Seattle’s latest immigrant assistance training reaches full capacity as the city strengthens commitment to immigrant support

Seattle, Washington – A remarkable initiative by the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) is making waves among local service providers in Seattle. These groups had an essential virtual training session on January 28, 2025, meant to improve the expertise and abilities of service providers dealing with immigrant and refugee populations. This training tackled recent changes in immigration laws, particularly those passed by the Trump government, and their effects on the local immigrant population.

Open to the public and free of cost, the session soon filled to capacity—1,000 people—not too long after its start. This high turnout emphasizes how urgently professionals helping immigrants and refugees need current knowledge and sensible advice. Experts from OIRA and NWIRP discussed a range of important issues throughout the webinar. These covered best practices for service providers in their contacts with immigrants and refugees, the protective laws and policies of Seattle and Washington State, and how changes in federal policies affected local immigrant populations.

The training focused specifically on the continuous efforts of the city and state to protect their immigrant populations through well-defined legal systems. This was combined with useful guidance on how businesses may best negotiate these rules to adequately assist their customers. Unlike basic Know Your Rights materials targeted at individuals, this program specifically addressed the informational gap affecting those who engage directly with these groups, giving them customized strategies and expertise.

The fast filling of the webinar’s available spots clearly shows the need for such specialized training. A recorded version of the session has also been posted on the “Welcoming Seattle” blog in response to several requests. An even larger audience of service providers and activists can now access this material. Viewers are advised to turn on subtitles or closed captions in case of occasional audio problems during the original broadcast so they may completely benefit from the given content.

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OIRA and NWIRP are urging service providers to register for their newsletters for those who want to keep updated about upcoming webinars and training. These letters will provide information about forthcoming meetings, specifics on current initiatives, and possibilities to interact with neighborhood events and projects.

This project is a direct representation of Seattle’s commitment to assist its varied people, especially in uncertain policy times. For some of the most vulnerable citizens of the city, OIRA and NWIRP are building a more educated and prepared network of assistance by empowering local service providers with the skills and knowledge they need. This training not only meets a vital need but also develops the web of support all across the Seattle area so that every resident—from all backgrounds—may receive educated and supportive help.