On Monday, officials announced that the Seattle-King County Immigrant Legal Defense Network (LDN) is now available to provide legal aid and information to vulnerable immigrants and refugees.
The network is funded by both the City of Seattle and King County. As President Donald Trump heightened attacks against immigrant and refugee communities earlier this year, Councilmember M. Lorena González and then-Councilmember Tim Burgess announced their intent to pass legislation creating the Immigrant and Refugee Legal Defense Fund (LDF). This $1,000,000 from the general fund would be for community-based organizations providing legal defense and community navigation services. King County later authorized a $550,000 investment bringing the total amount of the Legal Defense Fund to $1.55 million.
The LDN consists of three nonprofit organizations acting as community navigators that can provide general information and eligibility screenings for immigrants. In addition, three nonprofit organizations in the network provide the direct legal services for qualifying applicants.
To qualify for free Legal Defense Network assistance, one must: be an immigrant in detention, facing deportation, or in danger of losing their immigration status; live or work in the City of Seattle or live in King County; and have a household income below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Immigrants wanting to see if they are eligible for free legal services, should first call one of these community navigators: Filipino Community of Seattle, (206) 280-8406; South Park Information and Resource Center, (206) 767-7445; West African Community Council (WACC), (206) 349-0892.
“The Legal Defense Network and the recent work of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to help eligible DACA recipients renew their work permits demonstrates that cities like Seattle are at the forefront of defending our vulnerable immigrant neighbors and friends,” said Seattle Mayor Tim Burgess. “If your family or friends could benefit from free legal defense, I encourage you to let them know that these reputable organizations are here to help.”
Seattle joins Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago as cities that have funded or created networks of organizations to provide quality, affordable legal defense and information services.
Unlike in criminal trials, individuals do not have a right to legal representation in civil immigration proceedings. However, studies have shown that people who were represented in U.S. immigration court were up to ten times more likely to obtain relief.
“Many immigrants, who are already living in fear of the threats posed by President Trump, are oftentimes left to defend themselves against experienced government attorneys,” said Councilmember M. Lorena González. “We are safer as a community and when we stand with our immigrant neighbors. With this funding, we affirmed our commitment to guarantee basic but essential due process rights to all, regardless of immigration status. Together we can create incredible change that benefits us all regardless of where we were born.”
Legal services for the network are provided by: Northwest Immigrant Rights Project and Colectiva Legal del Pueblo (for adults and families), (206) 816-3870; and Kids in Need of Defense (for unaccompanied children), (206) 359-3266.
The Immigrant and Refugee Legal Defense Fund will continue to fund the LDN through to December 31, 2018.
