ProBAR ¡Presente! at the 2023 Poverty Law Conference

ProBAR is strategically located along the U.S.-Mexico border in Harlingen, Texas. Due to the organization’s proximity to a major point of entry for many migrants, the ProBAR team serves tens of thousands of individuals every year. As the immigration legal landscape changes, ProBAR’s team is also positioned to share a unique perspective on the experiences of migrants as they arrive at our border and pursue their cases for immigration relief. Several of our ProBAR team members recently had the chance to do just that at this year’s State Bar of Texas Poverty Law Conference (PLC) in Austin, Texas. 

Among the presenters was Senior Paralegal Oscar Alfaro, who reflected on his experience attending PLC for the first time. Oscar notes, “I enjoyed being surrounded by other legal professionals who share a passion for providing assistance to those who cannot readily afford it. I came away with new knowledge and a renewed sense of purpose and eagerness to continue assisting the population we serve.” 

ProBAR staff contributed two important presentations to this year’s PLC. The first presentation, “Special Immigrant Juvenile Status 101 & Texas State Court Proceedings,” addressed the fundamentals of seeking immigration relief for children through Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), as well as how Texas state law and state court proceedings come into play. Oscar was joined by Supervising Attorney Diana Goyco and Senior Staff Attorney Jaqueline Obregon in leading and facilitating the discussion. Jaqueline noted, “As a presenter, I was so glad to be able to share our knowledge of SIJS and state court proceedings, as well as the important work we do at ProBAR.”

The second presentation, “Asylum at the Border,” focused on current updates on asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. During this session, ProBAR staff used their expertise to explain updated processes impacting asylum seekers at the border, particularly after the end of Title 42 and the rise in expedited processing. 

Pro Bono Counsel Lindsay Schenk was among the presenters for this group. She greatly appreciated the engagement her group received after sharing such crucial information. Like other teammates, Lindsay shares that PLC was a wonderful opportunity to share, learn, and make meaningful connections along the way. 

ProBAR is proud of our colleagues for their participation in this year’s State Bar Poverty Law Conference and for shedding light on these topics and the work we do. Thank you for your commitment to amplifying our mission, sharing your knowledge and work with others, and developing your understanding of related fields!