Legal Services

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Find a reputable private lawyer through the American Immigration Lawyers Association Attorney Search.

General Legal Assistance

You can call these organizations for consultation or advice, but their ability to represent you depends on their capacity and is not guaranteed.

Asylum Resources

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Information about applying for asylum.

Minnesota Discrimination Law

Minnesota Human Rights Act

The Minnesota Human Rights Act is the state law prohibiting discrimination in Minnesota and is enforced by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. The state law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, education, credit, and business based on protected class, such as: race, religion, disability, national origin, sex, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Learn more about the prohibited practices and examples of illegal discrimination.

How to Report Discrimination

If you believe you were discriminated against, and/or asked about your current or past pay while applying for a job, the first step is to complete this form. That information goes directly to the investigation team at the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

If you do not have access to the internet to complete this form, leave a message at 1-833-454-0148. Translation/interpretation services are available.

ICE/Immigration Court

If the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) processed you when you entered the country, it is very important to go to all check-ins with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and all immigration court hearings. If you miss even one hearing or check-in, you could be ordered to leave the country (deportation).

  • You can learn more about your next immigration step or court date by calling 1-800-898-7180 or visiting the Automated Case Information System.
  • You can learn more about what to expect the first time you go to Immigration Court in Minnesota and other resources by visiting LawHelpMN (Español).
  • Visit the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Check-In site for information if you were released from custody along the southwest border of the U.S. and told to report to an ICE office.
  • Find ICE locations, phone numbers and email addresses near you.
  • Change of Address - If you have an immigration case and have moved, it is very important to tell the immigration court your new address as soon as possible. You can do so by filling out the Immigration Court Listing form. Fill out a separate form for each family member.
  • Change of Venue - If you now live far from the immigration court where your hearing will take place, you can file a motion to change the location. This self-help guide (Español) was created by the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR). Additional self-help resources about how to move your immigration hearing to a different court can be found on LawHelpMN.

I-94s

An I-94 Electronic Form is a record that shows the date you entered the U.S., your status and your departure date if you entered with valid documents. If you lost this form, you can get your most recent I-94 online (Español).

Protecting Yourself from Immigration Scams and Fraud

We do not want you to become a victim of an immigration scam or fraud. Many people and companies offer help with immigration services, but not all are authorized to do so. If you need legal advice on immigration matters, make sure the person helping you is authorized to give legal advice.

Only an attorney or accredited representative working for a Department of Justice-recognized organization can give you legal advice. In the U.S., "notarios", or Notaries, are NOT trained or authorized to assist in immigration matters or give legal guidance. To find an attorney, recognized organization, or accredited representative near you, call 1-877-696-6529 or visit the LawHelpMN website and select 'Immigration' under the 'Legal Topics' and then select your county (Español).

Visit the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Avoid Scams (Evite las Estafas de Inmigración) and the Federal Trade Commission's Scams against Immigrants (Cómo evitar las estafas de inmigración y obtener ayuda real) page for information and resources on scams and fraud. You can also visit Stop Notario Fraud.

If you find you are a victim of an immigration scam, report the person or organization to the Minnesota Attorney General by calling 651-296-3353 (if you are in Minneapolis or St. Paul) or 1-800-657-3787 (If you are located outside of Minneapolis or St. Paul). You can also report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission by calling 1-877-382-4357, press 3 for a list of languages, and then 0 for more languages or at Report Fraud (Español).

Know Your Rights

Even if you do not have a legal immigration status, you still have rights when you are in the U.S.

For additional information, please visit the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota's Informed Immigrant's Know Your Rights webpage or American Immigration Lawyers Association's Know Your Rights Handouts.