Minnesota Habeas Project

IMPORTANT: During the initial phase, the MN Habeas Project can only accept intakes submitted by the lawyer who represents the detained client in their immigration proceedings. At this time the Project cannot accept intakes completed by family members/loved ones of detained individuals. We will update this page when that changes.

Who we are

The Minnesota Habeas Project is a collective of nonprofit legal service providers, law school clinics, and pro bono law firms that assists unlawfully detained immigrants by connecting them to pro bono lawyers who can file habeas corpus petitions for them in federal court seeking their release from immigration detention. 

Who we can help

Individuals who are unlawfully detained in immigration custody and who reside in and are arrested by immigration officials in Minnesota (even if ICE transferred them from Minnesota to a detention center in another state). Currently, the Project is able to help clients who have an immigration advocate who can assist the pro bono habeas lawyer.  Please do not submit this intake Form for someone who did not live in Minnesota before their detention, and please do not submit this intake Form for someone who was not initially detained in Minnesota. 

How to request a pro bono lawyer from the Minnesota Habeas Project

During its initial phase, the Project is only accepting intakes submitted by legal representatives who represent the detained client in their immigration proceedings. Attorneys (and legal professionals working on the attorney's behalf) seeking a pro bono habeas lawyer for a Minnesotan currently in immigration detention can complete this intake Form. After the Form is submitted, the Project will assess the case to determine if we can place the case with a pro bono habeas lawyer. The Project will try to respond to your request the same day it is submitted but always by the next business day. Completing the intake Form does not guarantee that the Minnesota Habeas Project will be able to accept the case. The Project currently considers four types of cases: 

  1. refugees who do not yet have a green card; 

  2. young people with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status or who have been classified as “Unaccompanied Children”; 

  3. people who were on an Order of Supervision when ICE detained them; and 

  4. people who do not have a final removal order who are being held in immigration detention without access to a bond hearing.
     

What information do I need to fill out the intake form?

It’s ok if you don’t know everything, but this information helps us find a lawyer faster:

  • Where the person is detained (you can sometimes find this by checking here: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/)
  • The name and contact information of someone who has the detained person’s permission to talk to people about their case
  • The person’s name, date of birth, A number, and what country they are from
  • When the person was detained and a description of the arrest
  • Why you believe their arrest and detention is illegal
  • How and where the person entered the U.S., including whether they were detained at the border
  • Their immigration status and where they are with their immigration case (you can check their case here: https://acis.eoir.justice.gov/en/)
  • Past interactions with law enforcement and immigration enforcement
  • Info about any past immigration bond hearings
     

Questions about the Minnesota Habeas Project? Email mnhabeasproject@umn.edu.