In recognition of the severe immigration consequences facing noncitizen defendants convicted of crimes, the Washington Defender Association (WDA) established the Immigration Project in 1999.  The mission of WDA’s Immigration Project is to defend and advance the rights of noncitizens within the criminal justice system facing the immigration consequences of crimes and the detrimental impacts of selective state and federal enforcement policies post-9/11. 

The WDA’s Immigration Project focuses its work on three areas:

1. Providing case-by-case immigration-related technical assistance to criminal defenders representing noncitizens in criminal proceedings;

2. Offering on-going training and education to criminal defenders, prosecutors, judges, and others working in the criminal justice system; and

3. Participating in collaborative efforts to make the criminal justice system more effective in dealing with immigrant families.

Contacting WDA’s Immigration Project:

Ann Benson, Directing Attorney
Email:  defendimmigrants@aol.com   Telephone:  360-732-0611

Jonathan Moore, Immigration Specialist
Email:  jonathan@defensenet.org  Telephone:  206-726-3332

WDA Website:  http://www.defensenet.org

Mailing Address:  810 Third Avenue, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98104
 
Technical assistance requests are provided free of charge to WDA members.  Criminal defense attorneys are requested and encouraged to support these and other WDA projects by becoming a member of WDA.