Free immigration legal help in Texas — BIA-recognized organizations
This page lists every non-profit in Texas currently authorized by the U.S. Department of Justice (Board of Immigration Appeals / BIA) to provide immigration legal representation. Source: EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster, updated quarterly.
BIA-recognized organizations are the cheapest legitimate immigration legal help available — many provide representation free or for sliding-fee based on income. Their accredited representatives (Full Accreditation can appear in court; Partial Accreditation handles USCIS filings only) practice ONLY immigration law.
BIA-recognized organizations in Texas
78 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for Texas. These non-profits are authorized by the Board of Immigration Appeals to provide immigration legal representation at low or no cost.
| Organization | City | Address | Phone | Recognized | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARISE Adelante | Abilene | 3917 Jam Square, Edinburg, TX 78542, El Paso | (956) 782-4041 | 07/08/19 | Active |
| ARISE Adelante | Abilene | 125 E. Denny Drive, Pharr, TX 78577, Pipe Creek | (956) 783-9293 | 07/08/19 | Active |
| American Gateways | Abilene | 2300 W. Commerce, Suite 313, San Antonio, TX 78207 | (210) 521-4768 | 09/22/25 | Active |
| American Gateways | Abilene | 1616 Austin Avenue, Suite B, Waco, TX 76701, Wichita Falls | (252) 230-0382 | 09/22/25 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas | Abilene | 902 3rd Street, Winnie, TX 77665 | (409) 924-4400 | 07/28/25 | Active |
| Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc. | Abilene | — | 08/27/25 | Active | |
| Catholic Charities, Diocese of Fort Worth, Inc. | Abilene | 917 W. Sanford Street, Arlington, TX 76012, Austin | (240) 763-0162 | 09/29/25 | Active |
| Diocese of San Angelo Immigration Services | Abilene | 1642 South 8th Street, Abilene, TX 79606 | (325) 212-6192 | 05/11/10 | Active |
| Diocese of San Angelo Immigration Services | Abilene | 410 N. Chadbourne Street, San Angelo, TX 76902, San Antonio | (325) 212-6192 | 05/11/10 | Active |
| Dreamers2gether Inc. | Abilene | 5211 Brookglen Dr Suite A, Houston, TX 77017 | (203) 437-7566 | 07/29/25 | Active |
| Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project (GHIRP) | Abilene | — | 01/07/25 | Active | |
| Hand Up Network | Abilene | 200 N. Beckham Avenue, Tyler, TX 757025918, Hispanic American Association of East Texas 10/28/98 06/14/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (903) 597-5334 | 12/06/24 | Active |
| International Rescue Committee, Inc. | Abilene | — | 02/23/96 | Active | |
| International Rescue Committee, Inc. | Abilene | — | 02/23/96 | Active | |
| Light of Hope Immigration Law Center, Inc. | Abilene | 8515 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243 | (469) 229-0590 | 09/18/07 | Active |
| NALEO Educational Fund | Abilene | 1415 North Loop West Freeway, Suite 1020, Houston, TX 77008, Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) 11/23/93 09/19/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (713) 228-6400 | 04/17/23 | Active |
| Proyecto Inmigrante ICS, Inc. | Abilene | 1300 14th Street, Wichita Falls, TX 76301, Winnie | (940) 766-5533 | 02/17/09 | Active |
| Tahirih Justice Center | Abilene | 1717 St. James Place, Suite 450, Houston, TX 77056 | (713) 496-0100 | 03/22/10 | Active |
| ARISE Adelante | Alamo | 1417 S. Tower Road, Alamo, TX 78516, ARISE Adelante | (956) 783-6959 | 07/08/19 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle | Amarillo | 2004 N. Spring Street, Amarillo, TX 79107 | (806) 376-4571 | 12/17/24 | Active |
| Culture Cross Ministries | Amarillo | 2303 S. Arthur Street, Amarillo, TX 79103, Arlington | (806) 681-9110 | 03/21/25 | Active |
| American Gateways | Austin | 314 East Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 501, Austin, TX 78752, Bernardo Kohler Center 02/17/04 06/27/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (512) 478-0546 | 09/22/25 | Active |
| CT Lobos Youth Academy, Inc. | Austin | 2180 Woodward Street, Austin, TX 78744, CT Lobos Youth Academy, Inc. | (512) 409-5263 | 04/03/23 | Active |
| Casa Marianella | Austin | 821 Gunter Street, Austin, TX 78702, Catholic Charities of Central Texas 03/28/02 07/30/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (512) 385-5571 | 10/21/24 | Active |
| VECINA | Austin | 2028 E Ben White Blvd, Suite 240-4899, Austin, TX 78741, Beaumont | (512) 277-3553 | 01/10/25 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas | Beaumont | 2780 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont, TX 77703, Brownsville, South Texas Immigration Council, Inc. 06/24/77 03/03/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (409) 924-4400 | 07/28/25 | Active |
| Immigrant Connection at Cactus Nazarene Ministries | Cactus | 200 Palo Duro Drive, Cactus, TX 79013, Corpus Christi | (806) 421-0160 | 04/01/21 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi, Inc. | Corpus Christi | 615 Oliver Court, Corpus Christi, TX 78408, Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) 11/23/93 09/19/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (361) 884-0651 | 01/10/25 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of Dallas | Dallas | 1421 W. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX 75247 | (214) 634-7182 | 02/26/25 | Active |
| Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, Inc. | Dallas | 2914 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, TX 75204 | (214) 855-0520 | 08/15/24 | Active |
| Mosaic Family Services | Dallas | 12225 Greenville Avenue, Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75243, Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) 11/23/93 09/19/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (214) 821-5393 | 04/25/14 | Active |
| Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church | Dallas | 9810 LaPrada Drive, Dallas, TX 75228 | (972) 857-9707 | 05/01/20 | Active |
| Tree of Life Family Services | Dallas | 8500 N. Stemmons Fwy, Suite 3070, Dallas, TX 75247, Del Rio | (214) 964-0013 | 10/04/19 | Active |
| Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc. | Denton | 106 Miers St., Del Rio, TX 78840, Denton, Opening Doors International Services, Inc. 07/18/03 06/19/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (210) 242-3100 | 08/27/25 | Active |
| Immigrant Advocacy of America | Duncanville | 419 North Cedar Ridge Drive, Duncanville, TX 75116, Edinburg | (972) 296-2345 | 07/03/25 | Active |
| Center Against Sexual and Family Violence | El Paso | 580 Giles, El Paso, TX 79915 | (915) 593-1000 | 08/25/10 | Active |
| Christian Immigration Services at Iglesia Bautista El Camino | El Paso | 3900 Fillmore Avenue, El Paso, TX 79930 | (915) 777-4702 | 09/03/15 | Active |
| Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services, Inc. dba Estrella del Paso | El Paso | 2400A East Yandell Drive, El Paso, TX 79903, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center 04/24/89 07/26/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (915) 532-3975 | 03/27/90 | Active |
| Mission: El Paso! | El Paso | 8040 North Loop Drive, El Paso, TX 79915, United Neighborhood Organization 04/22/98 03/20/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (915) 881-4167 | 11/22/24 | Active |
| Center for Social and Rural Development Inc. | Euless | 1001 W. Euless Blvd, Suite 215, Euless, TX 76040, Fort Worth | (682) 350-2494 | 06/30/25 | Active |
| Azle Avenue Baptist Church | Fort Worth | 2901 Azle Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76106 | (817) 626-5556 | 06/14/16 | Active |
| Catholic Charities, Diocese of Fort Worth, Inc. | Fort Worth | 249 W. Thornhill Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76115, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Fort Worth, Inc. | (817) 534-0814 | 09/29/25 | Active |
| San Miguel Lutheran Church | Fort Worth | Social Ministry, 4301 East Lancaster Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76103, Galveston | (817) 534-4424 | 04/30/24 | Active |
| For the Nations Refugee Outreach | Garland | 414 S. Purdue Drive, Garland, TX 75042 | (469) 367-5363 | 09/20/19 | Active |
| New Hope Immigration Services, Inc. | Garland | 3420 Broadway Boulevard, Suite 125, Garland, TX 75043, Georgetown, Catholic Charities of Central Texas 03/28/02 07/30/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (972) 240-3030 | 03/26/10 | Active |
| Proyecto Inmigrante ICS, Inc. | Grand Prairie | 832 S. Carrier Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75051, Harlingen, South Texas Immigration Council, Inc. 06/24/77 03/03/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (888) 793-2182 | 02/17/09 | Active |
| African Congress Authority | Houston | 1800 St. James Place, Houston, TX 77056, BakerRipley Immigration & Citizenship Program 05/24/13 02/28/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (240) 476-7543 | 09/30/25 | Active |
| BPSOS, Inc-Houston Office | Houston | 11360 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 910, Houston, TX 77072 | (281) 530-6888 | 12/22/10 | Active |
| Bonding Against Adversity, Inc. | Houston | 250 N. Sam Houston Pkwy E, Suite 304, Houston, TX 77060 | (713) 471-5832 | 06/16/15 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston | Houston | 5599 San Felipe Street, Suite 300, Houston, TX 77056 | (713) 595-4100 | 12/08/83 | Active |
| Chinese Community Center | Houston | 9800 Town Park Drive, Houston, TX 77036, Church World Service Houston 03/28/24 03/28/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (713) 271-6100 | 03/13/15 | Active |
| Daya Inc. | Houston | P.O. Box 421581, Houston, TX 77242 | (713) 981-7645 | 07/15/25 | Active |
| Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project (GHIRP) | Houston | 6001 Savoy Drive, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77036 | (713) 561-3059 | 01/07/25 | Active |
| Houston Community Services | Houston | 5115 Harrisburg Blvd, Houston, TX 77011 | (713) 926-8771 | 01/24/25 | Active |
| IM Houston | Houston | 3303 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002 | (713) 533-4900 | 01/13/26 | Active |
| Justice for all Immigrants | Houston | 2220 Broadway Street, Houston, TX 77012 | (713) 454-6470 | 12/13/24 | Active |
| Memorial Assistance Ministries | Houston | 1625 Blalock Road, Houston, TX 77080 | (713) 468-4516 | 03/15/19 | Active |
| YMCA of Greater Houston DBA YMCA International Services | Houston | 3120 Hayes Road, Suite 250, Houston, TX 77082, Irving | (713) 758-9280 | 08/29/25 | Active |
| Proyecto Inmigrante ICS, Inc. | Kaufman | 800 W. Airport Freeway, Suite 511, Irving, TX 75062, Kaufman, Kaufman Christian Help Center 08/04/23 08/04/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (888) 793-2182 | 02/17/09 | Active |
| Azteca Economic Development & Preservation Corp. | Laredo | 20 Iturbide Street, Laredo, TX 78040 | (956) 726-4462 | 04/30/10 | Active |
| Catholic Charities – Diocese of Laredo | Laredo | 1919 Cedar Avenue, Laredo, TX 78044-3305, Little Elm | (956) 727-2443 | 07/31/84 | Active |
| Journey Together Immigration | Little Elm | 1713 Orcagna Drive, Little Elm, TX 75068, Lubbock | (701) 739-9168 | 08/13/25 | Active |
| Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock, Inc. | Lubbock | 102 Avenue J, Lubbock, TX 79401, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock, Inc., 101 N. Avenue N - Lubbock Extension Office, 101 N. Avenue N, Lubbock, TX 79401, Mansfield | (806) 792-3943 | 09/19/25 | Active |
| Andrea Immigration Law Center | Mansfield | 1304 Thistle Lane, Mansfield, TX 76063, Marshall | (682) 553-5502 | 12/20/24 | Active |
| Soda Lake Baptist Association | Marshall | 106 West Emory Street, Marshall, TX 75671, Soda Lake Baptist Association | (903) 938-0756 | 11/25/14 | Active |
| Baptist Immigration Center of McKinney | Pasadena | 505 Titus Street, McKinney, TX 75069, Pasadena, BakerRipley Immigration & Citizenship Program 05/24/13 02/28/26* Active, (Pending Renewal), BakerRipley - Ripley House Extension Office, Cleveland Ripley Campus, 720 Fairmont Pkwy, Pasadena, TX 77504, Pearland | (713) 315-6400 | 07/15/98 | Active |
| Grey and Grail International | Pearland | 11200 Broadway Street, Suite 2743, Pearland, TX 77584, Pharr | (346) 810-2176 | 03/21/25 | Active |
| Un Nuevo Amanecer | Pipe Creek | 9729 State Highway 16th S, Pipe Creek, TX 78063, Plano | (830) 535-2023 | 12/12/24 | Active |
| Immigrant Connection at Sent Church | Plano | 3701 West Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, TX 75023 | (972) 737-3287 | 12/29/15 | Active |
| Light of Hope Immigration Law Center, Inc. | Plano | 1339 19th Street, Plano, TX 75074, Richardson, Church World Service Houston 03/28/24 03/28/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (469) 229-0590 | 09/18/07 | Active |
| Global Help San Miguel Corp | Richardson | 1900 Jay Ell Dr, Ste A-25, Richardson, TX 75081, San Angelo | (972) 940-5037 | 08/05/25 | Active |
| American Organization for Immigrants | San Antonio | 702 Donaldson Avenue, Suite 209, San Antonio, TX 78201 | (210) 454-2164 | 05/18/18 | Active |
| Educational and Legal Immigration Ministries (ELIM) | San Antonio | 338 E. Summit Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78212, Educational and Legal Immigration Ministries (ELIM) | (210) 326-3273 | 12/06/24 | Active |
| Immigration Services | San Antonio | 1339 Hicks Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78210 | (210) 900-3178 | 11/26/24 | Active |
| Justice for all Immigrants | San Antonio | 1313 Guadalupe Street, Ste. 204, San Antonio, TX 78207, Nicaraguenses en el Mundo Texas, Inc. 09/06/23 09/06/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (210) 610-9768 | 12/13/24 | Active |
| Rays of Freedom | San Antonio | 3310 W. Commerce Street, San Antonio, TX 78207, Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) 11/23/93 09/19/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (210) 906-6540 | 05/11/18 | Active |
| Diocese of Brownsville Immigration Services | San Juan | 700 N. Virgen de San Juan Blvd, San Juan, TX 78589, La Union del Pueblo Entero 04/28/10 11/12/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (956) 784-5057 | 07/23/19 | Active |
| Multicultural Family Center | Sherman | 203 S Travis St, Sherman, TX 75090, Spring, Texas Center for Community Services 08/23/16 02/21/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (903) 328-5203 | 03/29/19 | Active |
How to verify and contact a BIA-recognized organization
- Confirm current status at the EOIR roster — recognition can be withdrawn, and the roster is updated quarterly.
- Call ahead to check service availability — many orgs have waitlists, especially for asylum and removal-defense cases.
- Ask about fees before signing a representation agreement. Free or sliding-fee is standard.
- Bring all USCIS notices + photo ID to your intake appointment.
- Beware of “notarios” — only BIA-recognized organizations OR licensed attorneys can give legal advice. A “notario público” in the U.S. is NOT a notario in the Latin American sense and cannot legally represent you.
Related procedural information
- Immigration court in Texas — the EOIR court that hears removal cases for residents of Texas
- Legal aid in Texas — broader civil legal aid (housing, family, public benefits)
- Find an immigration attorney — AILA directory + private bar
- Avoid notario fraud — what to watch for
- Know Your Rights — ICE encounters — constitutional protections
Last verified: 2026-05-27. Source: U.S. Department of Justice EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster. General procedural information — not legal advice. Always verify organization status and ask about fees before signing a representation agreement.
BIA recognition program context (2025-2026)
The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Recognition & Accreditation Program is governed by 8 CFR 1292.11-1292.16. Recognition is granted for 3 years initially; renewals require re-application and updated documentation. As of the 2026-04-20 EOIR roster: 1,256 recognized organizations operate 1,420 offices nationwide, with 5,800+ accredited representatives across Full Accreditation (court representation) and Partial Accreditation (USCIS-only practice).
BIA-recognized organizations cannot charge attorney-level fees but may charge “nominal fees” — typically defined by EOIR as covering only direct costs (printing, postage, document preparation). Most organizations charge $0-$200 for full representation in routine cases (USCIS filings, defensive asylum hearings). Compare to private immigration attorney fees: $1,500-$5,000 for asylum cases, $2,500-$8,000 for cancellation of removal, $1,500-$3,000 for adjustment of status.
EOIR publishes the Recognition & Accreditation Roster quarterly at justice.gov/eoir/recognition-accreditation-roster-reports. Verify an organization’s CURRENT status (Active vs Pending Renewal vs Provisional vs Withdrawn) before signing a representation agreement. Organizations whose recognition was withdrawn by EOIR (typically for fraud or compliance issues) cannot practice immigration law.
For attorney directories: AILA Find-A-Lawyer at ailalawyer.com (paid membership, vetted), Legal Services Corporation grantees at lsc.gov (income-limited legal aid), American Bar Association lawyer referral at americanbar.org/groups/legal_services. Avoid “notario” fraud: in the US, a “notary public” is NOT a notario in the Latin American sense and cannot give legal advice. Report notario fraud to your state attorney general AND USCIS at uscis.gov/avoid-scams.
IMMI Help Line: 1-866-787-6111 (Immigrant Justice Network, free Spanish/English) Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm. EOIR Hotline for case status: 1-800-898-7180 (24/7 automated; English/Spanish menu).
BIA-recognized immigration help in Texas
78 locations/organizations on record in Texas. Always verify directly before visiting.
- Diocese of San Angelo Immigration Services
Abilene - International Rescue Committee, Inc.
Abilene - ARISE Adelante
Abilene - Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle
Abilene - Culture Cross Ministries
Abilene - Catholic Charities, Diocese of Fort Worth, Inc.
Abilene - American Gateways
Abilene - Casa Marianella
Abilene - CT Lobos Youth Academy, Inc.
Abilene - VECINA
Abilene - Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas
Abilene - Immigrant Connection at Cactus Nazarene Ministries
Abilene - Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi, Inc.
Abilene - Catholic Charities of Dallas
Abilene - Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, Inc.
Abilene - International Rescue Committee, Inc.
Abilene - Light of Hope Immigration Law Center, Inc.
Abilene - Mosaic Family Services
Abilene - Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church
Abilene - Tree of Life Family Services
Abilene - Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc.
Abilene - Immigrant Advocacy of America
Abilene - ARISE Adelante
Abilene - Center Against Sexual and Family Violence
Abilene - Christian Immigration Services at Iglesia Bautista El Camino
Abilene
…and 53 more.
Frequently asked questions
What is BIA recognition?
BIA recognition is authorization from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Board of Immigration Appeals for a non-profit organization to provide immigration legal representation. Once recognized, the organization can have BIA-accredited representatives (non-attorneys) provide legal services for free or for nominal fees. BIA-recognized organizations are listed publicly in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster, updated quarterly.
How is a BIA-recognized organization different from an immigration attorney?
Attorneys are licensed by state bars and can practice all areas of law. BIA-recognized organizations are non-profits whose accredited representatives (Full or Partial Accreditation) can practice ONLY immigration law before USCIS, EOIR (immigration courts), and the BIA. Recognized orgs are typically much cheaper or free. Full Accreditation allows representation in immigration court hearings; Partial only allows USCIS filings.
How do I know if a Texas organization is currently BIA-recognized?
Search the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster at justice.gov/eoir/recognition-accreditation-roster-reports. Confirm the organization name AND check the ‘Status’ column for ‘Active’ (vs. Pending Renewal, Provisional, or Expired). The roster is updated quarterly; this page lists the orgs as of the most recent published roster.
Is BIA-recognized legal help really free in Texas?
Many BIA-recognized organizations offer truly free representation for low-income clients; others charge a sliding-fee scale (e.g., $50-$500) based on income. Federal law allows recognized non-profits to charge ’nominal fees’ but prohibits standard attorney-level billing. Always confirm fees BEFORE signing a representation agreement.
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General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.