Mid-South Immigration Advocates

09/27/2026

“[W]e cannot build it if we allow the current field to collapse first.

Innovation cannot substitute for stabilization. Stabilization is what makes innovation possible.

Philanthropy can act now. Flexible funding can keep experienced attorneys representing children, support attorneys who already have access to their clients in shelters and detention, and give providers the capacity to respond when new children are apprehended, rights are violated, or rapid intervention is necessary to prevent removal or protect family reunification.

And this is not only the responsibility of immigration philanthropy. It is a child-welfare, anti-trafficking, civil rights, and access to justice issue.”

It seems like every day this administration comes up with a new way to harm and endanger immigrant children. Weeks ago, the government allowed funding for unaccompanied children’s lawyers to expire, and now they are going after anti-trafficking protections required by the Trafficking Victims Prote...

08/24/2026

UPDATE!

Dear Mid-South Community:

MIA’s staff and leadership have no words to express how thankful we are for the community’s overwhelming response to this crisis. Because of your support, we have been able to continue serving the majority of our clients, and we have the time we need for an orderly wind-down of our practice.

We may be closing our doors, and we won’t be able to accept new clients, but hundreds of families who rely on our legal support can continue to count on us over the next few years as their cases come to a conclusion.

The truth is that our already under-sourced region is wholly unprepared to protect our immigrant neighbors from unjust, unnecessary family separation and deportation. MIA has relied almost solely on federal funding from our founding in 2013 because federal support has been the only way to bring free legal immigration services to hundreds of people our community. This may not have been sustainable—but it was necessary as an immediate, lifesaving measure in what is still a legal desert.

Our hope is that from this tragedy local and regional funders will step up and put greater support towards not just legal immigration services, but legal services more generally. Rights are meaningless if they cannot be enforced, and in our legal system, you only get the justice you can afford. Making the Mid-South a more just place for all means funding legal services.

Once again, we deeply appreciate the community’s support during this extremely difficult time—it has been so gratifying to our staff to see how highly our work is valued. Please keep the momentum going by supporting the Welcome South coalition, including our friends and partners at Advocates for Immigrant Rights, Tennessee Justice for our Neighbors, and Community Legal Center. Together, we can protect our communities and build a safe, secure future for Mid-South families.

Sincerely,

MIA

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08/24/2026

¡ACTUALIZAR!

Estimados clientes y comunidad:

El personal y la directiva de MIA no tienen palabras para expresar nuestro profundo agradecimiento por la abrumadora respuesta de la comunidad ante esta crisis. Gracias a su apoyo, hemos podido seguir atendiendo a la mayoría de nuestros clientes, y tenemos el tiempo que necesitamos para una liquidación ordenada de nuestras oficinas.

A pesar de que estaremos cerrando nuestras puertas y de que no podremos tomar clientes nuevos, cientos de familias que dependen de nuestro apoyo legal podrán seguir contando con nosotros en los próximos años ya que sus casos lleguen a una conclusión.

La verdad es que nuestra región, ya de por si con escasos recursos, no está preparada para proteger a nuestros vecinos inmigrantes de la separación familiar y las deportaciones injustas e innecesarias. Desde su fundación en 2013, MIA ha dependido casi exclusivamente de fondos federales, ya que este apoyo ha sido la única manera de brindar servicios legales de inmigración gratuitos a cientos de personas en nuestra comunidad. Tal vez esta no fue la manera más sostenible, pero fue necesario como medida inmediata para salvar vidas en lo que aún es un desierto legal.

Nuestra esperanza es que, a raíz de esta tragedia, los financiadores locales y regionales luchen para brindar mayor apoyo no solo a los servicios legales de inmigración, sino a los servicios legales en general. Los derechos carecen de sentido si no se pueden hacer cumplir, y en nuestro sistema legal, solo se obtiene la justicia que uno puede costear. Lograr que el medio sur sea un lugar más justo para todos implica financiar a los servicios legales.

Una vez más, agradecemos profundamente el apoyo de la comunidad durante este momento tan difícil. Ha sido muy gratificante para nuestro equipo ver cuánto se valora nuestro trabajo. Por favor, mantengan el impulso apoyando a la coalición Welcome South, incluidos nuestros amigos y socios de Advocates for Immigrant Rights, Tennessee Justice for our Neighbors y Community Legal Center. Juntos, podemos proteger a nuestras comunidades y construir un futuro seguro para las familias de medio sur.

Atentamente,
El equipo de MIA

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08/06/2026

“It didn’t cause much of a news ripple when it was announced last week that Mid-South Immigration Advocates (MIA) will close its doors in September. But it should have.”

Next they came for the children. …

08/06/2026

07/29/2026

We cannot begin to express our gratitude to Midtown Bramble and Bloom for their support. Check out this amazing fundraiser!

07/26/2026

Mid-South Immigration Advocates is set to close after 13 years, following the failure of the federal government to reimburse for services rendered, co-founder said.

07/24/2026

Dear Clients and Community,

We are sad to share the devastating news that MIA will be closing both its Memphis and Nashville offices over the next few months. To our dear clients, we will be contacting each of you over the upcoming weeks to discuss the next steps in your case as we move into an uncertain future.

We were forced to make this decision after learning that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will indefinitely delay reimbursement for our representation of unaccompanied minors.

Our invoices have remained unpaid for over 7 months of work, which amounts to over half a million dollars. We have diligently fulfilled our obligations by using reserve funding, and we have sought foundation funding to fill the gap. But we are running out of resources, and therefore we are running out of time.
We want to thank you for your regular and generous support.

Despite losing federal funding for our Survivors' Project, Asylum Initiative, and Know Your Rights programing under the current administration, we had hoped to continue serving our community through our existing contracts and fundraising efforts. However, the protracted delay in reimbursement has forced us to make this immensely difficult decision.

We will continue to serve our clients until we are no longer able to. If you have the capacity to donate a one-time or recurring sum, any amount given will extend the amount of time we will be able to continue to serve our nearly 800 clients, approximately half of whom are children.

With love and respect,

MIA Staff



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07/24/2026

Estimados clientes y comunidad:

Lamentamos compartir la difícil noticia de que MIA cerrará sus oficinas de Memphis y Nashville en los próximos meses. A nuestros estimados clientes, nos pondremos en contacto con cada uno de ustedes en las próximas semanas para hablar sobre los próximos pasos en su caso mientras avanzamos hacia un futuro incierto.

Nos vimos obligados a tomar esta decisión después de saber que el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Estados Unidos retrasará indefinidamente el reembolso por nuestra representación de menores no acompañados. Nuestras facturas han quedado sin pagar durante más de siete meses de trabajo, lo cual suma más de medio millón de dólares. Hemos cumplido con diligencia nuestras obligaciones usando fondos de reserva, y hemos buscado financiamiento de fundaciones para cubrir la diferencia. Pero se nos están agotando los recursos y, por lo tanto, se nos está agotando el tiempo.

Queremos agradecerles su apoyo constante y generoso. A pesar de haber perdido el financiamiento federal para nuestro Proyecto de Sobrevivientes, la Iniciativa de Asilo y los programas de Conozca Sus Derechos bajo la administración actual, teníamos la esperanza de seguir sirviendo a nuestra comunidad a través de nuestros contratos existentes y esfuerzos de recaudación de fondos. Sin embargo, el prolongado retraso en el reembolso nos ha obligado a tomar esta decisión sumamente difícil.

Continuaremos atendiendo a nuestros clientes hasta que ya no podamos hacerlo. Si tienen la posibilidad de donar una suma única o recurrente, cualquier cantidad que aporten extenderá el tiempo que podremos seguir sirviendo a nuestros casi 800 clientes, aproximadamente la mitad de los cuales son niños.

Con cariño y respeto,

El equipo de MIA

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05/01/2026

We are thrilled to share that we recently received a grant from the Memphis Bar Foundation! We are sincerely grateful for your support!