BIA-recognized immigration help in Nebraska — free DOJ-accredited organizations
This page lists every non-profit in Nebraska 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 Nebraska
24 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for Nebraska, as of the roster published April 20, 2026. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) | Columbus | 3214 25th Street, Columbus, NE 68601 | (402) 898-1349 | 05/17/07 | Active |
| Centro Hispano Comunitario de Nebraska | Columbus | 3214 25th Street, Suite 1, Columbus, NE 68601 | (402) 564-2110 | 08/27/10 | Active |
| Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) | Crete | United Church of Christ (UCC), 440 East 12th Street, Mailing Address: PO Box 328, Crete, NE 68333 | (402) 898-1349 | 05/17/07 | Active |
| Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) | Grand Island | 3180 W. U.S. Highway 34, Grand Island, NE 68801 | (402) 898-1349 | 05/17/07 | Active |
| Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. | Grand Island | 1811 West 2nd Street, Grand Island, NE 68803 | (308) 382-4255 | 04/11/02 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Multicultural Coalition | Grand Island | 325 W 4th St, Grand Island, NE 68801 | (308) 385-5242 | 07/13/18 | Active |
| Saint Mary’s Immigration Program | Grand Island | 205 South Cedar, Grand Island, NE 68802 | (308) 381-2855 | 08/05/13 | Active |
| Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) | Lexington | 2401 Plum Creek Parkway, Suite 2, Mailing Address: PO Box M, Lexington, NE 68850 | (402) 898-1349 | 05/17/07 | Active |
| Saint Mary’s Immigration Program | Lexington | 513 North Grant Street, Suite 7A, Lexington, NE 68850 | (308) 324-7300 | 08/05/13 | Active |
| Catholic Social Services | Lincoln | 2241 O Street, Lincoln, NE 68510 | (402) 474-1600 | 05/19/99 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) | Lincoln | 121 S 13th Street, Suite 301, Lincoln, NE 68508 | (402) 898-1349 | 05/17/07 | Active |
| Center for Legal Immigration Assistance | Lincoln | 3047 North 70th Street, Lincoln, NE 68507 | (402) 471-1777 | 09/11/12 | Active |
| International Council for Refugees and Immigrants | Lincoln | 1023 Lincoln Mall, #104, Lincoln, NE 68508 | (402) 830-9461 | 10/04/24 | Active |
| Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. | Lincoln | 2301 O Street, Lincoln, NE 68510 | (402) 441-7940 | 04/11/02 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence | Lincoln | 245 South 84th Street, Suite 200, Lincoln, NE 68510 | (402) 476-6256 | 07/24/24 | Active |
| Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) | Nebraska City | 611 Central Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410 | (402) 898-1349 | 05/17/07 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Omaha | Omaha | 5211 South 31st Street, Omaha, NE 68107 | (402) 939-4615 | 08/26/25 | Active |
| Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) | Omaha | 4223 Center Street, Omaha, NE 68105 | (402) 898-1349 | 05/17/07 | Active |
| International Council for Refugees and Immigrants | Omaha | 7315 Maple Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68132 | (402) 502-3455 | 10/04/24 | Active |
| Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. | Omaha | 7929 W Center Rd, Omaha, NE 68124 | (402) 536-3500 | 04/11/02 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Women’s Center for Advancement | Omaha | 3801 Harney Street, Omaha, NE 68131 | (402) 345-6555 | 06/21/13 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Omaha | Schuyler | 1123 Road I, Schuyler, NE 68661 | (402) 352-3644 | 08/26/25 | Active |
| Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) | Scottsbluff | 615 South Beltline Highway West, Scottsbluff, NE 69361 | (402) 898-1349 | 05/17/07 | Active |
| Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) | South Sioux City | 3900 Dakota Avenue, Suite 11, South Sioux City, NE 68776 | (402) 898-1349 | 05/17/07 | 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 Nebraska — the EOIR court that hears removal cases for residents of Nebraska
- Legal aid in Nebraska — 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: 2026-09-01. 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 valid for six years, except that an organization recognized for the first time receives conditional recognition valid for two years (8 CFR 1292.11(f)); the three-year term is the validity period of an individual representative’s accreditation, not the organization’s recognition (8 CFR 1292.12(d)). Renewals require re-application and updated documentation. As of the 2026-04-20 EOIR roster: 1,452 recognized organizations operate 1,564 offices nationwide, staffed by representatives holding Full Accreditation (court representation) or Partial Accreditation (USCIS-only practice).
To be recognized, an organization must be a non-profit that provides immigration legal services primarily to low-income and indigent clients, and if it charges fees it must have a written policy for accommodating clients unable to pay; EOIR reviews its fee schedule, fee-waiver policy and annual budget as part of recognition (8 CFR 1292.11(a)(1) and (b)). Each organization sets its own fees, and neither EOIR nor any other national source publishes what recognized non-profits — or private immigration attorneys — actually charge. Ask for the fee schedule in writing and compare quotes before you commit.
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.
EOIR Hotline for case status: 1-800-898-7180 (24/7 automated; English/Spanish menu).