Programs
JFAI provides low-income individuals and families with high-quality immigration legal counsel to help them determine if they have a pathway to legal status under current law. Through our general immigration assistance program, we help individuals and families who qualify for family based immigration relief, naturalization, DACA and work authorizations.
Our attorneys offer advice and counsel based on an individual’s personal circumstances and situations and represent them before immigration officials, if they qualify for relief.
JFAI provides pro bono legal representation to individuals who are fleeing persecution and fear returning to their country of origin.
Through our asylum project we represent asylum seekers who are in removal proceedings and who are seeking asylum with the Asylum office to ensure that they will not be forced to return to a country where they will face persecution, torture or death. Throughout the asylum process we provide our clients with assistance in applying for asylum, applying for employment authorization, and representation in immigration court. Our attorneys offer asylum seekers advice and counsel based on the individual's needs and also represent them if they qualify for other immigration benefits, such as U-visa or T-visa.
Additionally, JFAI provides pro se assistance with filing asylum applications and participates in workshops and advocacy in partnership with other local organizations.
The Survivors Assistance program provides comprehensive legal services to immigrant victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and sex trafficking victims, who cannot afford legal representation.
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This program seeks to help survivors live safely and legally within the United States, free of their abuser, by providing direct immigration legal representation for those who qualify for U-Visas, T-Visas, and immigration relief through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
Additionally, JFAI engages in local advocacy by trying to strengthen survivors’ rights in the immigration context by participating in meetings with local law enforcement agencies and organizations.
Our Deportation Defense program provides free legal representation to detained immigrants who face deportation from one of the four Houston area immigrant detention facilities.
The program is a partnership between local non-profit organizations and Harris County and through that program we are able to represent low-income Harris County residents in their removal proceedings. The cases range from seeking release from detention to complex removal defense before the Immigration Court and Board of Appeals. Representation is provided on a first-come first served basis, regardless of the strength of the case.
JFAI provides pro bono legal representation to unaccompanied children who enter the United States without either of their parents and who have fled their home countries.
These children often face the dangerous journey to the United States alone. The reasons for leaving their countries vary but are often due to dangerous living situations in their countries, either at the hands of their governments or criminal actors. Our attorneys represent unaccompanied children before immigration courts, the asylum office, family law courts, and other government agencies. We provide assistance in applying for asylum, special immigrant juvenile status, representation in state and federal courts, and with any other petitions for which they may qualify.
Additionally, JFAI participates in workshops and advocacy in partnership with other local and national organizations.