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 make an appointment.

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. 

From the courtrooms to the halls of Congress, RAICES fights for systemic change, recognizing the power of the collective. 

We hold ourselves accountable to the people that we serve. Our fight has never been about who is in political power. It has always been to defend, empower, and advocate for the communities we represent. 

Together, we can ensure every person has the right to seek asylum and call this country home.

RAICES advocate for refugee rights in the following ways:

Impact Litigation
Our impact litigation seeks to secure restitution for clients who have faced unlawful harm while in U.S. government custody, defend access to counsel rights, and establish humane safeguards for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. 

Creative Partnerships
RAICES looks to the arts to spark conversations around immigration, justice, and humanity in order to touch hearts and minds, and ultimately impact immigration policies and practices.

Narrative Change
We believe the law is downstream from culture. Storytelling — or uplifting the voices of those who are most impacted by our immigration system — can move the hearts and minds of the American public in support of urgent action to fix our nation’s broken immigration system.

Community Engagement
While we can’t all be first responders, everyone can play a role in supporting community members by volunteering and asking friends and families to contribute to our cause.