Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center

What Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center does

The Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center (SWIRC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal services organization (EIN 47-3832575) founded in 2014 by Kevin Piecuch in Detroit, Michigan. SWIRC is the largest provider of free and low-cost legal services to Southeast Michigan's vulnerable immigrant and refugee communities, operating three walk-in legal service centers: the Southwest Legal Center (Detroit), Pontiac Legal Center, and Eastside Legal Center (Detroit). Services are delivered at no charge at the clinics regardless of legal status or ability to pay, with full legal representation available at the organization's discretion for matters including asylum, naturalization, DACA renewals, adjustment of status, family-based and employment-based visas, TPS, immigration appeals, family/custody, housing, traffic, probate, contracts, expungements, and small business assistance. Multilingual delivery (Spanish, French, Arabic, Pashto, Dari) extends reach into specific language communities.

SWIRC supplements its legal services with a Safe Harbor Housing program (launched 2021 at 329 W Grand Blvd) providing medium-term housing and a small-business incubator for asylum seekers. The organization does not deploy proprietary technology; it relies on standard case management and communication tools for intake, scheduling (in-person, phone, video), and document handling. Delivery capacity is enabled by a small staff (Executive Director Kevin Piecuch, Legal Director Alex Vernon, Senior Paralegal Jose Davila, plus clinic supervisors) supported by an extensive volunteer network including pro bono attorneys such as Debbie Bellovich (1,300+ pro bono hours in her first year) and 30+ volunteers on busy clinic days.

SWIRC's revenue model is donation-dependent, drawing from individual giving (with suggested gift tiers of $30 for mailing costs, $100 for a new asylum filing, $550 for a work permit fee, $675 for family petition, and $1,000 for asylum hearing representation), foundation grants (Ford Fund, Oakland County Bar Foundation), and community fundraising events (e.g., the 'Ritmos y Raíces' fiesta raising nearly $10,000; Lingua Franca collaboration raising $20,000). Strategic partnerships with Ford Fund, Freedom House Detroit, Police Athletic League, Global Detroit, New Hope Presbyterian Church, and La Loba Jewelry underpin both funding and referral pipelines. The organization has cumulatively served 25,000+ clients since 2015, won 19 of 22 habeas corpus petitions filed, and delivered $336,442 in legal services in 2018 alone.

Name

Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center

Legal name

Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center

Website

https://detimmigrantcenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free and low-cost legal services across three Southeast Michigan clinics to vulnerable immigrant and refugee communities, covering immigration, family, housing, and civil matters, supported by donations, grants, and volunteer networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigration Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee Reception & Registration (BPADAHAA), Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAG)

Keywords

• Immigration legal services
• Asylum representation
• Legal aid clinics
• Refugee legal assistance
• Community legal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: SWIRC relies primarily on donations from individuals, community members, and supporters. Suggested donation amounts cover specific legal services costs: $30 for mailing client documents, $100 for filing a new asylum case, $550 for a work permit fee, $675 for petitioning for a relative, and $1,000 for representing a client at an asylum hearing. Monthly recurring donations are encouraged.
2. Foundation and Grant Funding: SWIRC receives grant funding from foundations such as the Oakland County Bar Foundation (for the Pontiac Legal Clinic) and the Ford Fund (for facility support and community programs). These partnerships provide dedicated funding for specific programs and operations.
3. Community Fundraising Events: SWIRC conducts community fundraising events such as the 'Ritmos y Raíces' fiesta organized by the Indian Village community, which raised nearly $10,000. Partnerships with businesses like La Loba Jewelry and Lingua Franca generate additional fundraising revenue through product collaborations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center (SWIRC) provides free and low-cost legal services to vulnerable immigrant and refugee communities in Southeast Michigan through three walk-in legal service centers. Services span immigration matters (asylum, naturalization, DACA, TPS, family-based and employment-based visas), family/custody, housing, traffic, probate, contracts, expungements, and small business assistance. Full legal representation is provided in court and before government bodies, supplemented by a Safe Harbor Housing program for asylum seekers.

Product overview

SWIRC is a non-profit legal services organization offering a unified suite of free and low-cost legal aid services. The core offering consists of free walk-in legal clinics at three Southeast Michigan locations, supplemented by full legal representation for clients who qualify. Services cover immigration (asylum, naturalization, DACA, TPS, family-based and employment-based visas), family/custody, housing, traffic/driver's license issues, probate/wills, contracts, expungements, and small business assistance. A Safe Harbor Housing program provides shelter and a small-business incubator for asylum seekers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free Legal Services (Walk-in Legal Clinics)

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000+ clients helped since 2015
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ford FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ford Fund is SWIRC's longest-standing community partner, providing facility support and program funding. They made available the space at 1401 Vermont St. for the Southwest Legal Center through the Police Athletic League, enabling the clinic's relocation in 2024 after 10 years at 2826 Bagley.
• Police Athletic LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Ford Fund to provide the facility space for the Southwest Legal Center at 1401 Vermont St., Suite 230, Detroit.
• Global DetroitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Detroit provides resources and support for immigrant entrepreneurs in Detroit. SWIRC works alongside Global Detroit to support small business growth among immigrant communities.
• New Hope Presbyterian ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThis faith community based in Southfield, Michigan, partnered with SWIRC to make a direct impact on the lives of clients, supporting vulnerable persons in the Detroit area.
• La Loba JewelryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDetroit designer Kate Bordine partnered with SWIRC for a limited-time fundraising collection called 'Make a Statement' featuring vintage Taxco silver earrings, celebrating Mexican silversmithing heritage.
• Lingua FrancaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough an exclusive clothing collaboration, Lingua Franca and supporters Kris and Dave raised $20,000 for SWIRC's legal services.
• Indian Village CommunityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Indian Village community organized the 'Ritmos y Raíces' fiesta celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, raising nearly $10,000 for SWIRC's free legal services.
• Freedom House DetroitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreedom House Detroit is the primary housing option for asylum seekers in Southeast Michigan. They provide safe shelter and access to services for individuals SWIRC serves, addressing the critical housing gap for new arrivals who cannot receive public benefits.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HIAS: Established global Jewish humanitarian organization providing refugee resettlement, legal aid, and integration services—comparable in refugee/asylum legal services mission at much larger scale and broader geography than SWIRC.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan: Statewide civil rights organization with an immigrants' rights project providing legal advocacy on immigration-related constitutional issues—comparable in advocacy/legal support for immigrants but at statewide and litigation-focused scale.
• National Immigration Law Center (NILC): National advocacy and legal support organization advancing immigrants' rights through impact litigation, policy, and training—comparable in immigration law focus but operates at a national policy level rather than direct client services like SWIRC.

Regional players

• Global Detroit: Detroit-based economic development nonprofit supporting immigrant integration and entrepreneurship—comparable in regional immigrant-focused mission and formal partnership with SWIRC for small business support, though not a direct legal services provider.

Direct peers

• Justice for Our Neighbors: National network of volunteer-driven immigration legal clinics offering free/low-cost services to low-income immigrants—comparable to SWIRC's clinic-based, volunteer-powered service model and immigrant-focused legal aid mission.
• Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan: Regional social services nonprofit providing immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, and social assistance in the same Southeast Michigan geography—overlapping service populations and program offerings with SWIRC.
• International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit: Detroit-based nonprofit delivering refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and integration support—directly comparable in serving immigrants and refugees in the same metro area as SWIRC.
• Freedom House Detroit: Detroit-based nonprofit providing shelter and services for asylum seekers and refugees in Southeast Michigan—directly comparable in mission and geography, with an explicit partnership with SWIRC for client referrals.
• Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC): Michigan-based statewide nonprofit providing direct legal representation and advocacy to immigrants, including asylum and detention cases—directly comparable in mission and service mix to SWIRC, though operating statewide rather than regionally.
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): National nonprofit providing pro bono legal representation to unaccompanied immigrant children—comparable in pro bono-driven model and immigration legal services, with overlap in SWIRC's Special Immigrant Juvenile Status work (e.g., Emilio from Guatemala).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southwest-detroit-immigrant-and-refugee-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/swdirc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center