Legal Directory
American Gateways (Austin Office)
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American Gateways is one of the largest immigration legal services providers in Texas. Our clients receive culturally sensitive, trauma-informed legal representation from start to finish of a case. American Gateways is also the only nonprofit in the state to provide legal orientation, immigration workshops, and pro bono legal representation at four immigrant detention facilities. Our Austin office serves the T. Don Hutto Residential Center in Taylor, Texas. A central feature of our mission is to engage and educate immigrant communities, as well as local stakeholders, about immigration law and process, an individual’s rights within this process, and forms of relief for which an individual might be eligible. In addition to regular trainings and presentations within the Austin area, our outreach team regularly travels to more rural communities such as Bastrop, Marble Falls, and Giddings to provide services and speak with local community groups and train social service providers and members of law enforcement.
| Counties served: | Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Comal, Coryell, Falls, Fayette, Frio, Guadalupe, Hays, Karnes, Lampasas, Lee, Limestone, Llano, Mason, McLennan, Milam, San Saba, Travis, Williamson |
| Detention Facilities Served: | Karnes County Correctional Center (TX), Karnes County Residential Center (TX), South Texas Detention Facility (TX), T. Don Hutto Residential Center (TX) |
Services Provided
| Are immigration legal services provided? | Yes |
| Areas of immigration legal assistance: | Adjustment of Status, Asylum applications, Consular Processing, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Employment authorization, Family-based petitions, Habeas Corpus, Naturalization/Citizenship, Removal hearings, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, T visas, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), U visas, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions |
| Types of immigration legal services provided: | Help completing forms, Filings with USCIS, Representation at Asylum Interviews (Credible Fear Interviews, Reasonable Fear Interviews), Representation before the Immigration Court, Representation before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), Federal court appeals |
| Non-legal services: | Citizenship / Civics classes, Housing referrals, Legal Orientation Programs (LOP) / Know Your Rights Presentations (KYR), Referrals to other services |
| Populations served: | Detained individuals, Domestic Violence Victims, Farm workers, Human Trafficking Survivors, Individuals who are not in legal immigration status, Individuals with criminal histories, Individuals with physical/mental disabilities, Juveniles, Lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender, Torture survivors |
| Languages spoken: | English, French, Korean, Russian, Spanish |
| Access to a commercial interpreting service or language bank: | Yes |
| Nominal fee charged? | Yes |
| Other information: | Detainees Hot Line: (512) 478-0546 ext. 204. Call for services in San Antonio: (210) 521-4768 ext. 232 or ext. 236. This organization is a partner of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. |
Staffing Information
| Number of attorneys on staff: | 13 |
| Is organization BIA recognized? | Yes |
| Number of fully accredited BIA representatives on staff: | 3 |
| Number of partially accredited BIA representatives on staff: | 2 |
| Number of paralegals/legal workers on staff: | 7 |
Additional Details
| Pro Bono opportunities? | Yes |
| Network affiliations: | American Immigration Lawyers Association, Asista, Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), Detention Watch Network, Freedom Network, Immigration Advocates Network, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), Lutheran Legal Service Organization |
Administrative Information
| Contact Person: | |
| Executive Director: | |
| Types of contact/attempt: | Phone |
| Last contact date: | February 9, 2018 |
| Administrator comments: | 11/14/12: tickler 11-22-13 I updated 1/28/14: tickler 1/30/15: tickler 6/29/16: phone with Elizabeth A 09 Feb 2018: tickler |
| IAN Members? | Yes |
