Seattle is committed to protecting the rights of immigrants and refugees, who are an integral part of our families and communities. As a part of a proud welcoming city, earlier this summer, the City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) released a request for proposals (RFP) to help fund community-based organizations to offer legal representation to indigent immigrants who live, work, or go to school in Seattle and who are in detention, facing removal, or in danger of loss because of their immigration status.
The total RFP funding amount is $1,250,000. Only local non-profit organizations that have capacity and experience providing immigration legal removal defense services to immigrants were eligible to apply for the funding. Based on the recommendations of a review panel that included members from the immigrant legal defense community and City of Seattle staff, OIRA is pleased to announce the awardees below:
- Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) – $250,000
- Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) – $1,000,000
These organization will offer the following services:
- Do screening, intake, and provide ongoing full legal representation and other legal services to eligible clients, including unaccompanied minors.
- Provide limited legal services to individuals facing removal defense proceedings:
- in-depth individual consultations, including legal advice;
- pro se assistance with immigration forms, including asylum applications, declarations, and motions.
- Prioritize direct representation of individuals facing removal proceedings before the Seattle immigration courts (non-detained) and in the Northwest Detention Center (detained) who meet eligibility criteria.
Everyone in our community deserves access to justice, regardless of their ability to pay or citizenship status. OIRA is honored to identify and work with local organizations who are well suited to provide legal representation and other removal defense legal services in immigration matters to help advance access to justice.
Program Contact:
Oksana Bilobran, Legal Programs Manager and Policy Advisor
oksana.bilobran@seattle.gov, (206) 688- 0002
