About LISO
Our Commitment
​Legal Immigration Services of Olympia (LISO) is a nonprofit dedicated to providing free, high-quality legal services to immigrants in detention. Based in Olympia, Washington, LISO serves individuals held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma—one of the largest immigration detention facilities in the country.
Our mission is to ensure that detained immigrants—often isolated and underserved—receive expert legal representation during critical moments in their immigration proceedings. We advocate for those facing deportation, bringing dignity, due process, and human rights into a system that often denies them.
We believe the individuals we serve should not face immigration court alone. Through compassionate, committed legal support, we help detained individuals navigate complex legal systems and fight for their right to remain in the United States.
Our Mission
We provide free legal representation to individuals detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, WA.
We are deeply committed to standing with immigrants who are detained. Every day, we see how detention harms people—the pain it causes them, their families, and their communities. The immigration system can leave people feeling alone, unheard, and powerless. That is why we work hard to make sure each person is treated with dignity and respect.
Our goal is to protect the right of detained immigrants to remain in the United States—together with their loved ones, connected to their communities, and free to live safe, stable lives.
Legal Team
Our legal team is made up of dedicated and compassionate advocates who are called to this work by a shared commitment to justice and human dignity.
Each of us is driven by the desire to stand alongside individuals and families experiencing the profound hardships that come with detention. We work closely with family members and community networks to ensure that those we serve aren’t forced to face this system alone.
Through comprehensive, trauma-informed representation, our goal is to help individuals regain their freedom and return to their lives, their families, and their communities outside of detention.
Steffani Powell
Executive Director
& Attorney
Considering​Applicants
Attorney & Bilingual Legal Assistant
Karen Lazcarro
Executive Assistant
Nina Esquivel
Attorney
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Niel Lawrence
Volunteer Attorney
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors provides strategic leadership and stewardship to advance LISO’s mission. Each member brings a deep commitment to justice, accountability, and community-centered advocacy.
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Guided by a shared belief in dignity and due process, the Board works to ensure that our organization remains strong, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of individuals and families impacted by detention.
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Through thoughtful governance, oversight, and long-term vision, the Board supports LISO’s work so that those we serve have meaningful access to legal representation and the opportunity to move forward with stability and hope.
Carol Elewski
President
Lynne Glore
Secretary
Herman Claudius
Treasurer
Eunice Santiago
Board Member
Our Founding Story
In June 2025, a group of dedicated community members came together out of deep concern. We knew that our neighbors, coworkers, family members, friends, and community members were at risk—and we wanted to be ready when the call for help came.
Launching LISO took collective energy, skill, and determination. Each founding member brought unique expertise and heart to the effort, and their contributions will forever leave an imprint on the success and spirit of this nonprofit.