Immigrant & Refugee Resources

Welcome to our collection of resources designed to support immigrant and refugee families. Whether you’re new to our community or have deep roots here, we’re here to provide valuable information that we hope you’ll find helpful.

We will do everything we can under the law to protect students and maintain a safe and secure environment for every student at school.

Immigration Legal Services

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP)

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education. They aslo provide a emergency and safety plan templates.

Website: nwirp.org
Phone: 206-587-4009

Colectiva Legal del Pueblo

Colectiva Legal del Pueblo is a non-hierarchal collective organization founded for and by undocumented immigrants working to build community leadership and power for migrant justice through legal advocacy and education.

Website: colectivalegal.org
Phone: 206-931-1514

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Referral Service

AILA is the only legal association in the United States for immigration attorneys. More than 14,000 immigration lawyers are members of AILA.

Website: ailalawyer.com
Email: ils@aila.org

List of Organizations Recognized by Board of Immigration Appeals

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) adjudicates immigration cases in a careful and timely manner, including cases involving detained aliens, criminal aliens, and aliens seeking asylum as a form of relief from removal, while ensuring the standards of due process and fair treatment for all parties involved.

Website: justice.gov
Phone: 703-305-0289

Immigration Advocates Network National Legal Services Directory

The Immigration Advocates Network (IAN) is a collaborative effort of leading immigrants' rights organizations designed to increase access to justice for low-income immigrants and strengthen the capacity of organizations serving them.

Website: immigrationadvocates.org
Email: directory@immigrationadvocates.org

General Legal Services

Washington LawHelp

Washington LawHelp is a guide to free civil legal services for low-income persons and seniors in Washington. This site provides legal education materials and tools that give you basic information on a number of legal problems, and in some cases, detailed instructions and forms to help you represent yourself in court.

Website: washingtonlawhelp.org

Northwest Justice Project CLEAR Hotline

NJP’s mission is to secure justice through high quality legal advocacy that promotes the long-term well-being of low-income individuals, families, and communities.

Website: nwjustice.org
Phone (In King County): 211
Phone (Outside of King County): 888-201-1014

Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC)

Legal Counsel for Youth and Children provides specialized, holistic legal advocacy for children in child welfare proceedings and other juvenile court matters.

Website: lcycwa.com
Phone: 206-494-0323

Columbia Legal Services

Columbia Legal Services advocates for people who face injustice and poverty. They seek to achieve social and economic justice for all, using policy reform, litigation, and innovative partnerships to reveal and end actions that harm the communities they serve.
Website: columbialegal.org
Phone: 800-542-0794

Discrimination in Employment, Housing, Others

WA State Human Rights Commission

The mission of the Washington State Human Rights Commission is to prevent and eliminate discrimination through the fair application of the law, the efficient use of resources, and the establishment of productive partnerships in the community.

Website: hum.wa.gov
Phone: 800-233-3247

King County Office of Civil Rights

The King County Office of Civili Rights aims to eliminate unlawful discrimination through education, mediation, and enforcement that is responsive to a diverse King County.

Website: kingcounty.gov
Phone: 206-684-4500

City of Seattle Office of Civil Rights

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) advances civil rights and removes barriers to equity.

Website: seattle.gov
Phone: 206-684-4500

Resources on Obtaining U.S. Citizenship

Washington New Americans program (run by OneAmerica)

The Washington New Americans Program (WNA) connects immigrants and refugees in Washington State to the information and legal services needed to successfully naturalize and exercise their civic voice. In the interest of changing a flawed system, we also advocate to reduce the structural barriers that keep many from achieving U.S. citizenship.

Website: wanewamericans.org
Phone: 877-926-3924

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Naturalization Program

The Naturalization program provides citizenship services to legal immigrants who receive public assistance through cash, medical, or food assistance programs administered by DSHS.

Website: dshs.wa.gov
Phone: 206-568-5609

Safety Plans

Resources on Public Benefits for Immigrants

Washington LawHelp

Website: washingtonlawhelp.org

Northwest Health Law Advocates

Northwest Health Law Advocates is the consumer voice in the health care debate. We aim to improve access to health care for all Washington residents in furtherance of health as a human right.

Website: nohla.org
Phone: 206-325-6464

National Immigration Law Center – Economic Support

The resources on this page provide information about eligibility and other rules governing immigrants’ access to federal and state economic support programs.

Website: nilc.org
Phone: 213-639-3900

Resources on General Immigration Policy / Advocacy

American Immigration Council

The American Immigration Council is a powerful voice in promoting laws, policies, and attitudes that honor our proud history as a nation of immigrants.

Website: americanimmigrationcouncil.org

Phone: 202-507-7500

National Immigration Forum

The National Immigration Forum is one of the leading immigrant advocacy organizations in the country, with a mission to advocate for the value of immigrants and immigration to the nation.

Website: immigrationforum.org

Phone: 202-347-0040

National Immigration Law Center

The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is one of the leading organizations in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of low-income immigrants.

Website: nilc.org

Phone: 213-639-3900

Detention Watch Network

Detention Watch Network is a national membership organization that brings together advocates from diverse backgrounds to unify strategy, build partnerships and strengthen the movement to end immigration detention.

Website: detentionwatchnetwork.org

Immigrant Legal Resource Center

The mission of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is to work with and educate immigrants, community organizations, and the legal sector to continue to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people.

Website: ilrc.org/community-resources

Board Policy 4300 – Limiting Immigration Enforcement in Schools

Highline Policy 4300 outlines strick guidelines should Federal Immigrantion Enforcement come to our schools.

As outlined in Policy 4300, staff should follow these guidelines:

Direct any immigration enforcement officer to the public sidewalk.
The site administrator will contact the Superintendent’s office immediately at 206-631-3070. Assistance will be sent to the school immediately.
Do not permit access to students or classrooms without explicit authorization from the Superintendent’s office.
Require officers to present identification and a warrant.
Make copies of both documents and provide them to the Superintendent’s office.
Do not release any student information or records unless required by a court order or subpoena and approved by the Superintendent’s office.
Notify the student’s parent or guardian immediately.

Report any suspected violations of student rights to the Superintendent’s office, which will file a report with the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

Learn more about the Highline Public Schools policy on Immigration Enforcement