Immigration / Anti-Deportation / Naturalization Resources
Our APA communities consist of people from all walks of life who now call Washington home. However, from those who have lived in Washington for generations to those who came here yesterday, we are treated as perpetual foreigners, both in how others see us and how we are treated by legal agreements, citizenship laws, and immigration laws.
As of September 2017, nearly 57,000 undocumented Asian American immigrants live in Washington State. CAPAA acknowledges that deportation raids can harm families, societies, the economy, and our community. Washington State’s economy, one of the fastest growing in the United States, depends on immigrants. Immigrants also contribute to the State’s vibrant culture. Therefore, we recognize the inherent interconnectedness of all our nation’s inhabitants, and stand with those who are affected.
To this end, we have compiled immigration, naturalization, and anti-deportation resources for community reference and use. Additional resources are also available at the Governor’s Immigration and Refugee Resources.
To become a U.S. citizen you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be 18 years of age or older.
- You must have authorization to live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis (i.e. a green card holder) for at least five years (or three years, if married to a United States citizen).
- You must have continuous residence in the U.S. for at least five years (or three years, if married to a United States citizen) and be physically present in the U.S. for at least half that time.
- You must be able to read, write, and speak basic English
- Exemptions are available based on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to) age, time as a permanent resident in the U.S., and disability
- You must pass a civics test on fundamental U.S. history and government
- You must be a person of “good moral character”
The citizenship process requires:
- Personal information about you, your parents, your spouse, and your children (if applicable)
- Any arrests you may have had
- Where you worked during the last 5 years
- Where you lived during the last 5 years
- Where you traveled outside of the United States over the last 5 years
- A civics test
- An interview
- A biometric scan
The current cost of applying for citizenship is $725, including the cost of a biometric scan. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers a reduced cost ($405) and fee waiver for those who qualify. Use this calculator to see if you qualify for a waiver.
The agencies and organizations below provide a number of different immigration, citizenship, and naturalization services.
| Agency/Organization | Contact information | Service(s) |
| Asian Counseling & Referral Service | 3639 Martin Luther King Way South Seattle, WA 98144 (206) 695-7600Xiangping Chen xiangpingc@acrs.org (206) 695-7578 |
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| Catholic Community Services of Western Washington | 100 23rd Avenue S Seattle, WA 98144 (206) 328-5696 DACA Hotline: (206) 566-6664Find contact information by county |
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| Chinese Information Service Center | 611 S. Lane St. Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 624-5633 |
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| DSHS Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance | Check eligibility for assistance and apply through Washington Connection
For more information: oriainfo@dshs.wa.gov ORIA Naturalization Services Program Manager: |
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| International Rescue Committee | 16256 Military Road S. #206 SeaTac, WA 98188 (206) 623-2105100S. King St. ,Suite 570 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 623-2105 |
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| Jewish Family Services | 1601 16th Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 (425) 643-2221 |
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| Korean Women’s Association | 4629 168th St. SW #G Lynnwood, WA 98037 (425) 742-3696123East 96th Street Tacoma, WA 98445 (253) 535-42025305East 18th St., Ste 117 Vancouver, WA 98661 (360) 906-0577 |
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| Literacy Source | 720 N. 35th, Suite 103 Seattle, WA 98103 (206) 782-2050 |
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| Lutheran Community Services NW | 115 NE 100th St., Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98125 (206) 694-5742210W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201 (509) 747-8224223N. Yakima Ave Tacoma, WA 98403 (253) 272-84333600Main St. Suite 200 Vancouver, WA 98663 (360) 694-5624 |
Services vary by region. |
| Multi Cultural Self Sufficiency Movement | 30819 14th Ave. S. #F Federal Way, WA 9800 (253) 945-601011016 Bridgeport Way SW Tacoma, WA 98499 (253) 584-5615 |
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| Neighborhood House | 905 Spruce St., Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 461-8430 |
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| Northwest Immigrant Rights Project | 121 Sunnyside Ave. PO Box 270 Granger, WA 98932 (509) 854-2100615 2nd Ave. Suite 400 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 957-86041119 Pacific Avenue, #1400 Tacoma, WA 98402 (206) 816-3893 620 N. Emerson Avenue, Suite 201 |
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| Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs – Seattle | 700 5th Ave Suite 1616 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 727-8515 |
Other services and programs available through partner community-based organizations. |
| Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest | 2000 Tower Street Everett, WA 98201-1352 (425) 388-9307 |
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| Refugee Women’s Alliance | 4008 M.L.King Way S. Seattle, WA 98108 (206) 721-0243 |
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| Sea Mar Community Health Centers | 8915 14th Ave S Seattle, WA 98108 (206) 764-4700 |
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| St. James Cathedral | 804 9th Avenue Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 382-4511 |
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| Tacoma Community House | 1314 South L St. Tacoma, WA 98415 (253) 383-3951 |
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General Resources:
- Know Your Rights, courtesy of ACLU: English | Urdu | Farsi | Hindi | Punjabi
- Know Your Rights: Immigrants’ Rights, courtesy of ACLU
- Social media graphics, courtesy of AAJC – Atlanta: Chinese| English | Hindi | Khmer | Korean | Thai | Urdu | Vietnamese
- Printable mini cards, courtesy of AAJC – Atlanta: Bengali | Burmese | Chinese | Dar/Farsi | English | Gujarati | Hindi | Karen | Khmer | Nepali | Pashto | Punjabi | Urdu | Vietnamese
- Printable “Know Your Rights” Cards, courtesy of Immigrant Legal Resource Center: Chinese | Hmong | Korean | Tagalog | Vietnamese
- Know Your Rights for Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian Communities, courtesy of AAJC – LA
- Protecting Your Data at the U.S. Border, courtesy of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
- Know Your Rights, courtesy of iAmerica: Korean | Tagalog | Simplified Chinese | Vietnamese | Khmer | Hindi
Washington State Resources:
- Know Your Rights: Workplace Immigration Raids, courtesy of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN)
- Know Your Rights under Keep Washington Working, courtesy of WAISN
Many deportations cite a prior criminal history as a reason for deportation, regardless of an individual’s rehabilitation or even if the crime may have been minor. Gubernatorial pardons have become an increasingly common tool in fighting back against deportations, as they can eliminate grounds for deportation and open doors for citizenship and naturalization. You can read more about the role of pardons in the immigrants’ rights at Pardon: Immigrant Clemency Project.
In Washington State, pardons go through the Clemency and Pardons Board, which receives and reviews petitions from individuals, organizations and the Department of Corrections for commutation of sentences and pardoning. If approved by the Board, the petition then goes to the Governor. A full guide from the Attorney’s General Office, including the application and instructions, is available here.
It is highly recommended to submit these forms with the consult of a trusted advocacy group and/or immigration lawyer. CAPAA does not provide legal assistance nor do we assist in casework.
For questions about the process, contact:
Jennifer Rheaume
Paralegal – Office of the Attorney General
Washington State Clemency and Pardons Board Support Staff
P.O. Box 40116
Olympia, WA 98504
360-586-0047
CPBoard@atg.wa.gov
NWIRP DACA Portal
The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) has many resources available for DACA recipients, organized under their DACA Portal Page.
DACA Renewals
The Northwest Immigrants Rights Project (NWIRP) holds free monthly virtual DACA clinics to assist clients seeking to renew their DACA status. To secure a spot in one of their virtual DACA clinics, call the DREAMLine (1-855-313-7326) from 9am-5pm Monday through Friday. Please contact them at least six months before your DACA status is set to expire to minimize the risk of a lapse in your DACA status. (Please note that NWIRP is not assisting with initial DACA applications at this time.)
USCIS’ “Frequently Asked Questions” Page
Other Resources for DACA Recipients
Keep Washington Working
Washington State is dedicated to being a state where the rights and dignity of all residents are maintained and protected, including our undocumented residents. In 2019, the Legislature passed E2SSB 5497, creating a work group to address statewide policy on supporting Washington’s economy and immigrants’ role in the workplace.
You can follow their work at https://www.commerce.wa.gov/growing-the-economy/keep-washington-working/
Financial Aid for College
Washington State offers financial aid programs to students who cannot file, or do not wish to file, a federal FAFSA financial aid application for various reasons:
- Immigration status/undocumented
- Defaulted federal loans
- Repayments owed on federal grants
- Unable to provide selective service confirmation
- U.S. citizen applicants with undocumented parents/family members who do not wish to file a FAFSA
To check your eligibility for the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA), go to https://readysetgrad.wa.gov/wasfa-washington-application-state-financial-aid
The Northwest Detention Center (NWDC), located in Tacoma, is a privately-run immigrant detention center. It is the only immigrant detention center in the Pacific Northwest, and one of the largest in the country. You can read more about the NWDC using this guide from the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), which includes information on visitation, phone calls, bond hearings, immigration court, and more.
Emergency Preparedness for Those at Risk of Deportation
Immigrant Defense Project Resource List Power of attorney form, action plan during a raid, HIPPA form, plan for financial needs, and other resources including tips on how to avoid frauds and scams. Several of the materials are available in Spanish and English.
The following resources are for impacted Khmer, Hmong, Laotian, Vietnamese, Mien, and Khmu individuals and communities at risk of deportation.
Southeast Asian Raids
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has carried out a series of devastating raids on Southeast Asian refugee communities. The website http://searaids.org was created by non-profit and community organizations like Viet Unity, VietLead, SEARAC, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta, and more. This site provides resources and up-to-date information for people facing deportation to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Know Your Rights cards are available in English, Khmer, Hmong, and Vietnamese here: http://searaids.org/know-your-rights
National Southeast Asian Raid Hotline: (415) 952-0413
SEARAC | Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
SEARAC is a national civil rights organization that empowers Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese American communities to create a socially just and equitable society. As representatives of the largest refugee community ever resettled in the United States, SEARAC stands together with other refugee communities, communities of color, and social justice movements in pursuit of social equity.
Khmer Anti-deportation Advocacy Group of Washington State (KhAAG)
KhAAG came together in response to ramped up I.C.E raids in our communities in Washington State and nationwide. Many affected families are unaware of the lasting reach of changing policies that shape deportation enforcement and are caught off guard when their loved ones are still being targeted decades after paying their debt to society. KhAAG (pronounced CAGE) organizes to provide support, resources, and guidance to our communities directly impacted by I.C.E.
In partnership with NWIRP and Seattle Clemency Project, an intake form is located here for Pardon/Clemency assistance: https://www.khaagwa.org/nwirp-in-take-form.html
Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN)
Response Toolkit: https://bit.ly/2LhOpg0
Call 844-RAID-REP (844–724–3737)
Text message alert system: text “JOIN” to 253–201–2833
Website: www.waisn.org
Accompaniment Volunteer Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2x60xY2
Donate to Fair Fight Bond Fund: https://fairfightbondfund.org/donate
WAISN Rapid Response Webinar Trainings: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/waisn-rapid-response-webinar-trainings/
La Resistencia
Grassroots undocumented-led movement that works to end the detention of immigrants and stop all deportations. Under the umbrella of the national #Not1More campaign, La Resistencia supports and follows the leadership of those detained at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma, Washington, demanding better treatment and conditions and to stop all deportations.
Report a raid toll free: (800) 357-3196
Website: https://www.nwdcresistance.org
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.
Website: https://www.nwirp.org/
Intake form for help: https://www.nwirp.org/get-help
King County residents or those who work in Seattle in need of legal services for their immigration case call (206) 816-3870 to find out if you qualify.
Non-detained, other Western WA Residents call: (800) 445-5771
If detained in Tacoma at NWDC, e-mail tacoma@nwirp.org with Name, DOB and Alien #.
All other case inquiries email: tsuintake@nwirp.org
The National Korean American Services & Education Consortium (NAKASEC): 24/7 immigration hotline in Korean & English:1-800-500-3222
ACLU: The American Civil Liberties Union has a number of helpful resources that addresses what rights you have when you are stopped, questioned, arrested, or searched by law enforcement officers. The booklet is for citizens and non-citizens, with information for non-citizens in a separate section. Please note that while this booklet is informative and accurate, it is not a substitute for legal advice. We’ve included links to this downloadable pamphlet in several languages below:
English | Arabic | Urdu | Farsi | Hindi | Punjabi | Somali | Español | Français
Emergency Preparedness for Those at Risk of Deportation
Immigrant Defense Project Resource List Power of attorney form, action plan during a raid, HIPPA form, plan for financial needs, and other resources including tips on how to avoid frauds and scams. Several of the materials are available in Spanish and English.
Crowdsourced ICE Raid Resources
The following crowdsourced throughout advocacy communities active in anti-deportation work: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tnttyb5GvowqJwOf8BD2KyysuTqBB_Guoyw7Juxy9gg/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwAR3w0ln4wA1G_9_j1jR-FLidnbyvWYfdXxePhsW3QX3v7blHS7Oik6SHMRs