Access to justice. Dignity for all.
For immigrants navigating an increasingly complex legal system, the stakes can be life-changing. Yet unlike criminal proceedings, immigration cases generally don't come with a government-appointed attorney—even when someone faces deportation and cannot afford legal representation.
The Community Immigration Law Center (CILC) helps bridge that gap, providing free legal consultations, free or low-cost representation, and community education to immigrants in Madison and surrounding communities.
As of August 2026, 49% of people with pending deportation cases nationwide had no attorney.
Source: Vera Institute of Justice, Immigration Court Legal Representation Dashboard, August 2026.
Our Mission
CILC strives to ensure dignity and access to justice for people, especially those facing deportation, through legal representation, consultations, and community education.
We believe everyone deserves a meaningful opportunity to understand their rights and be heard, regardless of immigration status or financial circumstances.
Rooted in our community. Connected to a national movement.
In 2017, Dane County joined the Vera Institute of Justice's Safety and Fairness for Everyone (SAFE) Network, a national initiative expanding access to legal representation for immigrants facing deportation.
CILC and the University of Wisconsin Law School's Immigrant Justice Clinic helped provide legal services through this initiative, with particular attention to people held in immigration detention.
Today, CILC continues working to make immigration legal assistance more accessible to people and families in our community.
Behind every number is a person.
These figures reflect more than legal cases and court outcomes. They represent individuals, families, and communities whose futures are shaped by access to legal representation.