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EspañolTexas Legal Services Center (TLSC) represents and advises people who have low incomes or can qualify for services even with higher incomes because they meet other qualifying criteria. TLSC provides free informational resources regardless of income. TLSC’s legal help departments include Legal Aid for Survivors of Sexual Assault (LASSA) and Advocates for Victims of Crime (AVOICE). AVOICE is a Texas Legal Services Center statewide project providing free direct legal representation and referrals to victims of violent crime, and providing education about crime victim’s rights. AVOICE helps victims with the following legal matters: protective orders, family law (custody, child support, divorce), Crime Victims Compensation, domestic violence, stalking/cyber stalking, immigration (helping undocumented victims apply for a U visa or a T visa), and more.
Legal Assistance for Abused Immigrants
The organizations listed on this page specifically help victims of abuse with immigration matters, such as filing VAWA self-petitions. You can find additional immigration services providers for broader immigration matters on the Immigration Legal Services Directory provided by the Texas Council on Family Violence.
Texas Legal Services Center
Bexar
RAICES
RAICES provides free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families, and refugees in Central and South Texas. Legal services include a residency and citizenship program, children’s program, assistance to asylum and adult crime victims, and an emergency refugee shelter.
St. Mary's University School of Law Immigration & Human Rights Clinic
The Immigration & Human Rights Clinic represents individuals in removal proceedings in San Antonio and the surrounding detention centers as well as individuals in VAWA, U visas, T visas, and other applications before USCIS.
Brazos
Catholic Charities of Central Texas: Immigration Legal Services (Brazos Valley Office)
Catholic Charities of Central Texas provides low-cost legal representation in immigration matters. Representation includes, but is not limited to family based immigration, permanent resident card replacement or renewal, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), visas for victims of crime and human trafficking, naturalization, and asylum. Clients must be at or below the 200% federal poverty guidelines to access services.
Cameron
Casa De Proyecto Libertad
Casa De Proyecto Libertad (PL) provides services to victims of domestic violence and individuals who are not in legal immigration status. Areas of immigration legal assistance offered are adjustment of status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), employment authorization, family-based petitions, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), U visas, and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions. Services are offered in English and Spanish. LP serves Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties.
South Texas Immigration Council (Harlingen Office)
The South Texas Immigration Council, Inc. provides legal services in the area of immigration. Legal services include Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions, T visas, U visas, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Removal hearings, Adjustment of Status, Ayslum applications, Consular processing, and more. Services are offered in English and Spanish. The Harlingen Office serves Harlingen County and Port Isabel Service Processing Center, Texas.
Collin
Baptist Immigration Center/Iglesia Bautista Cristiana
Baptist Immigration Center offers immigration legal assistance, such as: adjustment of status, consular processing, DACA, DAPA, employment authorization, gamily-based petitions, NACARA, Naturalization/Citizenship, removal hearings, T visas, TPS, U visas, and VAWA petitions. Baptist Immigration Center serves Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant, and Wise Counties.
Dallas
Human Rights Initiative
Human Rights Initiative provides legal services free of charge to those seeking asylum, relief under the Violence Against Women Act, Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act, immigrant victims of crime and immigrant child victims of abuse, neglect, and abandonment.
Immigration & Legal Services of Catholic Charities of Dallas (Central Office)
The Immigration & Legal Services (ILS) of Catholic Charities of Dallas provides legal assistance with Family Visa petitions, adjustment of status applications, consular visa processing, representation of survivor of domestic violence/victims of violent crimes, naturalization/citizenship applications, applications for Deferred Action fir Childhood Arrivals (DACA), permanent resident applications for refugees and asylees, document renewals and replacements, education and outreach about immigration law, legal orientations for custodians of unaccompanied children, and representation of certain unaccompanied minors in removal proceedings. The initial consultation fee is between $40 and $80 depending on the subject.
Immigration & Legal Services of Catholic Charities of Dallas (West Dallas Office)
The Immigration & Legal Services (ILS) of Catholic Charities of Dallas provides legal assistance with Family Visa petitions, adjustment of status applications, consular visa processing, representation of survivor of domestic violence/victims of violent crimes, naturalization/citizenship applications, applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), permanent resident applications for refugees and asylees, document renewals and replacements, education and outreach about immigration law, legal orientations for custodians of unaccompanied children, and representation of certain unaccompanied minors in removal proceedings. The initial consultation fee is between $40 and $80 depending on the subject. The West Dallas Office is by appointment only.
Mil Mujeres
Mil Mujeres provides direct legal services in the area of immigration law to low-income Spanish and English-speaking survivors of domestic violence, physical assault, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and to immigrant children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. Services include help with U visas, VAWA self-petitions and DACA immigration processes. There are costs associated with the services.
El Paso
Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services (DMRS)
Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services (D.M.R.S.) provides legal assistance to individuals and families facing removal (formerly deportation) from the U.S., individuals seeking to attain citizenship, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions (I-360), U visa/Nonimmigrant Status applications (I-918), T visa/nonimmigrant status applications, and assistance with the family-based immigration process, with special focus on the unification and reunification of families and on victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. The consultation fee is $50 for those who do not qualify for free legal services.
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center provides low-cost immigration services to low-income immigrants. Services include family-based immigration, victims of crimes (domestic violence and human trafficking), and asylum. These services include consultation, adjustment of status, petition for relatives, removal of conditions, citizenship, work authorization, residency renewal, suspension of deportation, court appearances, change of venue, and more.
Harris
African Law Center
African Law Center, Inc. assists African refugees and immigrants with immigration legal assistance. Legal assistance includes: adjustment of status, asylum applications, consular processing, DACA, DAPA, employment authorization, employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions, family-based petitions, Habeas Corpus, NACARA, naturalization/Citizenship, removal hearings, special immigrant juvenile status, T visas, TPS, U visas, and VAWA petitions. Services include: help completing forms, filings with USCIS, representation at asylum. interviews (credible fear interviews, reasonable fear interviews), representation before the immigration court, representation before the Board of Appeals (BIA). African Law Center, Inc. serves Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller Counties.
Boat People SOS
Boat People SOS offers assistance to victims/survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, and more. Services include: assistance and support for victims of domestic violence and their children (case management, translation and interpretation, legal representation); anti-trafficking programs, mental health programs, youth programs, community empowerment programs, and assistance with citizenship and immigration. Boat People SOS offers immigration legal assistance including: adjustment of status, asylum applications, consular processing, DACA, employment authorization, family-based petitions, naturalization/citizenship, removal hearings, T visas, TPS, U visas, and VAWA petitions. Boat People SOS serves Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Harris Counties.
Catholic Charities' St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigration Legal Assistance
Catholic Charities’ St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigration Legal Assistance provides legal assistance to low-income individuals, victims of human trafficking, those separated from their families, and those who fear persecution in their country of origin. Services include pro bono and low cost legal services to immigrants and refugees. The following are types of cases accepted family petitions, naturalization, Cuban Adjustment, Refugee and Asylee Adjustment, T visa, U visa, & VAWA, asylum, unaccompanied minors, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). There is a $30 intake fee for all cases except older refugees, refugee/asylee citizenship cases, crime victim cases, and for individuals whose income in below 125% of the poverty guideline qualify for free immigration legal services-proof of income required.
Lone Star Legal Aid
Lone Star Legal Aid provides legal services, including representation, to low income residents of 72 counties in Texas from 12 offices. The Houston office serves Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Walker counties. They provide services for a variety of legal issues including issues regarding domestic violence and family law. Lone Star Legal Aid will provide assistance to those with limited English skills.
Lubbock
Catholic Charities Diocese of Lubbock
The Catholic Charities Diocese of Lubbock’s immigration program provides assistance with all immigration processes such as citizenship and replacement of legal permanent resident card, employment authorization card, and all family based categories, and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
McLennan
Greater Waco Legal Services
Greater Waco Legal Services (GWLS) provides affordable legal services, holistic advocacy, and community-driven problem-solving so that all members of the community have equal access to justice. Immigration legal assistance includes: family-based petitions, victim-based petitions (VAWA and U Visas), citizenship/naturalization, and permanent resident (i.e. green card) renewals. GWLS serves Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Hill, Limestone, and McLennan Counties.
Tarrant
Legal Aid of Northwest Texas (Fort Worth office)
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) offers free civil legal assistance to low-income Texans. They serve 115 counties in Texas with 15 offices; the Fort Worth office serves Palo Pinto, Parker, Tarrant, Erath, Hoco and Johnson counties. They are able to represent clients in any type of civil matter. Their practice focuses on support for families, preserving the home, maintaining, economic stability, safety, stability, and health, individuals with special needs and problems affecting groups of individuals. Specifically they take cases with domestic violence such as, adoption, child abuse and neglect, child custody, divorces involving family violence, enforcement of access and visitation, modification of visitation/custody, parental rights termination, paternity, termination and adoption when abuse is alleged and visitation enforcement.
Travis
American Gateways
American Gateways, founded as the Political Asylum Project of Austin (PAPA), serves the low-income immigrant community throughout Central Texas. AG provides legal services, such as assistance with T and U visas, asylum, Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) petitions, representation in immigration court, permanent residency and naturalization, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and family-based petitions. AG also provides community outreach and education resources to immigrant communities and local stakeholders. Please see the website for detailed information.
American Gateways serves Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Coryell, Falls, Fayette, Frio, Hays, Karnes, Lampasas, Lee, Llano, Milam, San Saba, Travis, and Williamson Counties.
Screenings are done at the Austin office from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and again from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. No appointment is necessary at either location.
Bernardo Kohler Center
Bernardo Kohler Center offers immigration legal assistance. Services include: adjustment of status, asylum, DACA, employment authorization, NACARA, removal hearings, special immigrant juvenile status, T visas, TPS, U visas, and VAWA petitions. Bernardo Kohler Center serves Bastrop, Bell, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, Travis, Williamson, and Wilson Counties.
Catholic Charities of Central Texas: Immigration Legal Services (Austin Office)
Catholic Charities of Central Texas provides low-cost legal representation in immigration matters. Representation includes, but is not limited to family based immigration, permanent resident card replacement or renewal, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), visas for victims of crime and human trafficking, naturalization, and asylum. Clients must be at or below the 200% federal poverty guidelines to access services.
Webb
Asociacion Pro Servicios Sociales
The Asociacion Pro Servicios Sociales’ immigration services provide low-cost immigration assistance. Services include preparation of official documents and correspondence on behalf of clients and translation of correspondence and other documents between English and Spanish. These include assisting individuals in filing citizenship applications, adjustment of status petitions for refugees and asylum applicants, and family reunification petitions for adjustment of status, VAWA, and DACA.
Centro Aztlan
Centro Aztlan offers assistance to individuals seeking benefits under immigration at a nominal cost. The Immigration Services Accredited Representative prepares official documents and correspondence on behalf of clients and translates correspondence and other documents between English and Spanish. These include assisting individuals in filing citizenship applications, adjustment of status petitions for refugees and asylum applicants, and family reunification petitions for adjustment of status. Two special groups served by APSS Immigration Services are petitioners for immigration benefits under the provisions of the Violence against Women Act (VAWA), and the Deferred Action Childhood Arrival program for individuals brought to the U.S. before the age of 16 years. Centro Aztlan serves Dimmit, Duval, Jim Hogg, La Salle, Maverick, McMullen, Webb, and Zapata Counties.
