As our local communities continue to feel the drastic impact of federal immigration policy changes, the City of Seattle and Mayor Bruce Harrell have made it a priority to stand with immigrant and refugee communities, ensuring that Seattle takes actionable, informed steps to remain a city that welcomes and serves every resident.  

In alignment with this commitment, the City Council took action in May 2025 by adopting Resolution 32168 reaffirming The City of Seattle as a Welcoming City, which states: “the Council commits to drafting and considering an amendment to the 2025 Adopted Budget that would add at least $300,000 to OIRA to respond to emerging needs as unwarranted and inhumane immigration enforcement continues to escalate.”  

In July 2025 the Council passed an amendment adding one-time funding in the amount of $300,000 to the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.   

With this new one-time funding, the City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs is seeking to enter into a one-time contract with nonprofit organization(s) to provide legal representation and other removal defense legal services in immigration matters to indigent unaccompanied children.   

Purpose and Background: Legal Services for Unaccompanied Immigrant Children 

The bidder will provide legal representation to unaccompanied immigrant children in pursuit of immigration legal relief, in removal proceedings, including representation before immigration court, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and associated adjudications in state court. The bidder will provide legal representation through direct representation or pro bono mentoring and training.  

Key Dates:  

• RFP Release Date: September 3, 2025  
• Virtual RFP Q&A Information Session: September 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM  
• Submission Deadline: September 17, 2025, by 5:00 PM (PST)  
• Funding Period: November 1, 2025 – October 31, 2026  

Who should apply? 

Eligible organization applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:   

• Be a nonprofit organization with a 501(c)3 status or have a fiscal sponsor with a 501(c)3 status.   
• Have an office(s) located within Seattle or King County.   
• Have at least three years of experience providing high quality legal representation and removal defense services to unaccompanied children.   
• Be a nonprofit that is a Department of Justice Recognized Organization with a fully accredited representative on staff OR have a licensed attorney with immigration law expertise on staff who will directly provide the services described in this RFP.   
• Are able to commence services within one month of contract execution.  

Eligible Clients : 

For the purposes of this contract, the services should be limited to immigrants that meet each of the following eligibility criteria:    

1. Are unaccompanied immigrant children; and  
2. (i) Live, work or go to school in Seattle, or (ii) are experiencing housing instability and currently or have in the last two years been receiving social services from a Seattle-based agency; and    
3. Have a household income that does not exceed 200% of federal poverty guidelines.    

For the purposes of this contract, an unaccompanied child is a young immigrant under the age of 21 years at the time of the intake interview who falls into at least one of the following categories:     

1. Has been in or is entitled under federal law to have been identified as an unaccompanied immigrant child and transferred into the custody of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement; or    
2. Has been designated as, or would meet the definition of, a vulnerable youth under RCW 13.90.901(2); 13.90.110(6); or   
3. Is experiencing or is at risk of homelessness, abuse, neglect, abandonment, exploitation, or labor/sex trafficking.    

Removal defense services shall be a core component of this program.  

How to Apply:  

Application guidelines and templates will be available starting September 3, 2025 on OIRA’s website and blog: www.seattle.gov/iandraffairs.  

For More Information:  

Check out the questions and answers from our September 8 info session for our RFP for Legal Services Unaccompanied Children.

Questions regarding the RFP process can be directed to OIRARFP@seattle.gov or by phone at (206) 688-0002. We encourage all interested organizations to review the upcoming RFPs and consider applying. Thank you for your continued work supporting Seattle’s immigrant and refugee communities.