Information on the Midwest Immigrant Defenders Alliance (MIDA)

MIDA is a coalition of the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), The Resurrection Project (TRP), The Immigration Project (TIP), and the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender (CCPD). [...] Who qualifies for a free MIDA representative in the Chicago Immigration Court? Individuals must meet all of the following criteria: In removal proceedings before the Chicago Immigration Court. [...] How can I verify that my client or community member will receive help from MIDA? MIDA typically observes the first Master Calendar hearing of the week at the Chicago Immigration Court and follows up with individuals who indicate to the immigration judge at their initial hearing that they are interested in free legal services. [...] With offices in the Bloomington-Normal and Champaign-Urbana areas, TIP maintains an extensive network with partner organizations and specially trained community members to increase access to justice for immigrants and their families residing in the 86 counties that comprise its service area. [...] Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender (CCPD) Through the work of the Immigration Unit Pilot, Cook County is the largest county in the nation to provide public defenders to serve immigrant communities that do not have access to attorneys.