The federal administration has established a goal of conducting the largest mass detention and deportation effort in U.S. history. This effort has already resulted in a significant increase of enforcement actions forcing family separation and uprooting people from their homes and communities. One unstated hope behind these efforts, however, is that they want people like us to quit.
But that is not going to happen. It’s not going to happen because we are in partnerships in Washington State and across the country, ensuring our communities have the information they need and that our high-quality legal services are accessible to them. Together, we will continue to fight on. Our legal team is making a difference, ensuring our community members are supported through their removal defense proceedings and released from immigration custody. Our impact litigation team continues to challenge denial of bonds, including through a historic number of habeas petitions filed to challenge unlawful detentions. And our community outreach efforts have tripled over the past year, from reaching 7,400 people in 2024 to over 25,400 people in 2025.
NWIRP has defended and advanced immigrant rights for over 42 years and counting because of people like you who are stepping up – even when it’s hard. During these difficult times, I am so grateful for your dedication to our communities. We cannot do this work without you and without our communities of support.
Court Finds Trump Administration’s Third-Country Removal Policy is Unlawful, Vacates the Policy
Alongside our partners at Human Rights First (HRF) and the National Immigration Litigation Alliance (NILA), we welcome yesterday’s decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, declaring unlawful and setting aside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) third country removal policy. DHS has relied on the policy to send noncitizens under final orders of removal to third countries—countries to which they were not ordered removed—without notice or opportunity to seek protection from persecution and torture. The decision granted partial summary judgment in D.V.D. v. DHS, a case in which NWIRP and our partners NILA and HRF represent a nationwide class of individuals with certain final removal orders.
In issuing his order, Judge Murphy stated, “The Department of Homeland Security has adopted a policy whereby it may take people and drop them off in parts unknown—in so-called ‘third countries’—and, ‘as long as the Department doesn’t already know that there’s someone standing there waiting to shoot… that’s fine.’ It is not fine, nor is it legal.”
The Court’s decision confirms that the law requires the agency to comply with basic notions of decency, ensuring that the United States does not deport people to countries where they are likely to be persecuted or tortured. The agency is not entitled to use third country removals as a weapon of intimidation and terror targeting immigrant communities.
The district court stayed its decision for fifteen days to allow the government to seek a stay from the First Circuit pending appeal.
Celebrating 100 Years of Black History Month
This year marks the 100 year anniversary of Black History Month! While the month of February wasn’t recognized as Black History Month by the United States government until 1976, the Black community began the important work of celebrating and acknowledging their impact in this country 100 years ago in 1926. Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect on the contributions of Black immigrants in the United States; it is also a reminder of the work that must continue to be done to fight back against anti-Black policies which harm fellow community members, including many in NWIRP’s client communities. We encourage you to support the leadership and work of organizations like African Communities Together, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Lavender Rights Project, Law For Black Lives, Mother Africa, and UndocuBlack Network.
Taking Action in Olympia
Over the past several weeks, NWIRP has stood alongside our partners in Olympia for powerful days of advocacy and community leadership. Together, we’re raising our voices, building power, and advocating for policies that strengthen our communities across Washington State.
We are thankful to our legislators for their partnership and ongoing support of the Washington Migrant Asylum Seeker Support (WA MASS) Program and the VOCA State Plan, and that funding is sustained for the Legal Aid for Low-Income Immigrants Program and the New Americans Program in their proposed supplemental operating budgets.
While we are grateful for these commitments from legislators in support of our communities, we need your help to protect the future of immigrant health care in Washington State. The Apple Health Expansion (AHE) provides vital healthcare coverage to thousands of immigrants with low income across Washington State. However, cuts and a program restructure are currently being considered which could put many community members at risk. Please take a moment to send a message to legislators in Senate Ways & Means and House Appropriations, urging them to fully fund healthcare for all Washingtonians. Sign on today for this joint organizational letter in support of Apple Health Expansion.
Celebrating Social Work Month
Did you know that March is Social Work Month? The theme for the 2026 Social Work Month is “Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform.” Social workers provide essential support to children, adults, and families by connecting them to critical resources and services to ensure their safety, stability, and well-being.
NWIRP’s Social Services Unit, established in 2019, provides one-on-one support to our clients to help them access needed resources and services in their local community. As an integral part of NWIRP’s interdisciplinary legal team, the Social Services Unit works alongside the legal staff to provide holistic services to NWIRP clients while they navigate their legal immigration case.
Today, we are excited to celebrate the commitment and hard work of the NWIRP team: three full-time Social Services staff members and four social work practicum students from local universities. We extend our deepest appreciation to them for their work, which helps uplift, defend, and transform the lives of NWIRP’s client communities every day.
We also extend our gratitude to social workers across the country for their dedication to empowering children, adults, and families and advancing social justice, particularly in these difficult times.
Our Latest NWIRP Immigration Updates Webinars
On Tuesday, we held another free immigration updates webinar for the community. This training will be uploaded soon alongside all our free webinars at this link.
Join Us for Our Annual Gala on May 15!
This is a pivotal moment for the immigrant rights movement, and we are committed to doing everything we can to protect our community from continued attacks from the federal government. Right now, your support is vital for our staff and clients. It is a source of hope and strength as we defend our community and their rights.
With this in mind, as well as to gather in celebration of our partnerships and successes in litigation, we invite you to gather with us at our most critical fundraiser of the year: our annual gala at the Westin Seattle on Friday, May 15th. Registration is now open at the link below, and early bird ticket pricing is available through April 3.
Get Your Early Bird Tickets Here
Would you like to be a table ambassador? Check out our guide here, and please contact our Development Events Manager Rex Brown at events@nwirp.org if you’re interested.
Would your organization like to sponsor the event? Please contact our Development Events Manager Rex Brown at events@nwirp.org.
Thank you for your continued support. We are grateful to have you as part of this movement.
With Gratitude,
Malou Chávez (she/her/ella)
Executive Director
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