Lily* is a three-year old girl who was separated from her family at the border and detained for over five months.

It wasn’t until Lily’s attorney at ProBAR filed a habeas petition in federal district court that she would be released and reunited with her loving father.
Help children like Lily secure legal representation to challenge their prolonged detention.
Donate to ProBAR today.

Seeking Protection

A young man and woman sit and wait patiently to fill out a Work Authorization application. They are wearing darkly colored jackets, the young man is wearing a baseball cap, the young woman has her hair in a ponytail, and the young man has his arm cradled along the back of the young woman's chair.
Image by ProBAR, 2024
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For many migrants seeking safety and opportunity, South Texas is the first stop in their immigration journey.

Children, adults, and families come to the United States from countries around the world fleeing circumstances that threaten their security and stability. Many arrive at our border seeking protection from violence and persecution, and face tremendous obstacles to securing immigration relief. Access to legal information and representation gives them a chance to gain safety and stability in the United States and begin contributing to our society in countless ways.

Sources:

[1] U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (2025). U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Encounters Nationwide, Southwest Land Border, and Northern Land Border Encounters by Fiscal Year (FY) [Table]. In Nationwide Encounters. https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/nationwide-encounters

[2] TRAC, Syracuse University. (2025). Individuals in Immigration Court by Their Address Pending Cases With and Without Attorneys [Table]. https://trac.syr.edu/phptools/immigration/addressrep/

What We Do

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ProBAR empowers immigrants in the Rio Grande Valley through high-quality legal information, representation, and connections to services. ProBAR provided legal services to more than 31,000 people during 2022.

What We Do

ProBAR graphic

ProBAR empowers immigrants in the Rio Grande Valley through high-quality legal information, representation, and connections to services. ProBAR provided legal services to more than 31,000 people during 2022.

What We Do

ProBAR graphic

ProBAR empowers immigrants in the Rio Grande Valley through high-quality legal information, representation, and connections to services. ProBAR provided legal services to more than 26,000 people during 2021.

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Inform

We provide information that empowers people to navigate the immigration system and make informed decisions about their cases.

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Represent

We represent and assist immigrants to pursue their cases and present their claims against deportation under U.S. law.

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Connect

We connect people with the legal and social services resources they need to pursue their immigration cases successfully.

News & Updates

  1. Photo of celebrants at ProBAR's Year of Service celebration

    ProBAR’s Social Work Team: Empowering Clients Through Human Connection & Access to Services

    When a fire consumed the home of a local immigrant family late one night in December 2025, Ana Carrera, a social worker with ProBAR, was among the first to respond to the emergency.  

  2. A Letter from Meredith Linsky, Director of the ABA’s Commission on Immigration

    Last week, I had the privilege of traveling with ABA President-elect Barbara Howard to visit ProBAR, a long-standing ABA legal services program in Harlingen, Texas. President-elect Howard came away inspired by ProBAR staff and moved by the clients and advocates she met there.

Get Involved

Donate to ProBAR

ProBAR’s work changes lives. Your generous gift helps adults, families, and children access the critical legal services they need to navigate the immigration system. Thank you for your support!

Do you want to use your passion, skills, and experiences to empower immigrants?

Learn more about opportunities with ProBAR’s team of committed advocates.

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2 out of 5 migrants detained at the border begin their immigration process in the Rio Grande Valley

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80% of detained
immigrants face court alone

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Immigrants are 5 times more likely to be granted relief with an attorney’s help

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