As Operation Metro Surge Continues, Minneapolis Attorney Launches Real-Time Immigration Legal Support Tool

TurnSignl, founded by Minneapolis attorney and entrepreneur Jazz Hampton, has launched TurnSignl Plus, a service that connects users with immigration attorneys in real time across the United States.

As federal immigration enforcement continues across Minnesota under Operation Metro Surge — even following a newly announced federal drawdown — a Minneapolis-based legal technology company is expanding services aimed at helping people access attorneys during immigration encounters.

Jazz Hampton launched TurnSignl five years ago, focusing on connecting drivers with attorneys during traffic stops to help de-escalate encounters and provide legal guidance. He said the new immigration-focused service expands on that original concept.

"With the press of a button, you get to talk to an attorney instantly, not tomorrow, not after leaving a voice mail, in the moment that you need one," Jazz said. "The interaction is recorded and saved securely, even if your phone is taken, and it translates in over 50 languages right there on the screen."

The announcement comes during the ongoing occupation of federal immigration agents in the Twin Cities. Just yesterday during a congressional hearing in Washington, DC, Marimar Martinez, Aliya Rahman and Martin Daniel Rascon — three US citizens — described traumatic experiences at the hands of agents while they were in their cars.

"Increasingly in Minnesota, especially for people of color, there are moments where a parent is sitting in their car … wondering if this moment will be the one that changes everything," Jazz said. "That’s the moment that we built TurnSignl Plus for."

Approximately 10% of TurnSignl memberships are subsidized or free.

"If someone can't afford it, we want them to tell us, because we will find a community partner to cover that membership," Jazz said. "
Society should never force people to choose between their basic needs and their rights."