RAICES

Welcome to Lawyers Near Me, your comprehensive guide to legal professionals in your community. Today, we introduce RAICES, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, a prominent non-profit organization dedicated to providing crucial immigration legal services. Located at 4200 South Fwy #702, Fort Worth, TX 76115, USA, RAICES serves as a vital resource for immigrant and refugee communities seeking legal assistance and advocacy.

RAICES operates with a profound mission: to defend the rights of immigrants and refugees, empower individuals, families, and communities, and advocate for liberty and justice. Established in 1986, RAICES has grown significantly from its roots in San Antonio to establish a strong presence across Texas, including its Fort Worth office. This deep-rooted commitment to social justice and human rights forms the very foundation of their operations, influencing every aspect of their services and client interactions.

While specific details about the interior environment of the Fort Worth office (such as decor or waiting areas) are not extensively detailed online, RAICES's overall approach suggests a professional yet empathetic setting. As a non-profit focused on serving vulnerable populations, their environment is likely designed to be welcoming and safe, providing a supportive space for individuals to discuss sensitive and often challenging legal matters. The address at 4200 South Fwy #702 places them within an accessible area of Fort Worth, making their services reachable to local communities. The primary focus of RAICES is to provide free and low-cost legal services, which underscores their dedication to accessibility regardless of a client's financial situation.

RAICES offers a broad spectrum of immigration legal services. These include, but are not limited to:

• Asylum Applications: Assisting individuals seeking protection in the U.S. due to persecution in their home countries.

• Removal Defense: Representing individuals facing deportation proceedings, including those in detention and those fighting their cases after release. This also includes efforts to secure bond for detained clients.

• DACA Renewals: Providing assistance with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) paperwork filings and related legal advice.

• Residency and Citizenship Services: Offering low-cost assistance with applications for lawful permanent residency and naturalization.

• Legal Representation for Families and Children in Detention: Providing direct legal representation and "Know Your Rights" presentations in various detention facilities for unaccompanied minors and families.

• Affirmative Services: Offering legal intakes and representation for immigrants who have experienced crimes in the U.S., such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, with a culturally sensitive approach.

A distinctive feature of RAICES is their Universal Representation Model (URM) and Alternative Representation Model (ARM) for removal defense, aiming to ensure that as many individuals as possible receive legal assistance, particularly in challenging immigration proceedings. They are known for providing zealous representation to individuals eligible for immigration relief, preparing applications, managing filings with USCIS, and representing clients before the Immigration Court and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Their services also extend to providing pro se assistance and conducting initial legal screenings, often utilizing trauma-informed approaches when working with survivors of persecution, trafficking, and torture.

RAICES's commitment to the community goes beyond direct legal services. They actively engage in advocacy efforts, striving to influence policy and expand protections for immigrants. Their work includes raising awareness, engaging in impact litigation, and advocating for systemic changes to the immigration system. This dual approach of direct legal aid and broader advocacy highlights their comprehensive dedication to immigrant rights.

Promotional information and client reviews offer a mixed but insightful perspective on RAICES's services. The phone number, (833) 372-4237, serves as a primary point of contact for scheduling initial consultations. RAICES emphasizes their role as a non-profit, often providing services at free or low cost, which is a significant promotional point for underserved communities. Their mission statement and values of empowerment, excellence, compassion, inclusion, and proactivity are prominently featured across their platforms, attracting individuals who resonate with their social justice ethos. They frequently highlight their efforts to keep families together and advocate for a system where legal representation is accessible to all, emphasizing that legal representation significantly increases the likelihood of a favorable outcome in immigration court.

Customer reviews provide varied experiences. One client praised their service highly, stating, "Very excellent customer service the attorneys and legal assistants are there to help you and really care about your immigration cases instead of taking your money and doing whatever to get you done and out the way." This review underscores a positive perception of the staff's dedication and genuine concern for their clients' cases, suggesting a client-focused approach that distinguishes them from for-profit entities.

However, another review presented a different experience: "I thought It's 'pro bono' legal advice, except it wasn't I had to pay $45, I didn't receive any useful advice at all, total waste of time & money, I was done in the first 20 mins or so of meeting the actual attorney, I guess they could be useful if you need help filling out the application, attend the interview with you, that's their upsell for $500." This feedback points to a potential area where expectations regarding costs and the depth of initial consultations might differ. It suggests that while RAICES offers free and low-cost services, certain consultations or application assistance may involve fees, and it is important for prospective clients to clarify the cost structure for specific services during their initial contact. The mention of an "upsell for $500" for application filling and interview attendance clarifies that while initial advice might be brief or subject to a small fee, comprehensive assistance comes with associated costs, albeit potentially lower than traditional law firms.

Despite some varied experiences regarding initial consultation costs, the core feature of RAICES remains its non-profit status and its mission to serve the most vulnerable populations. Their ability to provide legal services to individuals from over 40 nations, without regard to the likelihood of relief or case type, demonstrates their broad commitment. They are also actively engaged in ensuring clients receive appropriate social service referrals, highlighting a holistic approach to client well-being.

In conclusion, for those searching under "Lawyers Near Me" for immigration legal assistance in Fort Worth, RAICES stands out as a dedicated non-profit organization. Located at 4200 South Fwy #702, Fort Worth, TX 76115, and reachable at (833) 372-4237, RAICES provides essential free and low-cost services for asylum seekers, DACA recipients, individuals in removal proceedings, and those seeking residency or citizenship. Their commitment to social justice, client empowerment, and comprehensive legal and social support makes them a crucial resource for the immigrant and refugee communities they serve, despite the need for clarity on consultation fees for specific service tiers.