Free Immigration Legal Help in San Antonio (2026): RAICES, Legal Aid & Know-Your-Rights

Immigration paperwork is hard to face alone — and a private immigration lawyer can cost more than many San Antonio families have. The part many people never hear: San Antonio has several long-established nonprofits that provide immigration legal help free or at low cost to people who qualify, including representation in immigration court.

This guide lists the real organizations, what each one handles, and how to reach them. It also covers how to check that a provider is legitimate, and the warning signs of the “notario” scams that take money from immigrant families every year. This post is general information, not legal advice — for advice about your own case, talk to one of the organizations below.

Start here: the official pro bono list

Before calling anyone, know that the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) publishes an official List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers — organizations and attorneys that have told the immigration courts they provide free legal services. The list is organized by court, including the San Antonio Immigration Court, and was updated in October 2026. Every organization in this guide appears in that official list or in the national Immigration Advocates Network directory of nonprofit legal services.

Two more rules protect you:

• Only a licensed attorney, or an accredited representative of a DOJ-recognized organization, should give you immigration legal advice or file papers for you. A notary, tax preparer, or travel agent cannot legally do that work.
• Free help is screened, not guaranteed. Each nonprofit below has income guidelines and case priorities — most start with a phone screening to see whether they can take your case.

RAICES — the largest immigration legal services provider in Texas

RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) was founded in San Antonio in 1986 and provides free and low-cost legal services to immigrant children, families, and refugees. Its San Antonio office is at 131 Interpark Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78216, and the number to call is (833) 372-4237.

According to the national legal services directory, the San Antonio office handles a wide range of cases — asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, removal proceedings, DACA, TPS, T and U visas, VAWA self-petitions, family reunification, and detention cases — and it makes referrals to other services.

How to start: call (833) 372-4237 or visit raicestexas.org. Ask for an intake or consultation, and be ready to briefly describe the type of case — for example, an asylum case, a family petition, or a court date coming up.

American Gateways — asylum, VAWA, T and U visas, and court help

American Gateways has served Central Texas immigrants since 1987, providing immigration legal services at no or low cost. Its San Antonio office is at 2300 W. Commerce St., Suite 313, San Antonio, TX 78207. The office sees clients by appointment only; new clients start with a telephone legal screening at (210) 521-4768 ext. 232.

American Gateways’ legal team specializes in asylum for people fleeing persecution, VAWA petitions, and T and U visas for victims of trafficking and crimes — and it also offers legal orientations and referrals for people facing deportation proceedings. Because it handles fewer walk-ins than the larger providers, screening appointments may be easier to get here; still, call early, since capacity is set by case priorities.

Already have a case at the San Antonio Immigration Court? American Gateways also provides Know Your Rights presentations for people in immigration court proceedings, so mention your hearing date when you call for the screening.

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) — free civil legal aid

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid is a nonprofit that provides free civil legal services to low-income residents across Southwest Texas, including Bexar County. Its San Antonio office is at 1111 N. Main Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212; call (210) 212-3700 or toll-free (800) 369-0356.

For immigration matters, the directory lists the San Antonio office for adjustment of status, asylum, family petitions, naturalization, removal proceedings, and VAWA cases — alongside the organization’s much broader civil work, from housing and benefits to domestic violence and family safety issues.

Caritas Legal Services — Catholic Charities of San Antonio

Caritas Legal Services, part of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, provides legal aid to low-income and immigrant families, including victims of crime, domestic violence, and human trafficking. It is a DOJ-recognized organization, which means its accredited representatives are authorized to practice immigration law. Reach the program at (210) 433-3256; its immigration services are based at the Guadalupe Community Center, 1801 W. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78207.

Caritas handles filings with USCIS and representation in immigration court across the same broad range — family petitions, asylum, naturalization, DACA, TPS, T and U visas, VAWA, and removal cases — on a reduced-fee basis for people who qualify. Catholic Charities also runs free “Ask-A-Lawyer” clinics for general legal questions.

St. Mary’s University School of Law — Immigration and Human Rights Clinic

The Center for Legal and Social Justice at St. Mary’s University School of Law runs an Immigration and Human Rights Clinic where law students, supervised by licensed attorneys, represent income-qualified clients for free. The center is at 2507 NW 36th St., San Antonio, TX 78228, and the clinic number in the national directory is (210) 431-5714.

The clinic’s listed areas include asylum, adjustment of status, DACA, naturalization, removal hearings, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, T and U visas, and VAWA — with services in English, French, and Spanish. Clinics accept a limited number of cases each semester, so apply early and also contact the other organizations above.

What to have ready when you call

• Any papers you have received — especially a Notice to Appear, a hearing notice, or anything from immigration court or an immigration agency.
• Your A-number, if you have one, and the full names and birth dates of family members in the case.
• A short timeline — when you arrived, any prior applications, and any contact with immigration authorities.
• Proof of income if asked. Most of these programs serve low-income families and will ask about household size and income.
• A safe phone number and mailing address where official mail can reach you. Missing a letter from the court can cost you the case.

Most of these organizations serve clients in English and Spanish, and several list additional languages. If no one can take your case, ask for a referral — these offices refer cases to each other and to the EOIR pro bono list regularly.

Know your rights — the basics

These general points are widely published by legal aid organizations. They are information, not advice for any specific situation:

• You have the right to remain silent and to ask to speak with a lawyer before answering questions from immigration agents.
• You do not have to open the door for immigration agents unless they show a warrant signed by a judge — ask them to slide it under the door.
• Never sign a document you do not understand or that has blank spaces, and never sign away rights to a hearing without talking to a lawyer.
• Keep copies of your important papers with a person you trust, and make a plan for your children’s care in case of an emergency.
• If a family member is detained, the organizations above — especially RAICES and American Gateways — can advise on locating them and on what a bond hearing involves.

How to avoid immigration scams

• “Notario,” “immigration consultant,” or “visa consultant” does not mean lawyer in the U.S. Only a licensed attorney or an accredited representative of a DOJ-recognized organization may give immigration legal advice.
• Be suspicious of guarantees. No honest lawyer can promise an approval, a work permit by a certain date, or that a case will stay secret from the government.
• Never pay for blank government forms — USCIS forms are free at uscis.gov — and always get a receipt and a copy of everything filed for you.
• Check before you pay: search the provider in the EOIR pro bono list or the Immigration Advocates directory linked below, and confirm an attorney’s license with the State Bar of Texas.

If your situation involves abuse or trafficking, there is also free, confidential legal help written for survivors — see our guide to free legal aid for abuse survivors in San Antonio. For other everyday legal questions, see free legal advice in San Antonio, and if money is tight right now, free food pantries in San Antonio can help with groceries.

Apply for Me — Get Help With Your Application

Immigration cases are legal matters these nonprofits handle — but many families reading this guide also need help with food, health care, or bills. Our free Apply-for-Me service helps you apply for the benefits you qualify for. Click the button above to get started.

Frequently asked questions

Is the legal help in this guide really free?

The help is free or low-cost for people who qualify. RAICES provides free and low-cost services, American Gateways works at no or low cost, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid’s services are free for eligible low-income residents, Caritas works on a reduced-fee basis, and the St. Mary’s clinic is free for income-qualified clients. Each organization screens for income and case type first.

I have a court date and no lawyer. What should I do first?

Do not miss the hearing — missing it can result in a removal order in your absence. Call RAICES at (833) 372-4237 and American Gateways at (210) 521-4768 ext. 232 right away, tell them the hearing date, and ask about emergency intake or a Know Your Rights orientation. Bring every paper you have received to any appointment.

What is the difference between a notario and a lawyer?

In the United States, a notary public (“notario”) is only authorized to witness signatures — not to give legal advice or file immigration papers. Only a licensed attorney or an accredited representative of a DOJ-recognized organization may do that work. Paying a notario for immigration help is one of the most common scams targeting immigrant families.

Can these organizations help if a family member is detained?

Yes — several of them, including RAICES and TRLA, serve detained people and their families at South Texas detention facilities. Call and explain the situation; have the person’s full name, date of birth, and A-number ready if you can.

Helpful links & phone numbers

• RAICES (raicestexas.org) — free and low-cost immigration legal services — (833) 372-4237
• American Gateways (americangateways.org) — no/low-cost immigration legal services — (210) 521-4768 ext. 232
• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (trla.org) — free civil legal services — (210) 212-3700, toll-free (800) 369-0356
• Caritas Legal Services — Catholic Charities — (210) 433-3256
• St. Mary’s University School of Law — Center for Legal and Social Justice — (210) 431-5714
• EOIR List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers — the official court list
• ImmigrationLawHelp.org — the national directory of nonprofit immigration legal services
• USCIS (uscis.gov) — official forms (always free), case status, and policy updates