2022-2023
Impact Report
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education.
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Malou Chávez
AND BOARD PRESIDENT
Liz Dunbar
Almost forty years ago, legal advocates, social workers, faith-based community members, and many others responded in support of asylum seekers from Central America who were being placed in deportation proceedings and ordered deported in large numbers here in Washington state. Their collective effort began Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.
OUR 2022 IMPACT
BY THE NUMBERS
Total number of community members served
DIRECT
REPRESENTATION
Clients provided direct
legal immigration services
Case intakes completed
Cases closed
Deportations prevented (without status granted)
“The Tacoma detention center is one of the largest facilities in the United States, with a maximum capacity of nearly 1,600, holding community members in immigration custody. It is also a very hostile place – first and foremost for the people held at the facility but also for us advocates who work on behalf of our clients. Community members held at the detention center include people with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest as well as recent asylum seekers seeking safety who entered the country from both the Northern and Southern borders. It is a huge mix of people, all of whom face deportation back to countries they either fled or may barely know.”
– Julia Braker, Staff Attorney
Temporary status approved for clients
Permanent status approved for clients
“The naturalization team at NWIRP intentionally takes on very complex cases. Many of our clients have criminal convictions or have been placed in removal proceedings. So, when someone reaches the end of their immigration journey through naturalization, it is the culmination of many years of uncertainty and struggle. It is an extremely meaningful day for our clients when their immigration-related stress is finally over.”
– Natasha El-Sergany, Supervising Attorney
Work authorizations granted
Cases taken on by a pro bono attorney
Community Education
Community education outreach events
People reached through community education efforts
Systemic Advocacy
Lawsuits and complaints filed by our impact litigation team
“NWIRP’s Impact Litigation Unit promotes systemic advocacy by challenging unjust laws and policies before the federal courts. We pursue cases that advance the legal rights of individuals applying for immigration benefits, defending against enforcement actions and removal proceedings, and seeking redress for egregious civil rights violations. Our litigation, first and foremost, stems from NWIRP’s work with immigrant communities across Washington State, and is also nationally recognized for its wide-reaching impact. In addition to effecting policy changes through class actions, NWIRP has also established the rights of immigrants by successfully challenging individual deportation orders, securing releases from unlawful detention, and holding local and federal government officials accountable for violations of basic rights.”
– Leila Kang, Supervising Attorney
Community Demographics
Languages spoken by our clients
Countries our clients came from
Average number of days a direct representation case remains open
2022 Financials
Hover your cursor over each pie chart for more information
REVENUE
| Individual, Event and Business Contributions: | $5,383,330 |
| Foundation Grants: | $750,750 |
| Government Grants and Contracts: | $10,100,394 |
| Additional Revenue (Earned Income, Investments, Fees, etc.): | $701,346 |
| Total Revenue: | $16,935,820 |
EXPENSES
| Program Services: | $14,323,238 |
| Management and Administration: | $1,793,136 |
| Fundraising: | $789,936 |
| Total Expenses: | $16,906,310 |
Revenue and expenses are reported without including donated services, which were valued at $3,117,680 in 2022–23.
Our Work In Action
Pro bono Spotlight
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project places great emphasis on training others, in order to stretch its resources as far as they can go. One of NWIRP’s great successes is our pro bono panel of attorneys, who are instrumental in sharing the workload of directly representing immigrants. We interviewed Paula Deutsch about her experience representing clients for NWIRP.
Connecting with My Clients
By Staff Attorney Lavette Holman
A Journey to Safety and Opportunity: Oswaldo’s Story
Thank You
Every story in this report happened because of the work of this community. From the brave immigrants who faced overwhelming injustices in their pursuit of safety and security, to the supporters who provided their time, talent, or treasure to connect these community members to important resources.
From all of us at NWIRP, we would like to say thank you.
2023 Board of Directors
Liz Dunbar, President
Sok Pok, Vice President
Renata De Carvalho Garcia, Secretary
Ali Higgs, Treasurer
Francis Adewale
Manal Al-ansi
Miguel A. Bocanegra
Kamau Chege
Dave Heiner
Wendy Hernandez
Andrew Kim
Nushina Mir
Fernando Morado
Tania Mondaca
Mary Jo Ybarra-Vega
2022-2023 Staff
Granger Staff
Abigail Santos, Legal Advocate
Adela Ruiz, Senior Legal Advocate / DOJ Accredited Representative
Ben Bomber, Staff Attorney
Dawa Lhamo, Immigrant Justice Corp Fellow
Heryk Palapa, Temporary Staff Attorney
Irma Ramos, Senior Office Manager / Receptionist
Laura Contreras, Directing Attorney
Lavette Holman, Staff Attorney
Maria Hernandez, Temporary Receptionist
Micaella Contreras, Legal Advocate
Ronald Medrano Williams, Staff Attorney
Teiki Chanfour, IT Associate
Yoselin Pedraza, Legal Advocate
Yoselyn Ceja Lopez, Legal Advocate
Briana Nolasco, Staff Attorney
SEattle Staff
Aaron Korthuis, Staff Attorney
Aarti Khanna, Development Director
Alec Maloney, JVC Service Fellow
Alex Askerov, Staff Attorney
Alex Romero, Interim Supervising Attorney
Amin Bakhshi, Legal Advocate
Amy Cheng, Legal Advocate
Anarose Reardon-Helferd, Staff Attorney
Angel Martinez Jimenez, Legal Advocate
Ann Richardson, Grants and Contracts Director
Annie Farber,DOJ Accredited Representative
Araceli Prado Hernandez, JVC Service Fellow
Ashley Piper, Supervising Attorney
Audrey Gilliam, Supervising Attorney
Bruce Yasutake, Grants and Contracts Associate
Calixto Torres-Santay, Legal Advocate
Chris Collado, Supervising Attorney
Chris Strawn, Senior Attorney / Supervising Attorney
Daniel Perez, Senior Legal Advocate/ DOJ Accredited Representative
Dayana Camacho, Front Desk Receptionist
Denisse Guadarrama, Staff Attorney
Deniz Uysal-Ferré, DOJ Accredited Representative
Dustin Hovda, Interim Supervising Attorney
Ehsanulhaq Zubair, Temporary Legal Advocate
Eithne Leahy, Temporary Legal Advocate
Elizabeth Eisenberg, Staff Attorney
Emiko Smukler, Legal Advocate and Intake Coordinator
Emily Marvin, QuEST Service Fellow
Fardin Amin, Temporary Legal Advocate
Farhad Zakhilwal, Legal Advocate
Ga’Vintay McGhee, SSC Service Fellow
Gema Soto-Marquez, Front Desk Receptionist
Glenda Aldana Madrid, Staff Attorney
Henry Hwang, Directing Attorney
Indira Siordia, Temporary Staff Attorney
Jenny Mashek, Directing Attorney
Jemmie Kamau, EJW Fellow
Jessie Freer Walters, Staff Attorney
Jordan Mall, Temporary Legal Advocate/ JVC Service Fellow
Jordan Wasserman, Senior Pro Bono Coordinating Attorney/ Supervising Attorney
Jorge L. Barón, Executive Director Emeritus
José Meza, Social Services Advocate
Kaitlyn Schroeder, Staff Attorney
Kayley Bebber, Supervising Attorney
Kevin Haag, Grants and Contracts Associate
Kevin Hollinz, Staff Attorney
Kevin Nunez, DOJ Accredited Representative
Leila Kang, Supervising Attorney
Liezl Burns, Temporary Staff Attorney
Lisseth Gaspar, Legal Advocate
Lizeth Garcia, Legal Advocate
Mac Daily, Legal Advocate
Mackenzie Gass, Service Fellow
Maggie Cheng, Senior staff attorney/Professional Development & Resources Attorney
Maha Khalil, Supervising Attorney
Malou Chávez, Executive Director
Masoumeh Moradi, Staff Accountant
Matt Adams, Legal Director
Max Drewes, Staff Accountant
Meghan Casey, Supervising Attorney
Melissa Vue, DOJ Accredited Representative
Merkys Gomez, Staff Attorney
Michael Hur, Staff Attorney
Michele Maria Suarez, Supervising Attorney
Miriam Cervantes, Senior Legal Advocate / DOJ Accredited Representative
Mohammad Eqbal Motadel, Temporary Legal Advocate
Mozhdeh Oskouian, Deputy Director
Najmia Khatibi, Temporary Legal Advocate
Nancy Arevalo, Staff Attorney
Natasha El-Sergany, Supervising Attorney
Olivia Saldaña Schulman, Staff Attorney
Omar Haggag, Senior Legal Advocate / DOJ Accredited Representative
Pilar Martinez, Interim Supervising Attorney
Rachael Scheibert, Legal Advocate
Rachel Nowlin-Sohl, EJW Fellow
Raquel Enriquez, Temporary Staff Attorney
Raul Alvarez, Communications Manager
Reagan Page, GM Service Fellow
Rex Brown, Donor Relations and Events Coordinator
Rocio Martinez, DOJ Accredited Representative
Roxana Rahmani, Supervising Attorney
Rus Batten, Philanthropy Officer
Salvatore De Rienzo, JVC Service Fellow
Sandra Garcia Heredia, Legal Advocate
Asani Evans, IT Manager
Sapida Barmaki, Legal Advocate
Sara Flores, Legal Advocate
Sofia Velling, Supervising Attorney
Stacey Nakagawa, Development Associate
Stephanie Dib Wietstruck, Temporary Staff Attorney
Stephanie Gai, Temporary Staff Attorney
Stephanie Martinez, Supervising Attorney
Steven Denton, Staff Attorney
Stteffany Durán,Office Manager
Sydney Maltese, DOJ Accredited Representative
Taika Gebretsadik, Staff Accountant
Taylor Malone, Human Resources Director
Tess Duong, Finance Director
Upama KC, Staff Attorney
Vanessa Arias, Legal Advocate
Yesenia Bosch Ramos, Supervising Attorney
Yessenia Medrano, Supervising Attorney
Yuhwa Kong, Staff Attorney
Tacoma Staff
Alison Hollinz, Supervising Attorney
Amanda Ng, Staff Attorney
Andrea Lino Supervising Attorney
Ann Sochi, HR Generalist
Anne Recinos, Supervising Attorney
Amber Jackman, Temporary Staff Attorney
Asanet Serrano, Legal Advocate
Bianca Ramirez, JVC Service Fellow
Bill Schwarz, Pro Bono Coordinator / DOJ Accredited Representative
Camila Maturana, Supervising Attorney
Carolina Quesada Ponce, Staff Attorney
Chris Stanislowski, Senior Staff Attorney/Supervising Attorney
Christian Santana, Staff Attorney
Cristina Rodriguez, EJW Fellow
Diana Parra, Office Manager
Elizabeth Benki, Directing Attorney
Esteban Gaspar, Receptionist/Front Desk Coordinator
Jenifer Becerril Pacheco, Legal Advocate
Jenna Hain, DOJ Accredited Representative
Julie Braker, Staff Attorney
Karina Perez Gonzalez, DOJ Accredited Representative
Laura Kirk, Staff Attorney
Leah Fitter, Temporary Legal Advocate
Lesly Avila, Supervising Attorney
Luisa Cruz Vasquez, Legal Advocate
Lynn Stopher, Staff Attorney
Maggie Davis, Supervising Attorney
Maria A. Cordero-Miranda, DOJ Accredited Representative
Mariah Ferraz, Supervising Attorney
MaríaJosé Cordero, DOJ Accredited Representative
Maura Velamoor, Temporary Staff Attorney
Megan Monahan, Social Services Manager
Nicolas McKee, Staff Attorney
Paige Jones, JVC Service Fellow
Paula Bisiar, Staff Attorney
Sean Gourgues, Temporary Staff Attorney
Stacy Kowalski, Staff Attorney
Steven Munoz, Staff Attorney
Suresh Sampath, Supervising Attorney
Tessa Bailon Armendariz, JVC Service Fellow
Tim Warden-Hertz, Directing Attorney
Virginia Cole, Operations Director
Xiomara Uran, Staff Attorney
Wenatchee Staff
Adele Eslinger, Temporary Legal Advocate
Bethany Eichler, Directing Attorney
Carmela Mendez, Legal Advocate
Cecilia Anguiano, Supervising Attorney
Chrystal Arceo-Rosales, DOJ Accredited Representative
Cinthia Davila, Staff Attorney
Diana Sanchez, Legal Advocate
Grant Reichert, Supervising Attorney
Janet Moran, DOJ Accredited Representative
Jessica Rehms, Staff Attorney
Madeline Wilson, Supervising Attorney
Marisol Hernandez, Legal Advocate
Mateo Hermida, Temporary Legal Advocate
Michelle Arciga, Temporary Receptionist/ Office Manager
Nancy Davila, Receptionist / Office Manager
Rick Adams, Temporary Legal Advocate
Sylvia Montes, Legal Advocate
Taylor Kenck, Staff Attorney
Teresa Smith, Staff Attorney
Vanessa Gutierrez, Deputy Director
Yatzari Martinez, Americorp Service Fellow