William O. Holston, Jr. Pro Bono Program

Legal Education & Asylum Program (LEAP)

Affirmative Asylum Cases.  You will assist the client in completing an affirmative asylum package.  The package contains: asylum application, detailed account of the individual's persecution (usually in the form of an affidavit), evidence of entry into the U.S., proof of identity, proof of persecution, and country conditions research.  Once the package is filed, the client must appear in Houston where an Asylum Officer (AO) of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) interviews him/her.  This opportunity is available to attorneys in Dallas.  On average, an affirmative asylum case requires a 40-60 hour time commitment.

Representation of Asylum Applicants at their Interview in Houston.  Under some circumstances the attorney who prepares the affirmative asylum case is unable to attend the interview in Houston.  Therefore, HRI will place the case with a new pro bono attorney for the asylum interview.  If you chose to accept the case for interview representation HRI will forward a copy of the affirmative package to you.  HRI will then schedule an appointment with you and the client to prepare him/her for the interview.  You can attend either in person or via telephone so you can become better acquainted with the case.  An AO of the CIS will interview the client in your presence.  This opportunity is available to attorneys in Dallas and Houston.  Normally, it is about a 10-hour commitment for Dallas attorneys and a 6-hour commitment for Houston attorneys.  

The Defensive Asylum Case.  In the event that the AO does not grant the application and the applicant is out of status, the case is referred to an Immigration Judge (IJ).  This referral places the client in removal proceedings.  The client must then appear before an IJ at the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) for a trial de novo.  The asylum seeker must show he/she should be allowed to remain in this country as an asylee.  This opportunity is available to attorneys in Dallas.  On average a defensive asylum case requires a 60-100 hour time commitment. 

Women & Children's Program¹

You can assist an immigrant woman in a variety of cases including: 

U visas.  An immigrant woman who has been the a victim of violent crime may be eligible to apply for a U visa. The U visa's purpose is to strengthen law enforcement agencies' ability to detect, investigate, and prosecute violent crimes.   In this process you will assist the client in filing the necessary paperwork with the CIS. 

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  An immigrant woman who has been the victim of physical and/or psychological abuse by a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident spouse may be eligible to file a petition based on VAWA.  In this process you will assist the client in filing a petition, supporting affidavit and documentation with the CIS.  

Removal of Conditions Waiver.  An immigrant woman with conditional resident status who has been the victim of physical and/or psychological abuse by her U.S. Citizen spouse may be eligible to file a waiver to removal the conditions on her residence.  In this process you will assist the client in filing a petition, supporting affidavit, and documentation with the CIS.

Pro bonos accepting cases through the immigrant women program will commit approximately 30 hours per case. 

Child Immigrant Program.  You can assist an immigrant child in a variety of cases, including: 

Asylum representation at the affirmative or defensive level.  Please see the above description for information on the case process and time commitment. 

Special Immigrant Juvenile Cases.  An immigrant child who has been the victim of neglect, abuse or abandonment may be eligible to receive Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.  HRI recruits pro bonos to serve in one of the following for each case:

An attorney to represent the child before the local family court.  During this process you will assist the child in filing a Suit Affecting the Parent Child Relationship and other necessary items to establish the child has been abused, abandoned or neglected and declared dependent upon the court.  After approximately one month you will request the appointment of an Attorney Ad Litem.  You will then attend the Prove Up Hearing and receive the final order, which will enable the child to proceed with the immigration portion of the process.  Requires an average of 30 hours. 

An Attorney to act as the Attorney Ad Litem.  You will investigate whether or not the parents can be found and will attend the Prove Up Hearing to provide the Judge with your findings.  Requires an average of 5-10 hours. 

An Attorney to represent the child before the Citizenship and Immigration Services.  You will assist the child in filing a petition and adjustment of status application with the Citizenship and Immigration Services. This process will result in the child being granted lawful permanent resident status.  Requires an average of 5-10 hours. 

U visas.  An immigrant child who has been the victim of violent crime may be eligible to apply for a U visa. The U visa's purpose is to strengthen law enforcement agencies' ability to detect, investigate, and prosecute violent crimes.   In this process you would assist the child in filing the necessary paperwork with the CIS. 

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  An immigrant child who has been the victim of physical and/or psychological abuse by a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident parent may be eligible to file a petition based on VAWA.  In this process you will assist the child in filing a petition, supporting affidavit and documentation with the CIS.  

Depending on the type of child immigrant case, you will commit anywhere from 7 to 100 hours per case. 

For more information on HRI's Pro Bono Programs, please contact Zainab Abdulqader at zabdulqader@hrionline.org. 

HRI's Featured Pro Bono Attorney:

"I believe Lawyers can make a difference in the world... one life at a time." -Bill Holston

¹ Although this program, HRI's website, and our HRI Pro Bono Training Manual reference female clients only, the Violence Against Women Act and services through HRI's Women & Children's Program are also available to men.