KENT, Wash. — Adriana Figueira is a refugee living at the Quality Inn in Kent.
Figueira said it was never her or any of the other migrants' intention to become a burden the community or the government needed to address.
Speaking through an interpreter, Figueira said all of the refugees want to work. Many of them held professional jobs back in their home country according to Figueira. However, the process of obtaining a work visa takes time. She hopes community groups and government entities can help bridge the gap for them during the interim.
For months, many of the refugees lived in and on the grounds of Riverton Park United Methodist in Tukwila. It did not take long for the church to become overwhelmed with hundreds of refugees seeking asylum. In several interviews, Pastor Jan Bolerjack told KING 5 their resources were stretched to capacity. They were only sustaining off of community support.
Figueira said conditions became unlivable at the church. The cramped living quarters, tents packed tightly together, became a breeding ground for a rodent infestation according to Figueira.
So, when a community group offered them another place to go, they jumped at the chance. However, Figueira said Bolerjack told them if they left, they would not be allowed to come back. Several other refugees said the same thing.
Hundreds of people began moving into the Kent Quality Inn on Jan. 10. Eli Min, whose family owns the hotel, said they had been contacted by the community group and decided to help them out. KING 5 was told by several people at the hotel the community group called itself "Save the Children" and said they were a non-profit.
However, our news organization has not been able to find any details about the group online or make contact with anyone in the organization. Several refugees and volunteers at the hotel said once they got moved in, the community group "sort of disappeared."
Min said for three weeks, he and his family have done all they can, providing necessities for the refugees and even food for a time, but it's all become too much for them. Min said they've owned the hotel for around two years and would only have to get garbage service once a week before Jan. 10. Now, they've had to call their garbage service three times a week.
Min said they have not received the utility bills for January, but he knows it's going to be expensive. He is worried this situation may financially ruin his family: him, his wife, and their 6-month-old along with his parents.
Min, holding back tears, said he doesn't want to force the refugees out of his hotel, but he can't continue providing charity service. The refugees must leave their hotel on Jan. 30.
Figueira helped lead a press conference in the parking lot of the hotel on Sunday. They called on community and elected leaders to provide them with resources for housing and a path for them to be able to make their own money. Volunteers with several mutual aid organizations have been coming to the hotel for the past three weeks to provide food and offer guidance to the refugees.
On Monday, a staff member from Rep. Adam Smith's office shared the efforts underway to help the refugees.
"On November 9, 2023, our office sent the attached letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), urging the agency to ensure that additional entities are eligible to receive future funding through the Shelter and Services Program (SSP).
Smith's office also said King County allocated $3 million for 100 hotel rooms through July for people at the encampment, and that the office continues to stay in touch with partners on the ground