KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – YWCA Kalamazoo has joined a multi-party lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging executive orders and new federal funding conditions that they say severely restrict Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, harm immigrant communities, and that “make it near-impossible to effectively protect and advocate for human trafficking
survivors.”
The lawsuit, filed with the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, asks the court for a preliminary and permanent injunction to block the enforcement of
the executive orders and related funding conditions as unlawful and unconstitutional.
“It’s survivors who carry the burden,” says YWCA Kalamazoo CEO Susan Rosas. “These funding conditions compel service providers across the country to sacrifice critical equity work
and serving immigrant survivors in order to receive the funds necessary to keep the doors open. If we comply with these conditions, survivors get hurt. If we close our doors due to lack of
funding, survivors get hurt. We are joining this litigation in an effort not only to protect Kalamazoo from these anti-DEI and anti-immigrant provisions, but to seek similar protection for
communities nationwide.”
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