Mission
Leadership
Background
SWIRC opened its first free legal clinic in June 2015 at the Ford Community Center in Southwest Detroit at the invitation of Ford Philanthropy. We expanded to a second location at the Ford Community Center on Detroit's eastside in 2017, and added a third location in Pontiac in 2018 at the invitation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
We now operate five daily legal clinics that serve an average of 200 clients a week. We provide in-clinic services and offer representation to clients at local, state and federal courts, including Detroit's Immigration Court.
Our growth is a direct result of our highly trained staff, volunteers and supporters.
Impact
Our Supporters
The Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center is supported by generous grants from our funding partners, including: Ford Philanthropy, the State of Michigan, the City of Detroit, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Detroit Police Athletic League, the Oakland County Bar Foundation, the Colucci Foundation, the United Way of Southeastern Michigan, the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, and the National Christian Foundation.
Other key organizations whose support has fueled our growth include: U.D. Mercy Law School, Wayne State University Law School, the University of Michigan, the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC), Samaritas, ABISA, Ser-Metro, La Sed, and the Hispanic Bar Association.
