the border illegally from seeking asylum.

Growing numbers of migrant asylum seekers found their way in the past year to Riverton Park United Methodist Church in Tukwila, which eventually housed about 400 people, some in the church and others in tents on the church grounds.

When a cold snap dropped temperatures into the low teens this winter, some migrants were moved to local hotels for their safety. When funding for hotel rooms ran out, some refused to return to the tents, raising serious health and safety concerns.

Since then, groups of migrants have been seeking housing assistance from private and government sources.

Editors' Note: This story was updated on 06/06/2024 to include comment from King County.

Featured Image: Refugee Venezuelan families seeking asylum are hoping to avoid being evicted from their Kent hotel within the next 48 hours in January 2024. (Photo: Lauryn Bray)