“Everything Is Now an Emergency”: Inside a South Side Immigrant Legal Clinic

(CHICAGO) “Everything is now an emergency.” That’s how staff and volunteers describe the pace inside immigration legal clinics on the South Side, where a flood of new cases collides with hard deadlines and scarce appointments. Since August 2022, more than 51,000 migrants, mostly Venezuelans, have arrived in Chicago, and the city’s network of immigration legal clinics is straining to keep up as asylum seekers, DACA recipients, and families seek help before clocks run out.

At the TRP Immigrant Justice Legal Clinic, the phone lines ring nonstop. The clinic, at 1805 South Ashland Avenue, focuses on family petitions, humanitarian relief, DACA, citizenship, deportation defense, travel permits, and parole in place. Staff serve clients in English and Spanish, Monday through Friday, 9am–5pm, with appointment slots opening on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. The clinic urges people to book as early as possible; many days fill within minutes. For help, call 312-666-3062.

Smaller, volunteer-run efforts are also expanding. A grassroots legal aid clinic operating part-time out of the Hyde Park Arts Center and private homes has ramped up to tackle urgent asylum filings and work permit applications. Volunteers there say they focus on people closest to critical deadlines, especially those nearing the one-year limit to apply for asylum.

Hours for the grassroots clinic are part-time: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10am–5pm. Communication often happens by phone and WhatsApp as cases move, and volunteers prioritize those facing imminent deadlines.

Larger organizations continue to take on complex matters. The Greater Chicago Legal Clinic supports family-based immigration and related issues. The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), based at 208 S. LaSalle Street, offers free immigration legal services to Chicago residents and nearby communities and can be reached at 312-660-1370. Many providers now run waitlists, and some South Side clinics report more than 500 active cases at a time.

Deadlines drive emergency filings

The sharpest pressure point is the one-year filing deadline for asylum. People who enter the United States generally must file their asylum application within one year of arrival. Missing that deadline can lead to dismissal unless they can show extraordinary circumstances.

For many asylum seekers, that means filing the Form I-589 asylum application before the window closes. You can find the official application here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-589. Clinics across the South Side have shifted staff to meet this rush, setting aside time for emergency filings and late-night document review.

The push to file on time often goes hand-in-hand with work authorization needs. After submitting an asylum application and meeting eligibility rules, applicants can request work authorization using Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization). The official form is here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765. Providers say timely filings can protect people from losing legal options and can help stabilize families by allowing them to work lawfully once eligible.

Because demand far exceeds supply, most immigration legal clinics rely on first-come, first-served appointment releases. People are advised to sign up the moment slots open, keep documents in one place, and respond quickly to calls and messages from legal teams. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, clinics are triaging daily, prioritizing those at risk of missing hard deadlines or facing deportation.

For the TRP Immigrant Justice Legal Clinic, contact starts with scheduling online or by phone. Many first-time consultations occur on Tuesdays, when legal staff screen cases and decide next steps. If the clinic can take the matter, they:

1. Begin intake.
2. Gather documents.
3. Plan filings.

Communication may include WhatsApp check-ins, especially for clients balancing work shifts, childcare, and shelter moves. Most services are free for Illinois residents, with rare exceptions for select citizenship services, which helps low-income families move a case forward despite high living costs.

Policy environment and legal pushback

The wider policy picture is unsettled. Federal program shifts continue to ripple through local services, and providers say even temporary pauses can cause major backlogs. City Hall maintains Chicago’s stance as a sanctuary city.

Alderman Vasquez, who chairs the City Council’s Committee for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, has underscored that commitment while also calling for better funding and staffing so that clinics can meet community needs.

Legal advocates have turned to the courts as well. The Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago has filed federal cases challenging unlawful detentions and alleged violations of sanctuary laws, and has secured settlements in some matters. These efforts can protect rights in detention settings and help stop practices that may undermine local protections. Still, day-to-day reality on the South Side remains the same: a race to file paperwork correctly and on time.

Practical steps can make a big difference for families trying to get help now.

Immediate practical steps (checklist)

• Keep a folder with:
  • Passports
  • I-94 records
  • Entry documents
  • Police reports (if any)
  • Birth and marriage certificates
  • Shelter or address records
• Track your arrival date and set reminders ahead of the one-year asylum deadline.
• Ask clinics about waitlists and cancellations; a slot may open with short notice.
• Use safe communication channels. If you change phone numbers, update your legal provider immediately.
• Beware of “notarios” who are not licensed or accredited. You can find authorized, accredited representatives on the Department of Justice roster: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/recognition-accreditation-roster-reports.

Key contacts (provided by clinics and community groups)

• TRP Immigrant Justice Legal Clinic: 312-666-3062, 1805 South Ashland Avenue; appointments release on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays.
• Grassroots Legal Aid Clinic (Hyde Park Arts Center): Volunteer-based, part-time hours M/W/F 10am–5pm; focused on emergency asylum and work permit filings.
• NIJC: 312-660-1370, 208 S. LaSalle Street; free services for Chicago residents and surrounding areas.

Impact on families and staff

For many families, the stakes are heavy. Parents fear that a missed deadline could separate them from a child. Young adults with DACA renewals worry that delays might interrupt work or school. People fleeing violence need clear steps to pursue protection.

Clinics report that bilingual staff and volunteers are doing more evening and weekend work, translating documents, helping draft affidavits, and preparing filings for court. Communication flexibility—phone calls, WhatsApp messages, and weekend document review—has become essential to keeping cases moving.

Looking ahead

Providers expect high demand through 2025 as new arrivals continue and cases move through a system already backed up. Federal reforms are being discussed, including possible changes to asylum processing timelines or expansions of humanitarian relief. As of mid-August 2025, no firm changes have taken effect.

Local groups say deeper coordination between grassroots teams, major nonprofits, and the city could help stretch limited resources further, though staffing and funding remain tight.

For now, the advice from South Side legal teams is simple: act early, keep records, and get legal guidance before deadlines hit. Filing the Form I-589 on time, following up with Form I-765 when eligible, and staying in touch with your legal provider can protect your options. In a system defined by dates and documents, those steps may be the difference between a stable path forward and a case that never gets heard.