The demand for immigration services is affecting many nonprofits in our region, including ELAP.
The immigration court system is swamped nationally and locally. Washington state has a backlog of nearly 50,000 immigration cases so far in 2024, up from 35,000 total in 2023, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Nationally, 3.6 million immigrants are stuck in the backlog. A shortage of both immigration judges and lawyers is impacting the system.
Councilmember Jorge Barón told KUOW, “Just to give you a sense, in the Seattle Immigration Court, there were over 3,200 cases filed just in the month of December. It’s the highest number that we’ve seen.”
In Washington, we have state and local offices dedicated to helping refugees who have been granted a political designation that comes with legal papers, housing, employment and other supports before they arrive in the U.S.
However, Washington has few resources for people who come here seeking asylum from violence or persecution in their home country. The Washington Legislature designated $32.7 million in the state budget to help address this issue and support new arrivals to the state.
In 2023 and 2024, more than 1,000 refugees came to the Riverton Park United Methodist Church in Tukwila seeking help. Most of the arrivals were escaping violence and dire conditions in Venezuela, Angola, and Congo.
Resources:
Washington Immigration Solidarity Network
One America
Washington State Office of Immigrant & Refugee Assistance
There is a high need for legal expertise on immigration matters, specifically with asylum cases. Here’s how you can help:
Sign up to be a pro bono attorney in our asylum/immigration clinic
