City leaders on Monday announced a slate of new investments aimed at strengthening legal defense services for immigrants and refugees while helping community groups meet urgent, day-to-day needs.
The funding, led by the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) and supported by officials in Seattle, makes up nearly half of a recent $4 million boost to the department’s budget. It follows months of advocacy from immigrant communities and local organizations responding to shifting federal policies and growing uncertainty.
Mayor Katie B. Wilson said the investment is about turning the city’s values into action.
“Supporting a strong community and legal response is critical to keeping Seattle safe,” Wilson said. “It’s how we put our values into action to demonstrate that whoever you are, and wherever you come from: if Seattle is your home, then this is your city.”
A big piece of the funding will go toward legal defense. The city plans to double its investment in the Legal Defense Network, adding $1.25 million each year to help more immigrants facing detention or deportation get full legal representation.
The need has been growing. In 2025, the program helped 358 people with direct legal support in removal proceedings, according to city officials.
For OIRA Acting Director Cuc Vu, the approach is rooted in listening to the community.
“When times get tough, we take action and stand up for our values,” Vu said. “We are excited to launch these initial funding opportunities for legal defense and community response initiatives after hearing clearly what Seattle’s immigrant communities need in this shifting federal and local landscape. OIRA and the Mayor’s Office will stand together with community and work quickly to get this initial funding out the door, to offer trusted services and new avenues of support for our immigrant residents, workers, and students.”
Alongside legal services, the city is setting aside $280,000 for small grants—up to $10,000 each—to support grassroots groups working directly in neighborhoods. The idea is to give communities flexible resources to respond quickly, whether that’s organizing volunteers, running “Know Your Rights” sessions, or helping families cover basic costs like meals, transportation or immigration-related fees.
Officials say these smaller efforts have become increasingly important as needs grow and federal policy changes leave many people in limbo.
More funding is on the way later this spring, including $1 million for immigrant inclusion services, $750,000 for community response programs and $75,000 to expand language access across city services.
Taken together, city leaders say the goal is simple: make sure immigrants and refugees in Seattle have both the legal support and the day-to-day resources they need to stay rooted in their communities.
Leave a Reply