BIA-recognized immigration help in Minnesota — free DOJ-accredited organizations
This page lists every non-profit in Minnesota currently authorized by the U.S. Department of Justice (Board of Immigration Appeals / BIA) to provide immigration legal representation. Source: EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster, updated quarterly.
BIA-recognized organizations are the cheapest legitimate immigration legal help available — many provide representation free or for sliding-fee based on income. Their accredited representatives (Full Accreditation can appear in court; Partial Accreditation handles USCIS filings only) practice ONLY immigration law.
BIA-recognized organizations in Minnesota
17 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for Minnesota. These non-profits are authorized by the Board of Immigration Appeals to provide immigration legal representation at low or no cost.
| Organization | City | Address | Phone | Recognized | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota | Austin | 179 Robie Street East, St. Paul, MN 55107 | (651) 641-1011 | 10/18/23 | Active |
| Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota | Austin | 1567 N McMillan Street, Suite 6, Worthington, MN 56187 | — | 10/18/23 | Active |
| Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota | Austin | — | 01/10/25 | Active | |
| Minnesota Council of Churches | Austin | 501 S. Second Street, Mankato, MN 56001, Minneapolis | (507) 345-1554 | 02/04/04 | Active |
| Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota | Bloomington | 329 N. Main Street, Austin, MN 55912, Bloomington, Immigrant Hope Bloomington Minnesota 11/16/16 04/03/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (651) 641-1011 | 10/18/23 | Active |
| Immigrant Connection at TruNorth | Mankato | 1400 Madison Ave. Ste. 310, Mankato, MN 56001 | (507) 769-0501 | 12/03/24 | Active |
| Hennepin County Adult Representation Services | Minneapolis | 525 Portland Avenue South, Suite 900, Minneapolis, MN 55415, Immigrant Connection - Waite Park 10/20/23 10/23/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (612) 348-7012 | 09/23/24 | Active |
| Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota | Minneapolis | 2400 Park Avenue, Floor 3, Minneapolis, MN 55404 | (612) 871-0221 | 01/10/25 | Active |
| Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid-Minneapolis | Minneapolis | 111 N 5th Street, Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55403 | (612) 332-1441 | 03/20/25 | Active |
| Minnesota Council of Churches | Minneapolis | 122 West Franklin Avenue, Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55404 | (612) 230-3215 | 02/04/04 | Active |
| The Advocates for Human Rights | Minneapolis | 330 Second Avenue South, Suite 800, Minneapolis, MN 55401, Moorhead | (612) 341-3302 | 08/14/25 | Active |
| Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota | Richfield | 1015 7th Avenue North, Moorhead, MN 56560, Richfield, Arrive Ministries 06/22/06 07/26/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (218) 443-1815 | 10/18/23 | Active |
| Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota | Saint Paul | 450 Syndicate Street North, Suite 200, Saint Paul, MN 55104-2323, St. Cloud | (651) 641-1011 | 10/18/23 | Active |
| Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid-St. Cloud | St. Cloud | 110 6th Ave S., Suite 200, St. Cloud, MN 56303, St. Paul | (320) 241-0121 | 02/09/99 | Active |
| Accola d/b/a Sarah’s … an Oasis for Women (“Sarah’s”) | St. Paul | 1884 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105 | — | 12/27/24 | Active |
| Immigrant Connection Mosaic | St. Paul | 540 E Wheelock Parkway, St. Paul, MN 55130 | (651) 774-2770 | 01/14/25 | Active |
| International Institute of Minnesota | St. Paul | 1694 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services 11/20/98 07/30/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (651) 647-0191 | 01/27/25 | Active |
How to verify and contact a BIA-recognized organization
- Confirm current status at the EOIR roster — recognition can be withdrawn, and the roster is updated quarterly.
- Call ahead to check service availability — many orgs have waitlists, especially for asylum and removal-defense cases.
- Ask about fees before signing a representation agreement. Free or sliding-fee is standard.
- Bring all USCIS notices + photo ID to your intake appointment.
- Beware of “notarios” — only BIA-recognized organizations OR licensed attorneys can give legal advice. A “notario público” in the U.S. is NOT a notario in the Latin American sense and cannot legally represent you.
Related procedural information
- Immigration court in Minnesota — the EOIR court that hears removal cases for residents of Minnesota
- Legal aid in Minnesota — broader civil legal aid (housing, family, public benefits)
- Find an immigration attorney — AILA directory + private bar
- Avoid notario fraud — what to watch for
- Know Your Rights — ICE encounters — constitutional protections
Last verified: 2026-05-27. Source: U.S. Department of Justice EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster. General procedural information — not legal advice. Always verify organization status and ask about fees before signing a representation agreement.
BIA recognition program context (2025-2026)
The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Recognition & Accreditation Program is governed by 8 CFR 1292.11-1292.16. Recognition is granted for 3 years initially; renewals require re-application and updated documentation. As of the 2026-04-20 EOIR roster: 1,256 recognized organizations operate 1,420 offices nationwide, with 5,800+ accredited representatives across Full Accreditation (court representation) and Partial Accreditation (USCIS-only practice).
BIA-recognized organizations cannot charge attorney-level fees but may charge “nominal fees” — typically defined by EOIR as covering only direct costs (printing, postage, document preparation). Most organizations charge $0-$200 for full representation in routine cases (USCIS filings, defensive asylum hearings). Compare to private immigration attorney fees: $1,500-$5,000 for asylum cases, $2,500-$8,000 for cancellation of removal, $1,500-$3,000 for adjustment of status.
EOIR publishes the Recognition & Accreditation Roster quarterly at justice.gov/eoir/recognition-accreditation-roster-reports. Verify an organization’s CURRENT status (Active vs Pending Renewal vs Provisional vs Withdrawn) before signing a representation agreement. Organizations whose recognition was withdrawn by EOIR (typically for fraud or compliance issues) cannot practice immigration law.
For attorney directories: AILA Find-A-Lawyer at ailalawyer.com (paid membership, vetted), Legal Services Corporation grantees at lsc.gov (income-limited legal aid), American Bar Association lawyer referral at americanbar.org/groups/legal_services. Avoid “notario” fraud: in the US, a “notary public” is NOT a notario in the Latin American sense and cannot give legal advice. Report notario fraud to your state attorney general AND USCIS at uscis.gov/avoid-scams.
IMMI Help Line: 1-866-787-6111 (Immigrant Justice Network, free Spanish/English) Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm. EOIR Hotline for case status: 1-800-898-7180 (24/7 automated; English/Spanish menu).