Across Washington State, community organizations play a vital role in supporting immigrant families, advocating for justice, and building networks of care. As legal and policy landscapes continue to evolve, community groups face important questions about how to carry out their work effectively while understanding potential legal risks.
In response, CLS has been conducting presentations for community groups across Washington State on the federal criminal statute 8 USC §1326. These two-hour workshops are designed to help organizations better understand the law and assess how it may intersect with their work supporting immigrant communities. By providing clear legal education and practical risk-assessment tools, CLS helps groups make informed decisions about their organizing and advocacy efforts.
During each workshop, advocates explain the statute and its potential implications before guiding participants through discussions of hypothetical activities selected by attending organizations. The interactive format allows community groups to evaluate real-world scenarios, identify potential risks, and engage in thoughtful conversations about how to continue their work effectively while understanding the legal landscape.
In addition to these trainings, CLS monitors federal court filings and enforcement trends to better understand how 8 USC §1326 and other criminal statutes are being applied. This ongoing work helps identify whether such laws are being used to chill organizing efforts in immigrant communities and ensures that community organizations have access to timely information, legal analysis, and resources as they continue advocating for and supporting immigrant families across the state.
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