Minneapolis Commits Historic $1 Million to Immigration Legal Aid as Demand Surges

Record funding aims to protect vulnerable residents navigating complex immigration laws

The City of Minneapolis has approved its largest-ever investment in immigration legal services, committing more than $1 million to support residents facing growing and increasingly complex federal immigration cases. The decision, passed unanimously by the City Council, reflects rising demand for legal representation as enforcement actions and court proceedings intensify.

The funding brings together multiple sources: existing allocations in the city budget, funds previously approved for 2026, and an additional $500,000 reallocated from the Minneapolis Fire Department’s budget. City leaders emphasized that essential fire services will remain unaffected, with the diverted amount being restored through public safety aid.

Michelle Rivero, Director of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, described the move as a turning point for the city. “This is the largest amount of money ever dedicated to immigration legal services in Minneapolis, and it is truly transformational,” she said.

The expanded funding will allow the city to increase contracts and speed up payments to five nonprofit legal service providers, including the Volunteer Lawyers Network and the Advocates for Human Rights. These organizations offer free legal support to low-income individuals who cannot afford private attorneys.

Advocates say the need has changed sharply in recent months. While many cases once involved asylum seekers, legal groups are now assisting refugees and even children who face detention or deportation despite having limited understanding of the legal system. Immigration cases do not guarantee court-appointed lawyers, leaving many at serious risk without representation.

Data shared by advocates highlights the stakes: in Minnesota, deportation rates drop dramatically when individuals have legal counsel. City officials hope this long-term investment will help ensure fairness, due process, and ethical access to justice for some of Minneapolis’s most vulnerable residents.