Chicago Volunteers Fill Gap in Immigration Legal Help

In Cook County, Illinois, a group of dedicated volunteers is making sure families facing immigration challenges don't have to navigate the system alone.

Liza Gutierrez from Hanover Park is part of the Resurrection Project's Colibri Fellowship, a Department of Justice-approved program that trains community members to help with complex immigration cases. When someone is arrested, she helps their family locate their loved one and figure out next steps.

"We find them in New York, Kentucky, Texas," Gutierrez said. Her focus goes beyond paperwork to caring for the families left behind during stressful times.

The volunteers aren't attorneys, but their help fills a critical gap. An estimated 70% of people in immigration court have no legal representation, and immigration attorneys are scarce nationwide.

Cook County currently faces more than 112,000 pending federal deportation cases, ranking second in the nation according to Syracuse University data. The backlog has grown even as the number of available judges has shrunk.

Why This Inspires

The Colibri Fellows represent something powerful: ordinary people choosing to stand with their neighbors during difficult moments. These women have invested their time learning complex legal processes so families don't face the system alone.

Their work addresses a real need. Finding an immigration attorney is difficult for many families, making these trained volunteers often the only resource available. They bridge the gap between confusion and understanding, between isolation and support.

The fellowship shows how community-based solutions can respond to large-scale challenges. By training local residents who understand the communities they serve, the program creates culturally connected support that goes beyond legal forms.

Gutierrez and her fellow volunteers focus on what matters most: keeping families informed, connected, and supported. They help locate detained family members across multiple states and provide guidance through an overwhelming process.

Their compassion-driven approach reminds us that meaningful change often starts with individuals who see a need and choose to act, one family at a time.