Why?

Between August of 2022 and November 2024, the City of Chicago received over 51,000 new arrivals who crossed the southern border, many fleeing persecution within the meaning of United States asylum law. Many were at first living outside, or as the weather got colder, inside the Chicago police stations, then in city and state run shelters throughout the city. Many skipped the shelter system and were received, in most cases with inadequate knowledge and supports, by people they knew who had come to Chicago earlier. 

Recent arrivals need help with basic needs, like rent, clothing, and paying rising gas bills in a climate far colder than what they are used to. Many qualify for work permits, but applying costs $550. 

We are a grassroots, volunteer-run operation on the South Side of Chicago. Our primary focus is on providing material support and emergency legal services aimed at helping recent new arrivals and asylum seekers preserve rights while they seek long-term representation.

Neighbors United for Mutual Support developed out of the work of founder Maureen Graves, a lawyer and activist who represents students with disabilities, and who has been assisting with document preparation in asylum cases since 2022. 

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