To View More Blog Posts Visit Our New Website

To view updated blog posts please visit our website at www.hrionline.org!

Romney’s DACA Comments Creates Confusion for Undocumented Immigrants

A recent New York Times article by Julia Preston describes how Mitt Romney’s recent comments on his plans for the Obama Administration’s DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), if he’s elected president, has created confusion and anxiety amongst many undocumented immigrants. Click here to read the article.

DVAP 2012 Pro Bono Awards

Lauren Leahy, HRI Executive Director Bill Holston, and Joanna Grigson

In honor of next week’s National Pro Bono Week, the Dallas Bar Association’s Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP) hosted it’s annual Pro Bono Awards  last night. This year DVAP celebrates its 30th anniversary. As a pro bono agency, Human Rights Initiative has the privilege to present an award to an outstanding associate who has significantly contributed to our mission of providing free legal services to victims of human rights abuses. This year we honored Joanna Grigson for her support of our Women and Children’s Program and Lauren Leahy for her support of our Asylum Program.

The Origins of DACA

A recent Wall Street Journal article by Miriam Jordan explores the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals movement, which was led by undocumented immigrants, and how the students were able to directly impact political policy. Click here to read the article.

HRI Client Among First to be Granted U-Visa for New Fiscal Year

Photo courtesy of USCIS.gov

One of our clients is among the first to be granted a U-Visa for the new fiscal year for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which started October 1st. In August, the USCIS announced they had reached the annual limit of 10,000 U-Visas available to applicants per year. Our client, a sexual assault survivor from Mexico, is extremely excited to be granted the visa and remain in the U.S. with her siblings and continue with her therapy. The U-Visa is for victims of violent crimes who assist with the investigation and prosecution of their attackers. Our client actively participated in the prosecution of her offender.