ProBAR Adelante: A Letter from our Director

Laura Peña, ProBAR Director.

Hello from South Texas, 

We share this update with our broader community during a difficult and transformative time for the American Bar Association’s South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR).  

For 35 years, ProBAR has been committed to empowering immigrants by providing high-quality legal information, representation, and connections to services.  In the current landscape, targeting and elimination of legal access programs has resulted in a significant reduction of our amazing staff.  As we move through this period of transition, we remain deeply committed to preserving our mission and exploring innovative ways to continue serving individuals and families with compassion and zeal. 

Over the past two years, ProBAR has significantly expanded its legal advocacy efforts. In addition to representing thousands of unaccompanied children, we now maintain nearly 1,000 active cases involving youth, local community members, and individuals detained at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. Our team has grown to include exceptional attorneys and advocates, while broadening our caseload to include a range of legal matters beyond asylum. 

In 2023, in response to policy changes under the Biden Administration, ProBAR launched a highly impactful Access to Work Clinic at the Brownsville Port of Entry. This effort served over 6,500 individuals and was made possible through meaningful collaboration with community-based partners and local government. 

As we face this new chapter, we invite our friends and allies to support our transition efforts and help preserve ProBAR’s critical mission. Here’s how you can support: 

• Staffing, Internship and Volunteer Opportunities: If your organization is seeking staff, interns, or volunteers in the Rio Grande Valley, Houston or virtual, please fill out this form. Our talented team includes professionals in legal advocacy, administration, accounting, and trauma-informed care. We will be sharing these opportunities with our departing staff.  

• Pro Bono Engagement: We are actively seeking volunteers (legal professionals and volunteer advocates) who can offer pro bono support in a range of areas – from joining a national immigration court observation program to working directly with our team to support our direct representation work for immigrant youth and adults. As we adapt to operating with reduced resources, volunteerism will once again become a central focus of ProBAR’s operating model. Fill out this form to express your interest! 

• Donations Welcome: Every contribution makes a difference. To donate and learn more, visit our Linktree or connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. 

Together, we can continue to uphold the dignity and rights of immigrants across along the border and beyond. Thank you for your support – it matters now more than ever

Laura Peña, ProBAR Director