RAICES provides legal services to asylum-seekers who may be eligible for relief on humanitarian grounds. The primary asylum claim could be due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

Individuals who have been persecuted or who have a credible fear of persecution and who are unable or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of their country of origin can apply for asylum protection from the U.S. government.

The asylum cases that we handle are complex, fraught, and challenging. Asylum seekers are coming from countries where there is no stability, where violence against them or their families is common, and where they have no hope of building a peaceful life for themselves or their children.

Call 210-222-0964 to make an appointment.

Call (833) 372-4237 to make an appointment.

RAICES pays bonds for qualifying clients in federal government custody.

Between 2018 and 2023, in coordination with the National Bail Fund Network and other partners, RAICES paid out $20M in bonds to keep families together and free.

Call (833) 372-4237 to make an appointment.

RAICES provides legal representation for families and children in federal government custody and after release. Our community advocates offer Know Your Rights presentations and legal consultations in a dozen-plus facilities for unaccompanied children.

Call (833) 372-4237 to schedule an appointment for your consultation.

Current Clients: If you are a client and you do not have an appointment with your attorney, please contact your attorney or legal assistant directly.

RAICES provides the following services to refugee clients on a per-case basis:

Reception and Placement
Resettlement services for refugees and Special Immigrant Visa holders under a public-private partnership, working closely with partners in the community to supplement federal funding through volunteers and donations

Matching Grant
Services under a public-private partnership, supporting refugees and other eligible populations become self-sufficient through employment within 240 days of arrival to the U.S.

Cash and Medical Assistance
Financial assistance services that support individuals in meeting their most basic needs, including food, shelter, transportation, and medical coverage for those ineligible for Medicaid

Preferred Communities
Services designed to support the specific needs of refugees with challenging needs that require special attention, including those with serious medical conditions, women at risk, and elderly refugees

Employment Services
Services that enable access to employment opportunities, including employability assessment, training and job development, job placement, and job maintenance

Social Adjustment Services
Services extending beyond job placement and English Language Instruction that enable positive community integration, including support completing and following up on application forms and understanding client rights and responsibilities

Refugee Health Promotion
Services designed to support client well-being, including opportunities to increase health literacy, coordinate physical and mental health care, and organize wellness groups

PC Gaps
Resettlement services under a public-private partnership for all populations ineligible for Reception and Placement support, including Cuban, Haitian, and Ukrainian community members

RAICES attorneys represent people in detention who are seeking release through bond, and we handle a full range of defenses both for people in detention and those who are fighting their court cases following release.

Call (833) 372-4237 to make an appointment.

RAICES provides low-cost assistance with residency and citizenship applications.

Please call (833) 372-4237 to make an appointment.

Fee-for-service support is provided on a sliding scale based on federal poverty guidelines. 

At Hawks Counseling & Assessment Services, we provide thorough and compelling psychological evaluations for individuals and families navigating the immigration process.

Our psychologists are specially trained to help you through the process.

Most evaluations require 2-3 appointments with our psychologist.

Offering Assessments for:

• N-648
• VAWA
• EXTREME HARDSHIP
• ASYLUM
• U-VISA
• T-VISA

Insurance plans generally do not cover psychological evaluations for legal procedures. We do offer payment plans for all clients.

The total cost for the process, including an extensive report for your attorney, is $900. 

The employment services program provides job readiness skills, lessons on interviewing and assists with employment services and job placements. The employment team works with refugees to provide them skills and knowledge necessary in obtaining, and maintaining, employment, while becoming self-sufficient.

Federally funded, cash assistance program which provides services to enable clients to become economically self-sufficient within 120 to 180 days in the United States. Services required under this program include case management, employment services and cash allowance.

At least one member of the household must be employable for the family to qualify for Match Grant Program and must be enrolled within 31 days of their arrival.

The initial program for all newly arrived refugees resettling into the United States.

Services include:

• Airport Pick up
• Apartment set up with furnishings. 
• Food
• Clothing
• Cultural Orientation
• School Registration
• English Classes
• Health Screenings

Newly arrived refugees.

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) is a state-funded, employment-based cash assistance program for newly arrived refugees for the first 12 months of arrival.

RCA is for clients who are not eligible for assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

For additional information please call 210-222-1294 and speak with the program director, Juliana Horn.

This program is for REFUGEES ONLY.

Refugee School Impact provides after-school tutoring to refugee children to support academic success and promotion to the next grade level. 

The immigration psychological evaluation encompasses a detailed walkthrough of each stage in the process, ensuring you are acquainted and at ease with anticipated proceedings. This assessment typically comprises a series of meetings, involving:

1. In-depth interviews with the undocumented individual and close family members, aiming to grasp essential social background, psychological, and medical information, and assess current psychological and cognitive functioning.

2. Collaboration with your legal representative to discern the specific type of waiver pursued and determine the most suitable strategy for your unique case.

By incorporating these meticulous steps, the immigration psychological evaluation not only prepares you for the journey ahead but also provides a comprehensive foundation for your legal team to navigate the complexities of your case effectively.

Immigration Evaluations:

• Extreme Hardship/Cancellation of Removal
• Asylum
• U Visas
• T Visas
• VAWA Visas

Immigration Evaluations
10 hrs - $900

This 6-week class is taught in English to help adults prepare for the U.S. Citizenship interview. Each applicant must complete an interview in English, which will test the applicant's ability to read, write, and speak English and test their knowledge of U.S. history and government.

Adults 18+ who are preparing to take U.S. Citizenship interview.

Free.

This course prepares students to take the U.S. Citizenship test and prepares them to answer History and Government Questions, Personal questions, and Writing Questions.

Register in-person at: Margarita Huantes Learning Center, 1411 Guadalupe St., San Antonio, TX 78207.

Adult Education Main Office, 906 Merida St., San Antonio, TX 78207.

Click here for eligibility and other details.

IDRA and the Consulate General of Mexico in San Antonio are partnering to help Mexican and Mexican American families navigate the U.S. education system and learn about important educational opportunities in both countries. The program, called Ventanilla de Orientación Educativa (VOE), provides information on the civil rights of immigrant and English learner students, local educational services, and resources on how to access and succeed in college. The VOE also disseminates information on educational opportunities offered by the Mexican government for nationals abroad and develops various courses for immigrant parents.

Examples of VOE Services & Information include:

• How to approach U.S. K-12 and higher educational institutions
• How to apply for financial aid in the United States (including FAFSA & TAFSA)
• Information on resources for adult and community education in Spanish
• Opportunities to continue studying if you return to Mexico
• The rights of immigrant students to attend public school
• The rights of English learners to an equal educational opportunity
• Online educational opportunities in Mexico for students in the United States

Free

Student Programs

IDRA’s student programs demonstrate our core values that recognize the assets all students bring and that listen to students and engage them both in their own learning and in their leadership to transform schools and communities.

• Valued Youth Partnership
• VisionCoders
• Youth Advisory Board
• Youth Leadership Now
• IDRA Youth TechXPerts™
• MAS for Our Schools
• IDRA Digital Ambassadors
• More Student Research & Activism

Click here to learn more about each program.

Free

The Ventanilla program represents a new integral part of service delivery at the Mexican Consulate and provides Mexican immigrants who are new to the U.S. financial system with access to vital resources for getting banked, gaining access to free tax preparation and the Earned Income Tax Credit, establishing credit and building a secure financial future within the trusted and culturally relevant setting of the Consulate strengthening the financial stability of immigrant households by embedding financial empowerment strategies into local and intergovernmental infrastructure.

To learn more about Ventanilla de Asesoria Financiera click here.

Ventanilla De Salud (VDS), in collaboration with the Mexican Consulate, provides health education and health service referrals to the San Antonio immigrant community. The objective of the VDS is to improve access to primary and preventive health services, increase coverage in public insurance and promote a culture of health prevention for Mexicans living in the United States. In addition, VDS can provide information on educational, legal, and financial guidance.

You can also make your inquiry by email at [email protected] or by phone at (210)956-6943, (210) 227-9145 ext. 3626, or from 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM at (210) 433-9922 ext. 235.

VDS operates at the Consulate of Mexico.

This course prepares students to take the U.S. Citizenship test and prepares them to answer History and Government Questions, Personal questions, and Writing Questions.

Click here for eligibility and other details.

Register in-person at: Margarita Huantes Learning Center, 1411 Guadalupe St., San Antonio, TX 78207

Adult Education Main Office, 906 Merida St., San Antonio, TX 78207.

Free.

This course prepares students to take the U.S. Citizenship test and prepares them to answer History and Government Questions, Personal questions, and Writing Questions.

Register in-person at: Margarita Huantes Learning Center, 1411 Guadalupe St., San Antonio, TX 78207.

Adult Education Main Office, 906 Merida St., San Antonio, TX 78207.

Click here for more information.

Free.

Justice For Our Neighbors is a ministry of hospitality that welcomes immigrants by providing affordable (and sometimes free) high-quality immigration legal service to low-income immigrants, engaging in advocacy for immigrant rights, and offering education to communities of faith and the public.

We provide the following services, primarily to low-income and needy new arrivals to the US:

• Employment Authorization
• Consular Processing
• Visas
• Family Petition
• Green Card
• Translations
• Interpreter
• English Class
• Spanish Class
• Naturalization or citizenship
• Orientation workshops and introductions
• Notary
• And more

Assistance with basic needs, such as clothing, household items, furniture, food, and referrals to other local social services.

This program is for REFUGEES ONLY.

CRS provides practical English classes for adults to help newly arrived refugees navigate their new homes. Lower levels include greetings, basic conversational language structures, the calendar, numbers, and health, emphasizing vocabulary building. 

Higher units of study include vocabulary for everyday needs, such as words needed in the grocery store, bank, post office, or doctor’s office, and how to navigate housing and transportation.

This program is for legally resettled refugees.

Eligible students pay a $10 supply fee each term.

Please call ahead to find out dates and hours for ESL classes. 

Justice for All Immigrants provides low-income individuals and families with affordable, high-quality immigration legal services while engaging in immigration education and advocacy.

Legal Services Offered:

Family Based Immigration:

• Adjustment of Status
• Consular Processing
• Family Petitions
• Work Permits
• Green Card Renewals

Humanitarian Based Relief:

• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
• Violence Against Women Act
• U Visa
• Asylum
• Removal Defense
• Temporary Protected Status

Citizinship:

• Citizenship
• Naturalization

We also provide Know-Your-Rights training to help immigrants understand their basic rights under U.S. law, educate our community about the value of immigration, and advocate for compassionate immigration reform. 

Call to schedule a consultation.

To qualify for this service, the individual or family must reside in South Texas and be a low-income household.

Citizenship Education:

The Nuevos Ciudadanos Citizenship Education Program is Academia América’s New Americans Project. The Program has the dual goals of integration and civic engagement. The curriculum, which includes modules in Civics, History, and English, facilitates preparation for the naturalization examination and promotes civic engagement. Financial Literacy education emphasizes social integration.

Legal Services:

Academia América partners with nonprofit legal assistance providers to facilitate access to low-cost legal services for our clients. Students enrolled in our classes receive discounted assistance with completing the naturalization application and related forms.

Please call 210-910-6363 or visit our Facebook page for registration information.

Suppose you or a loved one is seeking an immigration waiver or filing to petition a judge to grant a suspension of deportation. In that case, a clinical evaluation can help strengthen your case. Four types of immigration waivers can benefit from a clinical mental health evaluation:

• Extreme Hardship Waivers (I-601)
• U-Visa (Victims of Crime)
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA-Domestic Violence)
• Political Asylum

Understanding that each individual’s experience is unique, a safe environment is provided to help the client report any underlying circumstances to help present a compelling case. My personal experience attending St. Mary’s University allowed me to meet peers from across the globe. Traveling throughout Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East further reinforced my admiration and respect for other cultures and faiths.

I am privileged to have worked on evaluations for people from Mexico, Central & South America, China, and India. As a bilingual clinician licensed by the Texas Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, I am also a graduate of the Immigration Evaluation Institute.

Click here for payment information

Thousands of unaccompanied children cross the border to the United States from Central America each year and are transferred to the custody of ORR. ORR promptly places these children in the least restrictive setting in the best interest of the child. St. PJ's is an approved ORR shelter.

The majority of unaccompanied children are between 13 and 17 years of age; a larger proportion are boys. This group is very diverse: it also includes pregnant girls and a growing proportion of elementary school-age children. In U.S. procedural documents, these children are referred to as “unaccompanied alien children".

Licensed short-term emergency shelter providing services for up to 82 international children and youth ages 5 to 17. International children who reside at St. PJ's are provided care in compliance with all regulatory agencies.

St. PJ's also provides temporary foster care homes for international children ages 0 to 12.

Free if you meet the criteria