Legal Services
Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center helps clients with more than just immigration issues. We offer free and low-cost legal services to anyone who needs it in the Detroit area and is unable to afford a traditional attorney.
We help find solutions for a wide variety of legal needs:
Free Legal Services
All people and legal issues are welcome. There is no test or qualification to receive help. Everyone who comes to the legal centers will work with a trained team of legal professionals who will examine their needs and advise the best solutions. We do as much as we can to help clients solve issues in the clinic. All of the work we do at our legal service centers is free of charge to all clients.
For those clients who need professional help outside the legal service centers; we may take them on as legal representation clients at our discretion.
Our goal is that each client leaves our legal centers ready to take the next steps to resolve their issue. Clients are welcome to continue visiting us until their issue is resolved.
We welcome clients who can afford it to consider making a donation to SWIRC so that that we can extend our services to help others.
Come see us at one of our legal services locations:
Legal Representation
Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center represents clients in area courts and before certain government bodies on a wide variety of legal issues. We are best known for our work on immigration matters and are skilled at helping persons with the following needs: naturalization, DACA renewals, adjustment of status, special immigrant visas, family-based visas, employment-based visas, asylum, immigration appeals, and temporary protected status.
We also represent clients in lawsuits, minor criminal matters, civil issues, and before various administrative bodies in the region. When clients seek representation on matters beyond our capabilities, we are happy to provide a referral to another free or reasonably priced legal services provider.
Anyone seeking full representation must first come to one of our legal services centers first.
All full-representation clients are asked to make a donation to SWIRC for the work we do, but no one is denied help for being unable to pay.
Make an appointment for a legal consultation
All of our legal service centers are now open for in-person consultations by appointment only.
Preparing for Your Appointment
As you prepare for your appointment at the Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center (SWIRC), gathering any documents you currently have that are relevant to your situation is helpful. If you do not have all these items, please still attend your scheduled meeting.
Recommended Documents to Bring
While not every item is required for the initial meeting, the following documents help our team assess your case accurately:
- Identification: All forms of ID, such as a driver's license, birth certificate, or a passport from your home country if you have them. If you don’t have physical access to a document, bring an electronic copy and we will print it during your appointment.
- Immigration Paperwork: Any documents related to your case, including Notices to Appear, expired visas, or records from countries you traveled through to reach the United States.
- Law Enforcement Records: Any paperwork regarding a criminal arrest or encounter with law enforcement in the United States.
- Victim Documentation: Records or police reports related to a crime committed against you or a family member, whether in your home country or the United States.
Next Steps
Please note that if we move forward with your case, your legal caseworker will likely request additional documentation. In some instances, a full legal assessment or a commitment to take your case may depend on receiving a minimum level of documentation.
