Seattle City Wire

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a member of the U.S. Congress representing Washington's 7th district, recently addressed concerns regarding immigration policies through a series of tweets. Known for her advocacy on immigrant rights, Jayapal expressed her opposition to the use of historical legislation in current immigration enforcement efforts.

On March 13, 2025, Rep. Jayapal tweeted about the Alien Registration Act of 1940, highlighting its historical use during World War II for imprisoning over 120,000 people of Japanese descent in concentration camps across the United States. She drew parallels between this past action and current policies under former President Trump, stating that "Trump is following in those footsteps."

In another tweet on the same day, Jayapal announced new developments regarding Trump's immigration policy efforts. She claimed that Trump is trying to use a long-dormant immigration law associated with shameful periods in U.S. history to force undocumented individuals to register, facilitating mass deportations. To counter this move, she plans to introduce legislation aimed at preventing such actions.

Further elaborating on her legislative intentions, Jayapal tweeted about her proposed bill designed to repeal sections of the Alien Registration Act being utilized by Trump. She asserted that these actions are reminiscent of previous discriminatory practices and emphasized that "it’s racist, xenophobic, and a waste of resources."