News

El centro de llamadas telefónicas de SWIRC estará cerrado la próxima semana por actividades de capacitación del personal. Reabriremos las líneas telefónicas para concertar citas el lunes 16 de marzo. Si tiene un problema legal urgente, nuestros centros seguirán abiertos. Por favor, acuda a uno de ellos en persona para una cita sin cita previa.

SWIRC’s telephone call center will be closed next week for staff development activities. We will reopen the phone lines to take appointments on Monday March 16. If you have an urgent legal issue, our centers will still be open. Please come to one of them in person for a ‘walk in’ appointment.

A Quiet Day Fishing has Two Brothers Caught in a DNR Trap What began as a quiet afternoon of fishing on the Manistee River quickly escalated into a 110 day nightmare for a local father and community mechanic and his brother. Their case highlights a deeply concerning pattern of coordinated, targeted operations that funnel community members into prolonged detention without

We are thrilled to announce a special partnership with Detroit designer Kate Bordine and La Loba Jewelry for a limited-time fundraising collection. Launching just in time for Valentine’s Day, the “Make a Statement” collection features curated, vintage Taxco silver earrings—bold, modernist pieces that celebrate the rich history of Mexican silversmithing. Why Heritage Matters At SWIRC, we believe that preserving culture

SWIRC celebrates another release from detention. In the bustling suburbs of Detroit, brothers Javier and Diego had built quiet, hardworking lives after fleeing instability in Venezuela. To their neighbors and coworkers at Whole Foods and Amazon Flex, they were simply “the favorites”—reliable, polite, and deeply devoted to their families. But despite their valid work permits and protected status, the brothers

Legal cases are rarely solved in a single afternoon. They are a marathon of filings, hearings, and patient advocacy. That is why one-time gifts get us started, but monthly gifts get us across the finish line. Think about your impact this way: Giving 12 times a year supports the ongoing asylum cases for 12 families. It doesn’t take a massive

At SWIRC, our work is made possible by a community of supporters whose own stories are deeply connected to the immigrant experience. From family histories shaped by migration to personal encounters with resilience and belonging, these stories are a powerful reminder of why this work matters Immigration has always been central to the United States. Generations of newcomers have helped

It takes minutes to cross a border, but years to navigate the legal system. Here is what that journey actually looks like for our neighbors in Southwest Detroit. (abajo en español) The Common Misconception When we see news about immigration, we often see images of borders, airports, or buses. It gives the impression that the “journey” ends the moment a

Every gift you make opens a door to justice. As the year draws to a close, we invite you to reflect on the power of community and the importance of justice for all of our neighbors. At the Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center (SWIRC), we see every day how essential legal aid can be a lifeline for those in

“Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.” At SWIRC, we see miracles happen every day in our clinic, but we can’t do this work alone. Today, we are celebrating a massive act of kindness from our friends Kris and Dave (and their dog, Remington!) and the team at Lingua Franca. Through their exclusive clothing collaboration,