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Legal Directory

American Gateways (Austin Office)

  • Location:
    314 E. Highland Mall Blvd.
    Suite 501
    Austin, TX 78752
  • Phone:
    (512) 478-0546 ext. 200
  • Fax:
    (512) 387-2650
  • Contact methods:
    Drop-in, Phone calls, Call for services in San Antonio: (210) 521-4768 ext. 232 or ext. 236
  • Appointments accepted:
    No

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:
Elizabeth Almanza
(210) 521-4768
Executive Director:
Rebecca Lightsey
(512) 478-0546
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
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