Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, Inc.

“Asylee” and “refugee” are extremely common terms used in the immigration field, but have you ever wondered about the difference? Let’s clear it up!

A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee their home country due to persecution, war, or violence. They apply for protection while still outside the United States and, if approved, they are resettled here with support from various agencies.

An asylee is someone who is already in the United States or at the border seeking protection because they cannot return to their home country safely. They apply for asylum and, if granted, they receive similar protections to refugees.

Both are seeking safety, but their paths and processes are different. While HRI only takes on asylum cases, understanding these distinctions is important in supporting those in need.

HRI is reaching out to the community for toiletries and food donations. We are running low on inventory, and we would like your help. Please visit our wish lists for an opportunity to purchase items. For any inquiries, please get in touch with Veronica Gonzalez Social Services Director, at [email protected]

Social Services Non-Perishables Wishlist
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3J3JCFXEHHTOY?ref_=wl_share

Social Services Toiletries Wishlist
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/22EU9W3KS9BC7?ref_=wl_share

Just a heads up! HRI will be closed from December 25 to January 2. Our team will be resting, recharging, and enjoying the winter holidays!

We will return in the new year, ready to continue our fight for immigrants across North Texas!

We are excited to announce that HRI is a recipient of a 2023 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation! This support means we can continue to offer top-notch legal services to immigrant survivors of human rights abuses.

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $22 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation's largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Lamberti's Ristorante and Wine Bar, EETZapp, VolunteerNow, InterNations, and all of our donors for their unwavering support in making our recent event a success. Your contributions enabled us to assist many families in need this winter, and we cannot thank you enough. Your kindness and generosity have made a significant impact on our community!

We need your help!! If you want to donate clothing, shoes, jackets, household items, or winter items to families in need, consider donating to Human Rights Initiative of North Texas. Your generous gift will make a big difference for those in need! We will be accepting donations through November 2. For Questions, please get in touch with Karla Moreno at (972)854-4447.

The Asylum backlog has reached a critical mass. At HRI we work every single day to support our clients who are seeking Asylum and safety in Texas. Help us out by following the link below to make a donation, volunteer, or send us something off of our Social Services wishlist! Visit linknbio.com/humanrightsinitiativentx to support.

We've come so much closer to reaching our goal! Visit northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Hrionline to make your final gift for North Texas Giving Day. We're so excited about all the donations made so far. Let's increase our impact for HRI clients as the day of giving comes to an end. Thank you, HRI Community!

We've made much progress with reaching our goal! Help us get there as you wrap up your day. Change the lives of HRI's # clients and help increase our impact with your support and advocacy. Visit https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Hrionline to make your gift before the day ends!

Our North Texas Giving Day campaigns and individual donations have made a huge impact JUST today! Let's keep the momentum going! Visit https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Hrionline to make your gift. Change the lives of HRI's current and future clients with any contribution. If you'd like to expand your impact, share one of our NTGD posts! Tag your friends! Let's help empower immigrant individuals, families, children, and adults alike to live sustainably and proudly!

Around this time last week Darwin and his little sister Nathaly joined us in our office to celebrate and receive their Green Cards! We were joined by their Pro Bono Attorney, other family, and staff for this monumental occasion. Thank you, HRI supporters and volunteers; for helping us to change the lives of clients with your help! We loved hearing Darwin share his dreams and plans of what’s to come now that he’s received official legal documentation. Cheers to both him and his little sister on their journey that’s just begun.

North Texas Giving Day is here! Visit https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Hrionline to make your donation in support of HRI! Help us reach our goal!

Less than 24 hours to make your gift for North Texas Giving Day 2023! HRI needs our entire community to help us reach our goal! Visit northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Hrionline to make your donation today. And don't forget to like and share this post with your community.

We need your help! Our Social Services Department provides food security to over 50 clients each month! As many have noticed, the current price of food keeps on rising and this has put a strain on many of our families. We are committed to helping our clients continue to put food on the table. That's why we are asking the community for non-perishable donations. You can bring them directly to HRI or instantly online via our Amazon Wish List. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3J3JCFXEHHTOY?ref_=wl_share

Early Giving for North Texas Giving Day will come to an end soon. Consider helping us to reach our goal before the big day arrives! Visit https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Hrionline for more information on donating or starting your own campaign. You can also share this post to spread the word about Giving the Gift of Stable Ground!

Another Friday feeling of freedom & security! Luis has been on this journey for many years & was ecstatic to celebrate receiving his Green Card. His family, HRI Team, & staff joined to celebrate the closing of one journey and opening of another. Luis shared his story of both challenges and triumph, & most importantly, his excitement for the future. We join him in excitement as he works to achieve his goals of pursuing his Doctorate degree, more community & worldwide impact through ministry, & making more memories with his beautiful family. Thank you, HRI supporters, for helping HRI to empower our clients!

Help HRI reach our goal of $35,000 this North Texas Giving Day! With just two weeks to go before the big day your gift matters more than ever.

Follow the link in our bio to make a difference in the lives of immigrants seeking a home in North Texas.

Help HRI reach our goal of $35,000 this North Texas Giving Day! With just two weeks to go before the big day your gift matters more than ever.

Follow the link in the comments to make a difference in the lives of immigrants seeking a home in North Texas.

Early Giving for North Texas Giving Day is in full swing! Make your gift now to support immigrant survivors of human rights abuses.

Follow the link in our bio to make a gift or start a fundraising page of your own!

Francheska is ecstatic & so are we! Its always an amazing day when our journey with a client comes to an end, for a good reason. This young lady is headed into the weekend, & her bright future; with documented safety as an official Green Card holder!

This experience was even more special as her sister who also received her Green Card with HRI’s support, was present to celebrate Francheska’s journey to safety & freedom!

Looking for causes & organizations to support this ? Learn more about HRI and how you can support our commitment to justice and the clients we serve by starting your own campaign.

HRI's Social Services Department wants to express our heartfelt appreciation to the Community Unitarian Universalist Church of Plano! Their unwavering support for HRI over the past couple of years has been truly remarkable. Through their generous donations of toiletries, clothing, and other contributions, they have played a vital role in assisting both our organization and our clients. We are immensely grateful for their kindness and dedication. We also want to extend our support and let them know that we are for them just as they have been for us.

Thank you, , for hosting the Migration in the Americas State Department International Visitor Leadership Program participants & allowing HRI to discuss immigration and volunteer engagement within the U.S. Legal System. Our Interim Supervising Attorney, Jessica Thackway, and Volunteer Director, Lauren Hendricks had the opportunity to visit with appointed migrant support leaders visiting Dallas to work on various projects designated by the State Department. We are so appreciative of the important work each of you are doing! Finally, thank you to the accompanying interpreter liaisons for your tremendous support as well.

Make sure to mark September 1 on your calendars as the first day of early giving for North Texas Giving Day 2023! Every gift you make helps HRI reach our goal of $35,000 to help immigrant survivors of human rights abuses.

Interested in starting your own campaign for HRI? Follow the link in our bio to get started today!

HRI would like to extend a Thank You to Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital - Dallas for their generous backpack donation. We'd also like to extend a special thank you to EETZapp for their generous food donation! With their incredible support, the Social Services Department at HRI successfully hosted our very first Back-to-School Event, addressing significant needs for our clients. We’re thrilled to announce the beginning of a promising partnership with both BSW & EETZAPP as we combine our efforts to continue providing support to those we serve. Looking forward to making even greater impact next school year!

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HRI’s Board of Directors, Staff, Supporters and Volunteers gathered in an intimate celebration of outgoing Executive Director, Bill Holston. Heartfelt tributes, rousing toasts and a delicious spread enhanced the evening, and we all agreed upon one thing: this is not goodbye, merely an evening of thanks and celebration. We are deeply thankful for Bill’s dedicated service to our mission, and we look forward to lasting collaborations with him.
Thanks to all who attended!

As we prepare to bid farewell to our outgoing executive director, Bill Holston, we are looking for our future leadership. HRI is an outstanding non-profit with a vision of upholding human rights even when it is the most difficult stance to serve - and with a mission of serving vulnerable immigrants and refugees, fleeing human rights violations, with dignity and grace. With a committed board and an unshakable staff, HRI is determined to walk the talk. Join our team!

Check out this job at Peña Search: Executive Director, Human Rights Initiative of North Texas.

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3654168556

In addition to being incredibly complex and time-intensive, how law is interpreted can depend on the federal circuit and the judge. ’s report outlines how to make the asylum system functional and fair: https://www.aila.org/highstakesasylum