WDA’s Padilla Project Is Assisting with Postconviction Relief for Noncitizens in Washington State

Since 1983, criminal defense attorneys have had a duty to inform clients about the immigration consequences of their plea; however, that duty was misunderstood by many attorneys as being outside of the scope of their representation as it was viewed as a collateral consequence of a conviction. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Padilla v. Kentucky (2010) underscored that it was not a collateral consequence and that no advice or mis-advice would be grounds for appeal. Now, WDA is helping individuals who did not get accurate immigration advice and who had adverse immigration consequences get back into court to correct unjust and unconstitutional convictions.

In partnership with the with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, WDA’s Padilla Project will focus on getting noncitizen clients back into court to remedy the adverse immigration consequences that came from their uncounseled criminal convictions.

You can reach Sarah Hudson, WDA Immigration Resentencing Resource Attorney, at [email protected]. Sarah provides support through a combination of some direct representation, individual case consultation. and by creating and sharing resources with other attorneys interested in or working on these cases.  For more information click here.