In recognition of the severe immigration consequences facing noncitizen defendants accused and convicted of crimes, the Washington Defender Association 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, noncitizens facing the immigration consequences of crimes, and noncitizens facing the detrimental impacts of selective state and federal enforcement policies post-9/11.

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

• Providing case-by-case immigration-related technical assistance to criminal defense counsel representing noncitizens in criminal proceedings;
• Offering on-going training and education to criminal defenders, prosecutors, judges and other entities within the criminal justice system; and
• Participating in collaborative efforts to address issues aimed at making the criminal justice system more effective in dealing with immigrant defendants and their families.

Contact the Immigration Project

WDA's Immigration Project is staffed by full-time directing attorney, Ann Benson, and part-time BIA accredited representative, Jonathan Moore.

Ann Benson, Directing Attorney

Phone: Contact via Jonathan Moore:  (206) 623-4321

Email: defendimmigrants@aol.com

Jonathan Moore, Immigration Specialist
110 Prefontaine Pl. S, Suite 610
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 623-4321
Fax: (206) 623-5420
Email:  jonathan@defensenet.org

For All Immigration Technical Assistance Email:  jonathan@defensenet.org

Articles of Interest

Note:  please contact WACDL for reprints of Washington Criminal Defense articles by emailing info@wacdl.org or by calling (206) 623 - 1302.

"Immigrations:  Defending noncitizens charged with sex-related offenses" - Washington Criminal Defense - November 2005

"WDA New Hires and Project Updates" - DefenseNET - October/November 2005

"Implications of Blakely for Non-Citizen Defendants" - DefenseNET - August/September 2005

"Blakely:  New legislation raises new issues" - Washington Criminal Defense - August 2005

"Immigration:  The Leocal decision - good news for noncitizens with negligent driving convictions" - Washington Criminal Defense - February 2005

"Immigration:  Updates on domestic violence cases and immigration law" - Washington Criminal Defense - August 2004

"Immigration: Careful crafting of pleas for non-citizens" - Washington Criminal Defense - February 2004