Federal Judge Certifies Class Action Asserting Right to Counsel for Immigrant Detainees with Mental Disabilities
12/20/2011
In a huge victory on behalf of unrepresented mentally disabled immigrants held in immigration detention facilities, a federal judge has ruled that NWIRP and partners, are assigned to represent the detainees as a class. "We can now focus on fighting for the right to counsel so that they receive a fair hearing." said Matt Adams, Legal Director for Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project & Partners Target “Asylum Clock” in Class Action Lawsuit
12/20/2011
Following widespread problems with the "asylum clock" (the system gov't agencies use to determine when asylum seeking immigrants can apply for employment authorization), NWIRP and partners filed a class action lawsuit. "Too many people are left in abject poverty for months and sometimes years, while waiting for their asylum application to be resolved."
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Presents: An Evening at Wing Luke, Celebrating 27 Years of Reuniting Families
10/14/2011
Please join Northwest Immigrant Rights Project for an elegant and inspiring event to celebrate NWIRP's 27th Anniversary and raise funds to fulfill our mission. The unique ambiance of Wing Luke Asian Museum, located in Seattle's International District, will provide an interactive and memorable setting for this fun reception. All proceeds to benefit Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. Featuring live entertainment, delicious appetizers, wine and fun!
Minor Changes to "Secure Communities" Do Not Address Inherent Problems with the Program
6/21/2011
NWIRP again voiced its strong opposition to the so-called “Secure Communities” program of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite the changes announced by ICE last week. NWIRP continues to call on state and county officials in Washington State to oppose this program, which will inject local law enforcement officials into immigration enforcement.
Man Nearly Deported Awaiting Asylum Decision for Sixteen Years
6/15/2011
Seattle - Mr. Chay Ixcot will finally have the opportunity to present his asylum claim after waiting for sixteen years, thanks to Northwest Immigrant Rights Project’s representation and a decision issued earlier this month by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Celebrates 27 Years of Service to Washington State Immigrants and Refugees
5/10/2011
NWIRP's 27th Anniversary Celebration will take place this Friday, May 13, 2011 from 5:30 to 8:00pm at the Experience Music Project's dramatic Sky Church. A reception featuring aerialist Michele Frances, mini-live auction and wine pull will be accompanied by a brief program and awards. This year, NWIRP will present its Golden Door Award to Michael Concannon and its Amicus Award to Omar Riojas & DLA Piper and K&L Gates.
DHS Agrees to Pay $400,000 to U.S. Citizen, Army Veteran, Unlawfully Detained by Immigration for Over Seven Months
2/24/2011
Rennison Castillo is a United States citizen and U.S. Army veteran who was imprisoned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington. It took more than seven months for the government to finally admit it had made an error and release him. Now the Department of Homeland Security has agreed to pay him $400,000 and has issued a formal apology. In addition, the government has revised their operation instructions on how to handle persons who present U.S. citizen claims.
Federal Court Rules in Favor of NWIRP Client, Reaffirms Protections for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence
2/15/2011
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a Seattle immigration judge had erred in issuing a deportation order against a survivor of domestic violence whose children had been physically abused by her former partner and who had been abused herself. The decision reaffirmed that protections for domestic violence survivors in the immigration system are to be read generously and broadly.
Immigrants Win Right to Representation
12/23/2010
In a major decision, a U.S. district court has ruled that federal officials must provide
representation for two men with severe mental disabilities while they fight their deportation cases, one of whom is detained at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project & Center for Justice Achieve Settlement in Case of Immigrant Detained Unlawfully
9/17/2010
NWIRP and the Center for Justice have successfully represented a Spokane man in a suit against the Spokane County Jail. Enoc Arroyo-Estrada, a Mexican citizen, was unlawfully arrested and incarcerated in Spokane County Jail for 20 days after police officers questioned his immigration status at the scene of a traffic accident.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project & Partners File First Class-Action Lawsuit On Behalf of Immigrants with Mental Disabilities
8/2/2010
The nation’s first class action lawsuit on behalf of immigrant detainees with severe mental disabilities – detainees who are left defenseless in a system they cannot comprehend -- was filed late Monday by a coalition of legal organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Public Counsel, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrants Rights Project, the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial County, and Mental Health Advocacy Services.
The suit asks a federal district court in Los Angeles to order the U.S. government to create a system for determining which non-citizens lack the mental competence to represent themselves and to appoint legal representation for those who are unable to defend themselves. Unlike the criminal court system – where appointed counsel is part of due process -- immigration courts and detention facilities have no safeguards for ensuring that the rights of people with serious mental disabilities are protected. Two plaintiffs in the suit were the subject of habeas petitions before federal courts in California last March.
United States v. Arizona racial profiling law
7/6/2010
NWIRP applauds the decision announced today by the U.S. Department of Justice that it is filing a lawsuit challenging the recently-enacted Arizona law known as "S.B. 1070." In the case filed today, United States v. Arizona, the Justice Department has asked a federal court to rule that the Arizona statute is unconstitutional. It asserts that the law is an encroachment on the federal government's role of regulating immigration and that it will result in the unlawful detention and harassment of individuals.
"The lawsuit filed today by the Justice Department is an important step in ensuring that the egregious Arizona law is never enforced," said Jorge L. Barón, NWIRP's Executive Director. "However, even if this litigation is successful, it will not address the underlying challenges in our immigration system, a system that 'offends our most basic American values,' as the President himself recognized last week. NWIRP again calls on the administration to recognize the urgent need to work not only against SB 1070 but for a fair and humane reform of our immigration policies."
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Legal Voice, Latina/o Bar Association of Washington, National Employment Law Project and ACLU of Washington Unite to Praise Washington Supreme Court Decision Protecting the Integrity of the Court System
4/15/2010
NWIRP joined LBAW, Legal Voice, NELP and the ACLU in praising a Washington State Supreme Court decision protecting the integrity of the court system in Salas v. Hi-Tech Erectors. The court held that the trial court had erred in allowing the admission of evidence of a plaintiff's immigration status during a civil case.
NWIRP to receive national recognition
10/14/2009
NWIRP announced that it will receive the 2009 Daniel Levy Award from the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild at a reception on Thursday, October 16 in Seattle. This national award comes on the heels of a separate recognition of NWIRP by the City of Seattle and King County for the organization’s work on behalf of immigrant survivors of domestic violence. The two recognitions come as NWIRP celebrates 25 years of service to the immigrant community in Washington State.
NWIRP to Celebrate 25 Years of Serving Immigrant Communities
10/5/2009
NWIRP the only organization providing comprehensive immigration legal services to low-income individuals and families in Washington State, will celebrate its 25th Anniversary with a fundraising event at the Seattle Hilton, this coming Saturday, October 10.
NWIRP E.D. Jorge Baron on KUOW 94.9
6/18/2009
KUOW talks with Jorge Baron, Executive Director at Northwest Immigrant Rights Project about the growing backlogs at Immigration Courts.
NWIRP Wins "Moving Mountains" award from Office of Crime Victims Advocacy
3/27/2009
On March 25th, NWIRP was awarded the "Moving Mountains Award" from the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA), a division of the State's Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED). NWIRP was recognized because of our work on behalf of immigrant survivors of crime and the award was presented during OCVA's statewide conference in Yakima.
NWIRP wins City of Seattle Human Rights Award
12/4/2008
Award to be presented during Human Rights Day Celebration, Thursday, December 11
Federal Appeals Court Rules For Jamaican Gay Man and NWIRP Client, Finds “Pattern or Practice” of Persecution Against Gay Jamaican Men
9/16/2008
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled yesterday that “there exists in Jamaica a pattern or practice of persecution of gay men” and that a gay Jamaican man may be entitled to protection from deportation as a result. The court’s ruling was issued in the case of Damion Bromfield, a Jamaican man who has been detained for 43 months at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma while he fights deportation.
Settlement Reached in Lawsuit Challenging Unreasonable Delays Granting Citizenship
8/12/2008
NWIRP, ACLU-WA, and pro bono co-counsel from the law firms of Stoel Rives and Ropes and Gray have reached a preliminary settlement agreement with the federal government in a landmark class action lawsuit.
U.S. Citizen and Army Veteran Spends Nine Months In Detention While U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Denies Detaining Citizens
7/21/2008
NWIRP says ICE “disingenuous”.
NWIRP today debunked claims by the Northwest regional office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that the government has not detained U.S. citizens at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma.
NWIRP Expresses Its Opposition to Planned Expansion of DHS Detention Center
7/7/2008
NWIRP today expressed its opposition to the decision of the Department of Homeland Security to expand the capacity of the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington. According to local news reports, the private contractor which runs the facility, the GEO Corporation, will be expanding the capacity of the detention center by 50% so that it can hold up to 1,500 individual at a time.
Matt Adams Wins National Excellence in Litigation Award
6/25/2008
Matt Adams, legal director of NWIRP, has been named recipient of the 2008 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award, given annually by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) in recognition of “excellence in litigation in the field of immigration law.” Adams will receive the recognition at the upcoming AILA Annual Conference in Vancouver, Canada.