California

---

California Values Act (SB 54): This law tells ICE to take a hike by limiting state and local law enforcement’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement. Unless you’ve committed a serious felony, local cops aren’t handing you over.  

Trust Act: Prevents local jails from holding you for ICE without a judicial warrant. So, unless ICE has done their homework, you’re not sticking around.

Resources

California Immigrant Policy Center: Offers support and information on immigrant rights within the state.

Pro Bono Legal Resources

Immigration Center for Women and Children (ICWC)

Location: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Fresno

Services: Provides legal assistance to immigrant women and children, focusing on victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes.

Website: icwclaw.org

Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)

Location: Los Angeles

Services: Offers legal services, community education, and advocacy for Central American and Latino immigrants.

Website: carecen-la.org

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles

Services: Provides legal services and advocacy for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Website: advancingjustice-la.org

Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)

Location: San Francisco

Services: Offers legal training, educational materials, and advocacy to advance immigrant rights.

Website: ilrc.org

Public Counsel

Location: Los Angeles

Services: Provides a wide range of legal services, including immigration assistance, to underserved communities.

Website: publiccounsel.org

HB 19-1124: This law restricts local law enforcement from acting as ICE’s minions. No more detaining folks based solely on ICE requests without a court order.

Resources

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition: Provides resources and advocacy for immigrants in Colorado.

Pro Bono Legal Resources

Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN)

Location: Westminster

Services: Offers free immigration legal services to adults in detention and to immigrant children.

Website: rmian.org

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC)

Location: Denver

Services: Provides advocacy, community organizing, and limited legal services to immigrants.

Website: coloradoimmigrant.org

Migrant Justice Legal Clinic

Location: Denver

Services: Offers free legal clinics and assistance to immigrants, focusing on labor rights and immigration issues.

Website: migrantjustice.org

Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Clinic (JAMLAC)

Location: Denver

Services: Provides legal services to low-income individuals, including immigration assistance.

Website: jamlac.org

Catholic Charities of Denver

Location: Denver

Services: Offers immigration legal services, including assistance with naturalization and family-based immigration.

Website: ccdenver.org

Trust Act: Limits law enforcement from detaining individuals solely on ICE detainers without a judicial warrant. Also, cops must spill the beans if ICE is after you. Transparency, baby!  

Resources

Connecticut Immigrant & Refugee Coalition: Offers assistance and information for immigrants in the state.

Pro Bono Legal Resources

Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI)

Location: Bridgeport

Services: Provides legal services, social services, and advocacy for immigrants and refugees.

Website: cirict.org

Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS)

Location: New Haven

Services: Offers legal assistance, resettlement services, and educational programs for refugees and immigrants.

Website: irisct.org

Greater Hartford Legal Aid

Location: Hartford

Services: Provides free legal services to low-income individuals, including immigration assistance.

Website: ghla.org

New Haven Legal Assistance Association

Location: New Haven

Services: Offers legal services to low-income residents, including help with immigration matters.

Website: nhlegal.org

Catholic Charities of Fairfield County

Location: Bridgeport

Services: Provides immigration legal services, including assistance with visas and citizenship applications.

Website: ccfairfield.org

Trust Act: Bars local police from detaining individuals solely based on their immigration status. No warrant? No hold. Simple as that.

Resources

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights: Provides support and advocacy for immigrant communities.

Pro Bono Legal Resources

National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)

Location: Chicago

Services: Offers comprehensive legal services to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

Website: immigrantjustice.org

Latino Union of Chicago

Location: Chicago

Services: Provides legal assistance and advocacy for low-wage immigrant workers.

Website: latinounion.org

Chicago Legal Clinic

Location: Chicago

Services: Offers affordable legal services, including immigration assistance, to underserved communities.

Website: clclaw.org

Life Span

Location: Des Plaines

Services: Provides legal services to immigrant survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Website: life-span.org

Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago

Location: Chicago

Services: Offers legal assistance in immigration, bankruptcy, employment, and family law.

Website: lafchicago.org

Local Ordinances: While there’s no statewide mandate, many cities like Boston have policies limiting cooperation with ICE. It’s a patchwork, but it’s something.

Resources

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition: Offers resources and support for immigrants across the state.

Pro Bono Legal Resources

Community Law Center

Location: Jamaica Plain

Services: Offers legal assistance in immigration, bankruptcy, employment, and family law.

Website: Community Law Center

Community Legal Services and Counseling Center

Location: Cambridge

Services: Provides legal services in immigration, criminal, divorce, and family law.

Website: Community Legal Services and Counseling Center

Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Services

Location: Boston

Services: Offers immigration legal services.

Website: Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Services

International Institute of Boston

Location: Boston

Services: Provides immigration legal assistance.

Website: International Institute of Boston

Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project (PAIR)

Location: Boston

Services: Specializes in immigration legal services.

Website: PAIR Project

Immigrant Trust Directive: Ensures that victims and witnesses can report crimes without fearing deportation. Cops can’t ask about your immigration status, keeping the focus on safety, not status.  

Resources

New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice: Provides information and support for immigrant rights in New Jersey.

Pro Bono Legal Resources

American Friends Service Committee - Immigrant Rights Program

Location: Newark

Services: Provides assistance with asylum applications, family-based petitions, and more.

Website: AFSC Immigrant Rights Program

Legal Services of New Jersey

Location: Edison

Services: Offers representation for indigent individuals and families, including criminal law specialties.

Website: Legal Services of New Jersey

Executive Orders: State agencies are restricted from sharing information with ICE. Plus, New York City has its own set of rules to keep ICE at arm’s length.

Resources

New York Immigration Coalition: Offers advocacy and resources for immigrants throughout the state.

Pro Bono Legal Resources

Safe Passage Project

Location: New York City

Services: Provides free lawyers to refugee and immigrant children facing deportation.

Website: Safe Passage Project

Human Rights First

Location: New York, NY

Services: Represents indigent individuals and families seeking asylum.

Website: Human Rights First

HIAS (New York)

Location: New York, NY

Services: Assists individuals who fear return to their country of origin.

Website: HIAS

ORS 181A.820: Prohibits state and local law enforcement from using resources to enforce federal immigration law if the person’s only crime is being undocumented. Pioneers in protection!

Resources

Oregon Immigration Resource: Provides support and information for immigrants in Oregon.

Pro Bono Legal Resources

Immigration Counseling Service

Location: Portland and Hood River

Services: Provides legal assistance to immigrants and refugees.

Website: Immigration Counseling Service

Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services

Location: Portland

Services: Offers low-cost immigration legal services.

Website: Catholic Charities Oregon

SOAR Immigration Legal Services

Location: Portland

Services: Provides culturally competent immigration legal services.

Website: SOAR Legal

Fair and Impartial Policing Policy: Limits the collection and sharing of immigration status information, ensuring that local police focus on community safety, not immigration enforcement.

Resources

Vermont Immigration Assistance: Offers resources and support for immigrants in Vermont.

Pro Bono Legal Resources

Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP)

Location: Burlington

Services: Provides limited-scope humanitarian immigration legal assistance through partner referrals, focusing on asylum applications and removal hearings. VAAP hosts legal help clinics in collaboration with community organizations and offers advice for self-represented immigrants navigating their processes.

Website: vaapvt.org

Center for Justice Reform Clinic – Vermont Law and Graduate School

Location: Burlington

Services: Handles a range of humanitarian immigration matters, prioritizing cases in removal proceedings. The clinic provides assistance with adjustment of status, asylum applications, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), employment authorization, naturalization/citizenship, and more.

Website: vermontlaw.edu

Association of Africans Living in Vermont (AALV) - Legal Services Program

Location: Burlington

Services: Offers pro bono assistance and representation in various immigration issues, including adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence, asylum, citizenship, family reunification, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), victims’ visas, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions, and work and travel authorization. The program also works with clients facing criminal charges to mitigate immigration consequences.

Website: aalv-vt.org

South Royalton Legal Clinic - Vermont Law and Graduate School

Location: South Royalton

Services: Provides legal assistance to low-income residents on various civil issues, including family law, housing, immigration, and veterans’ issues. The clinic offers representation and advice for immigrants in removal proceedings and other immigration-related matters.

Website: vermontlaw.edu

Legal Services Vermont

Location: Burlington

Services: Offers free civil legal help, including advice, information, referrals, and self-help resources on various legal issues. While not exclusively focused on immigration, they can provide guidance and referrals for immigration-related matters.

Website: legalservicesvt.org

Keep Washington Working Act: Promotes economic stability by limiting state and local involvement in federal immigration enforcement. Your business is your business.

Resources

Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network: Provides assistance and advocacy for immigrants in Washington State.

Pro Bono Legal Resources

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP)

Locations: Seattle, Tacoma, Wenatchee, and Granger

Services: Provides comprehensive immigration legal services, including direct representation, systemic advocacy, and community education.

Website: nwirp.org

Tacoma Community House

Location: Tacoma

Services: Offers immigration assistance, education, employment, and advocacy services.

Website: tacomacommunityhouse.org

Colectiva Legal del Pueblo

Location: Burien

Services: Provides legal services and community education to empower marginalized immigrant communities.

Website: colectivalegal.org

Catholic Immigration Legal Services (CILS)

Locations: Seattle and Mount Vernon

Services: Offers quality immigration legal assistance to low-income residents of Washington.

Website: ccsww.org

Hand in Hand Immigration Services

Location: Wenatchee

Services: Provides assistance with employment authorization and naturalization/citizenship applications.

Website: handinhandis.org

Know Your Rights: You have the right to remain silent and refuse entry to your home without a warrant. Flex those constitutional muscles!

Legal Representation: Always have an attorney’s contact information handy. Legal eagles can spot loopholes and delays that you might miss.

Community Support: Engage with local immigrant rights groups. There’s strength in numbers, and they often know the ins and outs of local policies.

Remember, while these policies offer layers of protection, they’re not an impenetrable shield. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and don’t let the bureaucratic boogeymen get you down. You’ve got this!