Free Virtual Legal Aid for Texas Veterans All Week

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. One hundred and two years ago, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, a cease fire was called between Germany and the Allied nations in World War I. That “armistice” held for seven months, until the Great War formally ended on June 28, 1919, outside Paris at the Palace of Versailles. Later that year, President Wilson declared November 11 a national commemoration of the armistice. In 1938, Congress established it as a federal holiday to honor the brave American veterans of that “war to end all wars.” However, after subsequent wars created new veterans, the holiday’s scope was expanded to all American veterans in 1954.

Texas has the second-largest population of veterans in the nation, and approximately 8,000 of them receive legal aid each year.

TexasLawHelp.org is promoting and running special legal aid programs for veterans all week. Please check out their impressive array of offerings by clicking here.

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

“Domestic violence is an evil that threatens the social fabric of our Nation. It is a widespread attack on the most sacred and intimate of institutions — the American family.” — Proclamation on National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2020

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time set aside to educate, support, and stand up against this pervasive wrong that continues to plague our society, and which has sadly increased during a time when the world is consumed by the continuing effects of the global pandemic that has upended our lives. It is a reminder that the vulnerable still need to be protected and kept safe from harm.

If you need immediate assistance, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233).

To help those who have been a victim of domestic violence or know someone that has, our librarians at the Harris County Law Library have compiled a list of resources and organizations that may be able to assist:

National Domestic Violence Hotline - Available 24/7, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides much-needed support to survivors of domestic violence through its telephone hotline or its live chat line. You can find information to help you recognize the common signs of abuse and tips for creating a safety plan. The information and resources available on the Hotline’s website are not limited to victims of family violence. There is also useful information for those who are witnesses to domestic violence and abuse and how to provide much-needed support.

Texas Advocacy Project - Through free legal services, access to the justice system, and education and prevention, the Texas Advocacy Project seeks to break the cycle of violence and offer survivors an opportunity to live free from fear of abuse. The Texas Advocacy Project offers virtual legal clinics that can help with a wide range of family law issues, assistance with emergency protective orders, and two toll-free legal help lines.

AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse) - Located here in Houston, AVDA has been serving survivors of domestic abuse by providing free legal representation and counseling for 40 years. Programs include victim advocacy, legal advocacy, counseling, and its Battering Intervention and Prevention Program. You can also find a downloadable domestic violence safety plan and a list of local organizations that provide much-needed assistance, such as shelters and organizations that provide employment, rent/utilities, and emergency and support services.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission - Through its Family Violence Program, the Commission provides survivors with supportive services, such as temporary 24-hour shelters, a 24-hour hotline, legal assistance, emergency transportation, assistance in obtaining medical care, and training and help finding employment.

Attorney General of Texas - The Office of the Attorney General of Texas offers assistance to victims of family violence through several different initiatives such as the Crime Victims’ Compensation Program, the Address Confidentiality Program, the Statewide Automated Victim Notification System, and child support help. Survivors of family violence can also have their names removed from public files and records relating to the offense by completing the Pseudonym Form for Victims of Family Violence.

DomesticShelters.org - DomesticShelters.org has created a list of domestic violence services that are available in cities throughout Texas. Resources range from emergency services to community education services. Simply click on a city near you to see which services are available in your area.

Immigrant Resources

Section 6428 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided for the disbursement of rebates or economic stimulus payments to eligible individuals with limitations based on adjusted gross income. Three types of eligible individuals were defined in section 6428(d), one of which was “any nonresident alien individual.” This provision has been interpreted to exclude families of eligible immigration status because individuals must file a qualifying income tax return using a valid social security number to receive the stimulus payments. This provision also excludes families of mixed-immigration status, even if one of the members is otherwise eligible. (Texas RioGrande Legal Aid has created a useful fact sheet explaining the eligibility of immigrant families for the economic stimulus payments). This denial of a government benefit has led to at least two lawsuits being filed on behalf of mixed immigration-status families. In Amador v. Mnuchin, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund argues that it is unconstitutional for the federal government to deny benefits to a mixed-status married couple who jointly filed previous tax returns without two social security numbers. Similarly, John Doe v. Trump, McConnell, and Mnuchin, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, alleges that the CARES Act unconstitutionally excluded those married to non-citizen immigrants from receiving the benefit provided by the stimulus plan.

These recent events have caused us to wonder about the resources that exist for immigrant families, whether it’s related to the economic stimulus payments, unemployment benefits, rent or other economic assistance, healthcare, or the status of pending immigration cases. In this regard, we have compiled a list that we hope might help.

General Information

Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative - HILS has created a clearinghouse of immigration-related material, including information about legal assistance, disaster recovery resources, and recent changes to immigration policies and laws. Legal resources are arranged by subject, making it easy to locate the information users need. Its website also features a living document on COVID 19 resources for immigrant advocates.

AccessHOU - The AccessHOU Houston Social Services Database highlights resources for agencies working with immigrants in the Houston area. Categories of resources include: legal, health, education, housing, employment, financial assistance, and food.

Baker Ripley - Baker Ripley, a long-standing social service provider in the Houston community, has an immigration services hotline. Its website lists coronavirus resources as well as its current services. Unfortunately, all of the funds for its Rental Assistance Program have been committed already.

TexasLawHelp - TexasLawHelp, a project of the Texas Legal Services Center, has a webpage devoted to resources for immigrants during COVID-19. It features a collection of state and nationwide resources, as well as information about healthcare. Look for more immigration-related information using the Individual Rights link and then choose Immigration Laws & Rights.

Informed Immigrant - Informed Immigrant is a digital information center for undocumented immigrants. Its website features immigrant and service providers guides. It currently has a webpage highlighting resources for immigrants during the pandemic. Users can browse by state or look at its listing of nationwide resources.

Legal Aid and Legal Assistance Organizations

Immigrant Rights Hotline - Call 1-833-HOU-IMMI, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., to get information about immigration policies and for referrals to legal service providers.

St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance - Part of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the St. Frances Cabrini Center supports refugees and immigrants. It is currently serving clients by appointment through phone or email interaction.

YMCA International Services - YMCA International Services assists refugees, immigrants, and other vulnerable populations and provides legal services to immigrants too.

South Texas College of Law Houston Immigration Clinic - This law school clinic represents clients in a vast array of matters, including deportation defense. Contact the clinic for availability.

Kids in Need of Defense - KIND provides legal representation for unaccompanied and migrant children in addition to counseling, educational support, and medical care.

Tahirih Justice Center - Tahirih Justice Center provides legal services, training, and education to immigrant women and girls. The Houston office does not accept walk-ins, so call for for an intake.

Immigration-Related Case and Court Information

Houston Immigration Court - The website for the Houston Immigration Court has a link for self-help materials as well as information about court procedures. There is also a link to its Virtual Law Library.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - In addition to information and forms about citizenship and green cards, the website for the USCIS also has information relating to delays in Extension/Change of Status Filings as a result of COVID-19.

Executive Office for Immigration Review - EOIR is responsible for the adjudication of immigration cases. In its Action Center, you can find links for online filing, case information, and legal representation, including pro bono legal services providers.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Harris County Law Library provides access to resources for victims of domestic violence and their families. If you or someone you know is a victim of physical abuse, the following resources are available. 

AVDA’s Legal Advocacy Program has a staff of attorneys who will provide victims of abuse with free legal representation for protective orders, divorce and child support and custody.

The Houston Bar Association provides a thorough list of resources including a list of hotlines and shelters in the Houston area. Also provided are links to information about services available in surrounding counties.

The Texas Advocacy Project offers free legal services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault throughout the state of Texas.

The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault is committed to helping victims of sexual abuse, including abuse that happens in the home. AVOICE is a program offered by TAASA that provides free, confidential legal advice and representation for all victims and survivors of sexual assault in Texas. Call AVOICE at 888-343-4414.

The Texas Council on Family Violence provides good information about protective orders as well as a service directory of legal advocates who can assist victims of family abuse.

If you are in need of immediate help, please contact the Houston Area Women's Center at the numbers listed here. Assistance is available twenty-four hours a day.

• Domestic Violence Hotline: 713-528-2121
• Toll-Free Line: 800-256-0551
• Rape Crisis Hotline: 713-528-7273
• Toll-Free Line: 1-800-256-0661
• Office: 713-528-6798
• TTY: 713-528-3625