Demonstrators in Everett and a half-dozen other cities across the state demanded the ouster of Department of Licensing Director, Pat Kohler, Tuesday, saying she has lost the trust of the immigrant community.
"A lot of families are now being torn apart thanks to what she did," said immigrant advocate Jessica Figueroa. "We want her to step down or have Governor Inslee act and take her out."
Kohler's office violated an executive order signed by Inslee that prohibited the release of personal information, including birthplace, to federal immigration authorities. Her deputy director, Jeff DeVere, resigned in January. New policies were put in place, but many gathered outside the Department of Licensing office in Everett said that's not enough.
"She doesn't understand the magnitude of her action. It affects so many lives and those lives are American children," said Van Kuno, who came to America 43 years ago as a refugee from Vietnam. "How can we trust her after what she did?"
About 900 people were impacted by the DOL's release. The agency has since vowed to require a court order for personal information, but only after the situation was brought to light by a Seattle Times investigation.
Demonstrators said the damage, however, has already been done. Immigrants now live in fear of parents being deported and families being torn apart because of the DOL's actions.
Van Kuno works with those families and said she sees that fear almost every day.
"I see children who come to the school with two backpacks, one for books, the other for extra clothes just in case they can't go home that night," she said.
For now, at least, Kohler doesn't appear to be going anywhere.
In a statement to KING 5, Kohler said she remains committed working with the governor and immigrant communities to make sure privacy isn't violated for any DOL customers.
A spokeswoman for Inslee said he is "focused on ensuring the issues at DOL are fixed," and is "carefully monitoring what’s happening at the agency."
