We cannot pretend to celebrate Black History month unless we talk about how Black lives are often overlooked in immigration spaces. The reasons are uncountable but overall, this is due to the anti-Blackness and racism embedded in every system in our society. We’re asking for justice and an immigration system that respects Black lives. Black […]
Read MoreBlog Archive
Human Rights Initiative of North Texas (HRI) Statement on Biden Administration’s Plans to Reinstate Remain in Mexico / MPP
PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 18, 2021 Contact: Maryam Baig 469-581-2518 mbaig@hrionline.org DALLAS – This weekend, high-level government officials continued to be complicit in racist and cruel border policies, refusing asylum seekers their legal right for a bid for safety in the U.S. “President Biden should have walked into office in January by dismantling […]
Read MoreGratitude: Featuring Stephanie Mistry
In May, HRI celebrated a win for one of our affirmative asylum clients, a young woman from Zimbabwe who had fled her home country due to political persecution by the Zimbabwean government. She was represented by Stephanie Mistry, one of HRI’s stellar pro bono attorneys. Stephanie has been volunteering with HRI since 2009. Over the years, she […]
Read MoreLet’s Rise Up Against the Trump Administration’s Attack on Asylum
This is a slap in the face. Today, on international Human Rights Day, the Trump Administration finalized the biggest rollback of asylum in recent history. You probably remember us talking about this back in July, when the regulation was proposed. You may have even submitted your own comment in opposition. We were hoping the nearly […]
Read MoreHuman Rights Initiative Statement on Proposal to Limit Asylum Seekers from Supporting Themselves While Their Applications Are Pending
DALLAS – On November 13, 2019, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a proposed rule that would limit asylum seekers from supporting themselves while their applications are pending. Among other things, the rule would force asylum seekers to wait a full year after their applications are filed to apply for work authorization, and […]
Read MoreInternational Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
As today is the UN’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, HRI staff members think of the clients we have served over the years who have been victims of Female Genital Mutilation. Female Genital Mutilation “comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized […]
Read MoreCarolina Wins Asylum!
HRI recently won the cases of a 23-year-old Salvadoran woman and her 4-year-old daughter who sought asylum from severe domestic violence. Carolina began living with her partner when she was only 15, and the abuse started shortly thereafter. He abused her physically, emotionally, financially, and sexually, including when she was pregnant. She attempted to leave […]
Read MoreDallas Judge’s Grant Rates Lower Than National Average
Dallas Judges Rarely Grant Asylum A recent review of asylum decisions reveals that the grant rates for Dallas immigration judges in asylum cases is much lower than that for many other cities and the national average. And the rate has been trending down over the past few years. According to the most recent report from […]
Read MoreAsylum Backlogs Wreak Havoc with Our Clients’ Lives, Parts 1 & 2
Check out Christine Mansour’s featured AILA piece discussing the impact of the asylum backlog on HRI clients. http://www.ailaleadershipblog.org/2016/12/13/asylum-backlogs-wreak-havoc-with-our-clients-lives-part-1/ http://www.ailaleadershipblog.org/2016/12/14/asylum-backlogs-wreak-havoc-with-our-clients-lives-part-2/
Read MoreThe Heart of Darkness
October 28, 2016 the Congo When Francis Ford Coppola wanted to write a nightmarish screenplay about the war in Vietnam, he looked for inspiration in Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness. The novel is based on Conrad’s early 20th century experience exploring the Congo. It paints a bleak picture of this beautiful area of […]
Read More
