Legal Immigration Services of Olympia (LISO)

Free legal representation for immigrants detained at the northwest ice processing Center

Who we are

Legal immigration Services of Olympia (LISO) is a non-profit law office providing free legal representation to immigrants detained at the Northwest ICE processing Center in Tacoma Washington.

Found it in July 2025, LISO is one of the few non-profit organizations south of Tacoma dedicated primarily to representing detained immigrants and supporting their families throughout the South Sound and Southwest Washington

The Community We Serve

The people we represent are not strangers to our communities. Most have lived in the United States for many years. They are parents, spouses, employees, neighbors and community members with deep roots in Washington State many have US citizen children who suddenly lose a parent when detention occurs.

When someone is detained the consequences extend far beyond the individual. Families lose income. Children experience trauma and uncertainty. Employers lose trusted workers. Communities lose valued members.

Our Work

Lisa provides:

Legal consultations and case evaluations, Bond hearings seeking release from detention, Representation and immigration court proceedings, Coordination with habeas corpus counsel, Support for family's navigating detention and release.

Detained immigration cases move quickly and often involve complex legal and factual issues. Every case requires extensive work with families, gathering evidence, preparing legal filings, coordinating with government agencies, and advocating before immigration judges.

Our impact

In less than 1 year more than 90 individuals and families have received legal consultations or assistance, Multiple detained immigrants have been released and reunited with their families, Multiple clients have obtained relief through bond hearings, habeas litigation, or successful advocacy, Families throughout Washington have received support navigating the detention system, LISO has built partnerships with attorneys, community organizations, volunteers, and law students to expand access to justice for detained individuals.

A story of our impact

When ICE detained a Washington father of four US citizen children, his family was already facing unimaginable hardship. Their mother had recently died of cancer leaving the children dependent on their father as their soul caregiver and source of support. After he was detained and placed on a plane for transfer out of the state LISO worked with experienced habeas counsel to challenge his detention and seek his release. The legal team successfully secured his freedom allowing him to return home to his children and continue pursuing his immigration case from outside detention. For this family, legal representation meant more than winning a case. It meant preventing four children who had already lost one parent from losing the other.

Why support LISO

The need continues to grow. In recent months, LISO has experienced a dramatic increase in requests for help from detained immigrants and their families. Every donation helps ensure that individuals facing detention have access to free legal representation, due process, and a meaningful opportunity to present their case.