These nonprofit organizations in Maryland 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 Maryland residents. Capacity is limited — call first; most require an appointment.

  • Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (formerly CAIR Coalition) — Washington, DC (serves Maryland) · 202-331-3320. Free legal defense for detained immigrant adults and children — removal defense, asylum, and family reunification — for residents of DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
  • Catholic Charities of Baltimore — Esperanza Center — 430 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231 · 667-600-2922. Family petitions, adjustment of status, U visas / VAWA, DACA, citizenship, removal defense, and asylum (low-cost; free consultations for survivors of crime, domestic violence, and trafficking).
  • CASA — multiple Maryland offices · legal department 1-866-765-2272. DACA renewals (one of Maryland’s largest providers), citizenship, TPS, free immigration consultations, and Know-Your-Rights sessions.
  • Ayuda — 8757 Georgia Ave., Suite 800, Silver Spring, MD 20910 · 240-594-0600. Immigration law, domestic-violence and family law, services for LGBTQ immigrants, and human-trafficking assistance.
  • Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland (MILAP) — Baltimore (by appointment) · 410-837-9379. Connects at-risk immigrants with volunteer attorneys for counseling and pro bono representation.

Maryland Legal Aid is the statewide civil legal-aid intake: 888-465-2468 (12 offices statewide). It is the general civil legal-aid hub and referral point, not an immigration-specific provider. The Maryland Judiciary’s People’s Law Library also lists immigration legal-services organizations.

Several of these organizations provide pro bono representation before the Baltimore and Hyattsville immigration courts; the U.S. Department of Justice (EOIR) List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers is updated quarterly. None of the organizations on this page pay us — these are public-interest referrals, not sponsored links.

National resources (available to Maryland 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: 2026-06-17.

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.