WHAT IS MISC?

The Macomb Immigrant Service Center (MISC) provides comprehensive human service and empowerment programs to foster and increase self-sufficiency, success and independence among immigrants of all cultures within our community.

In other words: MISC seeks to serves immigrant individuals and families in all ways possible.

Although our core clientele and much of our staff are Spanish-speaking, MISC reaches out to and serves clients from all parts of the world. As of 2022, we have added Chaldean and Albanian speaking staff members. Since our official incorporation as a nonprofit in 2010, hundreds of Macomb-area residents have come to us for English and Citizenship instruction, Notary services, Document translations, volunteer Interpreters for doctor appointments or phone calls to their child's school – any possible hurdle to daily life in America.

But above all, foreign-born residents of Macomb come to MISC for high-integrity and affordable immigration assistance. Our trained staff members, recognized and accredited for this work by the U.S. Department of Justice, will not trick people with false hopes nor turn anyone away due to a lack of ability to pay.

The Macomb Immigrant Service MISC has been accomplishing much since its launch as a 501c3 in 2010. It has:

  • provided legal immigration services and legal representation to hundreds of immigrant families in the Macomb region (never turning a person away for inability to pay.) MISC is one of only two nonprofits in Macomb County recognized and accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice for its level of skilled practice in the field.
  • offered regular classes, year-round in English (ESL) and Citizenship.
  • maintained a 100% success rate over five years of “Citizenship Preparation” classes: Every student attending and completing the course has successfully passed the test to become a United States citizen.
  • partnered with the UAW and NIH to provide year-round Spanish-language community forums on vital workplace safety and life-skill topics, including: family financial planning, child nutrition and health, household and workplace chemicals, fire safety, ergonomics and CPR.
  • won numerous local, state and regional awards and commendations (including from the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit, Michigan State University, the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, the Macomb Intermediate School District ELL Bilingual Instruction Program, and The Detroit News, which chose MISC Executive Director Emily Diaz-Torres as a "2012 Michiganian of the Year.")

While MISC still primarily serves Hispanics, other cultures have found their way to our Macomb office. MISC is interfacing with consulates worldwide. The Phillipines, Bosnia, Kosovo, Bogota and England to name a few. Our clients are German, Thai, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Cambodian and Indian, in addition to Nicaraquan, Venezuelan, Columbian, Costa Rican, Guatamalan and Ecuadoran. Macomb County is expected to welcome an increased number of individuals and families as additional programs have been created at the Federal level. MISC helps immigrants begin to pursue the American dream. Our unique Citizenship classes support young and older persons by teaching English and supporting the needs of those with less resources to attain citizenship. Classes are held on off hours, off days and flexible schedules. One on one tutoring and small class sizes allow for individual support. Timing to conclusion of training is limitless as immigrants need to work is prioritized. Class locations vary, sometimes to a kitchen table. Our graduates are limited but enable the invisible to join in the benefits.

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