What case assistance does WDAIP provide?

The staff of WDA's Immigration Project provides case-by-case assistance to criminal defense counsel, individuals, advocates and immigration attorneys representing noncitizens accused of crimes. The purpose of this assistance is to try and avoid or mitigate immigration consequences, preferrably while the noncitizen defendant still remains in criminal proceedings.

To contact WDA's Immigration Project for case assistance, please complete the brief Immigration Intake Form submit it directly to the Immigration Project as an e-mail attachment or by fax.  You are also welcome to call or e-mail us.  Jonathan Moore provides primary assistance and can be reached by email or at (206) 623-4321.  Ann Benson can be emailed as well and provides back-up for technical assistance.

Why You Need Case Assistance

Once convicted of a crime, a noncitizen defendant is likely to face such harsh consequences as automatic deportation, permanent bars to returning to the United States and possible indefinite detention by the immigration enforcement authorities (formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), now the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a division of the Department of Homeland Security). These consequences will happen regardless of how long they have lived in the United States, regardless of what family ties they may have, or whether they are here legally. Moreover, the vast majority of noncitizen defendants (more than 85%) will be unrepresented (pro se) in their immigration proceedings before ICE and the Immigration Courts. Most will be detained in ICE detention facilities during these proceedings.

Therefore, the only hope most noncitizens have of trying to avoid or mitigate these harsh immigration consequences is to have competent defense counsel who can address these issues during their criminal proceedings with prosecutors and courts who are aware of the issues, and the magnitude of the consequences, facing noncititzen defendants.

How To Get Case Assistance

•  Immigration Intake Form

This form enables you to communicate all pertinent information concerning your case directly to an immigration consultant at WDA. Simply fill out this form and then either e-mail or fax it to WDA.  An immigration specialist will contact you via phone or email about your case.

• Determining Immigration Status Tool

This form gives the user a printable list of questions to carry with you and ask your client to determine his or her immigration status.