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

  • Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) — 450 N. Syndicate St., Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55104 · intake 1-800-223-1368 (or 651-641-1011). Serves low-income immigrants and refugees in Minnesota and North Dakota: ICE detention, DACA renewals, citizenship, green cards for refugees/asylees, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, TPS, and U/T/VAWA survivor visas.
  • The Advocates for Human Rights — 330 Second Ave. S., Suite 800, Minneapolis, MN 55401 · Immigrant Client Line 612-341-9845. Represents people across the Upper Midwest who are seeking asylum, detained by immigration, unaccompanied children, or trafficking survivors.
  • Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid — Immigration Law Project — member of the Minnesota Immigration Legal Services Hub (below).
  • Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) — free legal help for low-income and senior clients, including immigration matters.
  • Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) — 612-752-6655. Connects low-income Minnesotans with volunteer attorneys through legal clinics.

Minnesota Immigration Legal Services Hub — a coalition of the organizations above that runs regular free immigration legal clinics across the state, where you can talk to an immigration lawyer about your case at no cost. Start here to find the next clinic.

Both ILCM and The Advocates for Human Rights appear on the U.S. Department of Justice (EOIR) List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers for the Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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: 2026-06-16.

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.