These nonprofit organizations in Maine offer FREE or low-cost immigration legal help. If you need help with DACA, asylum, citizenship, deportation, or any immigration case, contact these options BEFORE paying private fees.

These nonprofits provide free or low-cost immigration legal services to Maine residents. Capacity is limited — call first; most require an appointment.

  • Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) — 489 Congress Street, 3rd Floor, Portland, ME 04101 (also: 95 Park Street, Suite 519, Lewiston, ME 04240) · (207) 780-1593. Maine’s only statewide immigration legal-services organization. Staff attorneys provide free and low-cost help to low-income Maine residents, including representation before the immigration court and the Board of Immigration Appeals, asylum, adjustment of status, family petitions, DACA, work authorization, VAWA/T/U visas, and naturalization. Free interpretation is provided. Intake is capacity-limited: ILAP opens a new round of appointment requests at the start of each month and stops once that month’s slots fill, so it cannot help everyone who applies.
  • Maine Immigration & Refugee Services (MEIRS) — 256 Bartlett Street, Lewiston, ME 04240 · (207) 782-0260. A DOJ-recognized nonprofit in Lewiston whose DOJ-accredited representative helps with USCIS applications such as work authorization, green cards, and naturalization. Fees are charged on a sliding scale, and MEIRS represents most clients free of charge. Note: MEIRS does NOT handle defensive asylum and cannot represent clients in immigration court — for court (removal) cases contact ILAP.
  • Catholic Charities Maine Refugee & Immigration Services — 80 Sherman Street, Portland, ME 04101 · (207) 871-7437. A DOJ-recognized organization that has provided community-based immigration legal services in Maine for decades. Its immigration legal work focuses on refugees, people granted asylum, and other eligible populations already living in Maine (for example, help adjusting status or with family members). As of 2026 it is no longer resettling new arrivals through federal resettlement programs, but its immigration legal services continue. Contact the office to confirm eligibility and current intake before applying.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance — Maine’s statewide nonprofit civil legal-aid program, with offices around the state offering free help to low-income residents. Note: Pine Tree does NOT handle immigration cases itself — for immigration matters it refers people to the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP). Use Pine Tree for related civil needs (housing, family, benefits) and ILAP for immigration.

Maine has no immigration (EOIR) court of its own. Removal cases for people living in Maine are heard by the Chelmsford Immigration Court in Chelmsford, Massachusetts (150 Apollo Drive, Suite 100, Chelmsford, MA 01824), which opened in April 2024 and took over many Maine cases from the Boston Immigration Court. To move a Maine case there you must file a Motion to Change Venue — simply updating your address does not change the court. Maine Immigration & Refugee Services (MEIRS) and Catholic Charities Maine Refugee & Immigration Services are recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), with DOJ-accredited representatives on staff. The U.S. Department of Justice (EOIR) publishes a List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers for that court. None of the organizations on this page pay us — these are public-interest referrals, not sponsored links.

National resources (available to Maine residents)

Directories and hotlines

Specific-case hotlines

  • Asylum: RAICES (1-866-RAICES-4), CLINIC asylum line
  • Detention: NIPNLG (1-800-867-2924)
  • VAWA / domestic violence: 1-800-799-SAFE (national line)
  • Human trafficking victims: National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888

⚠️ Important: Avoid fraudulent “notarios”

AVOID PEOPLE CALLING THEMSELVES “NOTARIO PÚBLICO” FOR IMMIGRATION if not attorneys or BIA-accredited reps. US notary publics are NOT attorneys (unlike Latin America). People without legal credentials practicing immigration are violating federal law.

Verify credentials:

How to prepare for consultation

  1. Bring ALL documents: passport, green card if any, USCIS letters, criminal records, tax returns, evidence of family relationship, immigration status history
  2. Be HONEST: even about criminal records or past issues. Attorney needs FULL truth to defend you well.
  3. Ask about timelines and possible outcomes
  4. Confirm cost (if applicable) in writing before committing
  5. Bring translator if your English is limited

Last verified: 2026-06-20.

General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.