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

  • PAIR Project (Political Asylum / Immigration Representation) — 98 North Washington St., Suite 106, Boston, MA 02114 · 617-742-9296. Free representation for indigent asylum seekers and detained immigrants; also Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and family reunification.
  • Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) — Immigration Unit — 197 Friend St., Boston, MA 02114 · 617-371-1234 (toll-free 800-323-3205). Free for income-eligible clients: asylum, citizenship, unaccompanied minors, U visas, VAWA, and T visas.
  • Catholic Charities Boston — Immigrant Legal Services (BRIDGE) — 275 West Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127 · 617-464-8500. Know-Your-Rights sessions, consultations, an Immigration Court Helpdesk for unrepresented respondents, family reunification, U visas, and Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions.
  • De Novo Center for Justice and Healing — 47 Thorndike St., Cambridge, MA 02141 · intake 617-661-1010. Asylum, domestic-violence relief (VAWA, U visas, cancellation), and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, with integrated mental-health support. (Listed on the EOIR roster under its former name, CLSACC.)
  • Community Legal Aid — Worcester and Springfield · 855-252-5342. Free humanitarian immigration relief — asylum, VAWA, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U visas, and T visas — for low-income residents of central and western Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder (MassLRF.org) is the statewide online finder: enter your location, income, and legal problem and it routes you to free or low-cost legal services (funded by MLAC, maintained by the Mass Law Reform Institute). The companion legal-information site is MassLegalHelp.org.

Several of these organizations — including PAIR Project, Catholic Charities, De Novo, and Community Legal Aid — appear on the U.S. Department of Justice (EOIR) List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers for the Boston immigration court, updated quarterly. None of the organizations on this page pay us — these are public-interest referrals, not sponsored links.

National resources (available to Massachusetts 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.