Nashville’s Belonging Fund Expands to Cover Immigrants’ Legal Fees

(NASHVILLE) The Belonging Fund in Nashville has expanded to pay for legal services for immigrants, a sharp shift from its original focus on emergency needs like housing, child care, transportation, and food. Axios reported the change on August 14, 2025, with the expansion taking effect this month. The fund aims to help people in removal court and other urgent immigration cases who can’t afford a lawyer.

The move reflects pressure from recent enforcement crackdowns and a push from local nonprofits to place legal help alongside basic support.

Origins and intent

Launched on May 5, 2025, by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee in partnership with the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, the Belonging Fund was built to stabilize families facing immigration crises.

At launch, Mayor Freddie O’Connell said the fund would not cover legal fees, focusing only on basic needs. That policy has now changed. According to Axios, the fund will help pay legal fees for people facing deportation or other complex immigration matters.

City Hall says it does not contribute money to the fund or decide how it is spent.

Community control and funding

• The Belonging Fund is supported solely by private donations, and the city does not control distributions.
• The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) administers the fund and has discretion to adjust priorities.
• CFMT has now included legal assistance as part of its emergency support.

CFMT leaders say the shift recognizes that legal counsel can be the difference between a family staying together or being separated when a parent must appear in immigration court.

“Legal counsel can be the difference between a family staying together or being separated.” — CFMT leaders (paraphrased)

Political response

• Critics: Local Republican officials argue the fund’s legal focus opposes immigration enforcement efforts.
• Supporters: Counter that access to a lawyer is a basic due process protection and that people in removal court are not guaranteed counsel by the government.

The expansion moves the fund beyond its early design and closer to a comprehensive safety net that can cover both a family’s bills and their day in court.

Why legal help matters

For many families, a lawyer can determine whether:
– a valid asylum claim is filed on time,
– a parent is released on bond,
– a child’s case remains on track.

Without counsel, people frequently miss deadlines or struggle with complex court rules. The U.S. Department of Justice’s immigration courts maintain a pro bono list of providers by state, which can be a starting point for those seeking help: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers.

The Belonging Fund’s new role is to pay the legal bills many families cannot cover, so nonprofit legal teams can take urgent cases faster.

Governance and operational notes

The Belonging Fund was first pitched as a rapid-response fund to soften the blow of enforcement actions in Middle Tennessee. Axios noted that expanding to legal fees departs from Mayor O’Connell’s earlier public stance.

• The Mayor’s office emphasizes the city contributes no public money.
• The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee makes all spending decisions.

That governance model insulates the fund from direct political control but also places public focus on CFMT’s choices as requests for help rise.

How to seek help and related resources

Families seeking help can reach the fund through CFMT or partner nonprofits. CFMT lists the Belonging Fund’s details, including donation options, at https://cfmt.org/belonging.

The new support prioritizes:
– people in deportation proceedings,
– those seeking asylum,
– other time-sensitive immigration matters.

Step-by-step path to request legal help through the Belonging Fund

1. Contact CFMT or a partner nonprofit to ask about legal help funding.
2. The nonprofit reviews urgency, court timeline, and case type.
3. If approved, the fund pays legal fees directly to providers or grants money to the nonprofit handling the case.
4. A lawyer or accredited representative takes the case and begins defense work.
5. During the case, the fund may also help with emergency needs like rent or transport to hearings.

Active legal and community partners in Nashville

• Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors (TNJFON): Free or low-cost immigration representation for low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, including people impacted by 2025 detentions. Contact details are listed on TNJFON’s website.
• Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee: Serves low-income and vulnerable residents, including immigrants. Phone 615-244-6610 or 800-238-1443; office at 1321 Murfreesboro Pike, Suite 400, Nashville, TN 37217.
• Catholic Charities Diocese of Nashville: Provides immigration support through accredited staff who help with forms and counseling; often a lower-cost option than a private attorney.
• Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC): Statewide organization for direct services and organizing. Phone (615) 833-0384.
• Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE): Offers legal and social support to help newcomers settle and work toward stability.

Typical case example

A typical case might involve a longtime Nashville parent picked up during a traffic stop and referred to immigration court. The family’s immediate questions:

• Who will represent them?
• How soon can they see a judge?
• How to keep their kids stable?

With Belonging Fund support, a nonprofit attorney can step in quickly to:
– file urgent motions,
– map out relief options,
– coordinate emergency aid such as rent and transportation to court.

That mix of legal and basic aid can keep a family afloat.

Broader implications

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, readers across the country are watching how community-backed funds add legal defense to meet rising needs. While models differ, the common thread is:

• If a family cannot pay for a lawyer, the odds of losing their case often grow.
• Local philanthropy can fill that gap when public systems fall short.

CFMT’s move may inspire similar funds in other parts of Tennessee if donors step forward. It may also push Nashville’s legal nonprofits to:
– expand,
– hire more staff,
– build referral systems that move cases faster from hotline call to courtroom.

Practical advice for families and donors

• The fund now pays for legal services — seek help early rather than waiting until a court date is close.
• The fund is private — no public money is used, and the city does not decide which cases receive support.
• Families with court dates should:
  • keep copies of all notices,
  • show up to every hearing,
  • ask providers about wait times, fees, and case plans.

People who don’t yet have a lawyer can review the DOJ’s pro bono list to see which groups accept new cases in Middle Tennessee: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers.

For donations or assistance, CFMT urges those who need help — or those who want to give — to check cfmt.org/belonging and connect with trusted nonprofit partners.

For parents at risk of deportation, the urgent question is whether a lawyer can take the case in time — and whether there’s money to pay for it. The fund’s expansion aims to answer yes to both.