Our Mission
To champion the dignity and human rights of immigrants, refugees and survivors of persecution, torture, conflict and human trafficking through exceptional immigration legal services at no or low cost, education and advocacy
Our History
American Gateways has served the Central Texas immigrant community since 1987. Founded as the Political Asylum Project of Austin (PAPA), we began as a dedicated group of volunteers working to serve increasing number of refugees fleeing war in Central America. Since then we have grown to provide a broad range of immigration legal services to low-income individuals and families throughout the region. Our new name reflects our expanded services and our objective of promoting the rights of our clients through every portal of immigration relief.
Who We Serve
American Gateways serves the low-income immigrant communities in Austin, San Antonio, Waco, and throughout Central Texas. In addition to the cities of Austin, San Antonio, and Waco, we serve twenty-three counties in the region, including Bastrop, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Comal, Coryell, Falls, Fayette, Frio, Guadalupe, Hays, Karnes, Lampasas, Lee, Limestone, Llano, McLennan, Milam, San Saba, Travis, and Williamson.
What We Do
LEGAL SERVICES
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. Our staff are experts in the areas of:
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Asylum (for individuals and families fleeing persecution in their home country)
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Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) Petitions (for battered spouses, parents, and/or children)
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T Visas (for survivors of trafficking)
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U Visas (for survivors of certain types of violent crimes that occurred in the U.S.)
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Representation before the San Antonio Immigration Court
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Permanent Residency and Naturalization
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Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
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Family-based Petitions
American Gateways is also the only nonprofit in the state to provide legal orientation, immigration workshops, and pro bono legal representation at three immigrant detention facilities. Our Austin office serves the T. Don Hutto Residential Center in Taylor, Texas. Our San Antonio office serves the South Texas Detention Complex in Pearsall, Texas and the Karnes County Residential Center in Karnes City, Texas.
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH & EDUCATION
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. If you or your organization is interested in a training from our staff, please submit a training request below.
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
American Gateways (“AG”) does not discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, political beliefs, or religion when providing services to its clients. AG does not discriminate in its provision of services to anyone on any basis.
