Immigration Law and Justice (IL&J-MI) provides free or low-cost legal services, advocating for people of every race, nationality, religion, age, gender, and sexual orientation who have come to the United States seeking freedom, safety and opportunity.

 

“And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”

                                                                                                 Deuteronomy 10:19

By Zeke Fleet, CUMC Missions Committee

 

Imagine the anxiety for yourself and your family if the terror of war or other atrocities forced you to leave your homeland to find asylum in a foreign country. Put yourself in the shoes of a family from a country such as Ukraine, Afghanistan or Haiti, where lives are threatened and remaining in your homeland is no longer an option.

This describes the situation for thousands of refugees who’ve sought protection and a better life in the United States. 

Immigration Law & Justice Michigan (ILJ-MI) attorneys help immigrants understand their legal options. ILJ-MI provides professional assistance in navigating the complexities and barriers of the U.S. immigration legal system, and identifies legal pathways, including advocation for citizenship.

ILJ-MI (formerly Justice for Our Neighbors) was initiated nationally in 1996 by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and is one of the few providers of low-cost immigration legal services in Michigan. ILJ-MI has 19 affiliated sites across the U.S., and has four offices in Michigan including Grand Rapids, Metro Detroit, Kalamazoo, and Traverse City. Central UMC has identified ILJ-MI as an essential faith-based mission. Central provides no-cost office space for the IL-MI staff and clients. Legal director Marcelo Betti is an experienced immigration attorney and has managed the office since 2015.

The humanitarian services that ILJ-MI provides for immigrants include:

• Establishing relationships with foreign nationals and offering information and legal advice to help them navigate the US immigration system.
• Pursuing green cards, citizenship, asylum, temporary protected status (TPS), special immigrant juvenile status, visas for victims of trafficking and other crimes, including crimes against women.
• Education, family preparedness, and advocacy.

Recent political developments have caused national immigration policy changes, and many avenues for humanitarian relief have been reduced or eliminated. Further reductions in humanitarian options are foreseen and the demand for assistance has increased:

• In 2024, ILJ handled 1,664 cases, 20% more than 2023

• In 2024, ILJ met with 1,053 clients, 15% more than in 2023

• In 2025 alone, nearly 80 Ukrainians have applied for Temporary Protected Status at the Traverse City ILJ office. Immigration restrictions are expected to increase in the months ahead.
• Haitians are now in a more difficult situation since a strict travel ban is in place and TPS applications are paused and may be eliminated.

How you can help:

Your prayers and financial contributions can make a major difference with efforts to assist immigrants.

• Select the “Central Missions” dropdown with online donations, click here to donate now.
• Specify Immigration Law & Justice when making church offerings,
• Contribute coins and bills in the gathering space bucket!