Washington, DC

Welcome | Bienvenido | Bienvenue | 어서 오십시오 | 欢迎

The Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser is dedicated to serving all DC residents, including our vibrant and diverse communities of immigrants. Through Know Your Rights town halls, liaison units and her signature Immigrant Justice Legal Services grant program, the Mayor is committed to ensuring that all DC residents feel welcome and valued.

Find Legal Resources

Immigrant Justice Legal Services Grant Program (IJLS)

• Immigrant Justice Legal Services (IJLS) Factsheet
• Immigrant Justice Legal Services (IJLS) FY18 Grantee Contact List [DOC]
• Immigrant Justice Legal Services (IJLS) FY18 Grantee Project Descriptions [DOC]
• FY 2019 Immigrant Justice Legal Services Grant Program (IJLS)

IJLS Press Releases

• Mayor Bowser Announces Immigrant Justice Legal Service Grant Program
• Bowser Administration Extends Immigrant Justice Legal Services Grants to Ten Organizations
• Bowser Administration Hosting 2018 Immigrant Justice Legal Services Grant Informational Sessions
• Mayor Bowser Announces 10 Additional Immigrant Justice Legal Services Grants

Additional Resources

Outside Databases

• National Lawyers Guild
• The American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Immigration Law Help

Check If a Lawyer is Licensed (“active status in good standing”)

• DC - DC Bar
• VA - Virginia State Bar or click here for disciplinary history.
• MD: Maryland State Bar Association & call (410) 514-7051

Get Immigration Information

DC Government Resources

Co-branded FAQs and information sheets, such as the Ayuda brochures and notario fraud videos.

• Ayuda - TPS Brochure
• Ayuda - DC Government Brochure

DC Language Access Policy

• Read the DC Language Access Policy

Videos

• Know Your Rights Forum
• DC Values in Action

Helpful Links

• USCIS website - https://www.uscis.gov/
• Avoid Scams - https://www.uscis.gov/avoid-scams
• TPS - https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status
• Asylum - https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-asylum

Consulates

Consulates can help people find where a family member is detained, or even provide legal defense support. Be aware that consulates are required by law to be notified by United States federal, state and local government offices when one of their nationals is detained. Note: It is a person’s individual decision whether they also wish to reach out to their consulate. Individuals with asylum claims may not wish to do so.

• Find a consulate: http://www.embassy.org/embassies/

Avoid Scams (“Notario Fraud”)

• Press Release | DC and Ayuda in English
• Press Release | DC and Ayuda in Spanish

How DC Government Can Serve You

• DC Values in Action | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM90MnU9jOM
• Links to the various assurances (e.g. the DCPS documents) and immigration-related statements that we have released:
  • https://dcps.dc.gov/publication/immigration-guidance
  • https://dcps.dc.gov/release/dcps/keeping-dc-schools-safe-all-families-and-students-0
• A resource sheet of DC government agencies, including contact information for liaison units
  • Office of Human Rights - https://ohr.dc.gov/
  • Metropolitan Police Department Liaison Units - https://mpdc.dc.gov/sld
  • Department of Motor Vehicles Limited Purpose Driver Licenses - https://dmv.dc.gov/service/limited-purpose-driver-license

Links to MOLA, MOAPIA, MOAA, ODAI and Grant Clearinghouse

• Mayor’s Office on African Affairs
• Mayor’s Office on Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs
• Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs
• Office of Documents and Administrative Issuance
• District’s Grant Clearinghouse

Ensuring the Safety and Security of DC’s Immigrant Community

• https://mayor.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/mayormb/publication/attachments/ImmigrantActions.pdf

Explore Citizenship

Press Releases on NIF Partnership

• https://dc.gov/release/bowser-administration-announces-dcs-first-ever-partnership-assist-residents-citizenship
• http://immigrationforum.org/blog/mayors-office-local-businesses-discuss-economic-impact-of-new-americans/

Apply for Citizenship

• https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/apply-citizenship

NIF flyer

Helpful Organizations

Please free to contact any IJLS grantee, once you have a look at the project descriptions, or see the DC Bar for more organizations. In addition, the following DC organizations offer citizenship assistance.

CARECEN
1460 Columbia Rd NW # C
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-9799
carecendc.org

Catholic Charities
Various locations
(202) 772-4300
catholiccharitiesdc.org

Upcoming Events

Information about any immigration-related events in the District, including upcoming clinics, as we are asked to share them. The list should also include upcoming citizenship workshops.

• DC Bar Clinics | https://www.dcbar.org/pro-bono/volunteer/immigration-clinic.cfm

Upcoming Clinic Information

Clinics will be held on the following Saturdays from 10 am to 12 pm:

• September 15, 2018 at Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School in Columbia Heights, 1100 Harvard St., NW