Doughnuts, blue jeans, Budweiser beer, and hamburgers are all huge staples of American culture. However, this culture was not developed by a single American identity, but by a series of cultures that placed their faith in the American dream. Thanks to these immigrant cultures, we have a beautiful American identity. The position that immigrants held in the creation of our identity is often overlooked, but in 2014, an organization called "I Am an Immigrant" wanted to highlight the amazing impact they have.
When looking at Houston, immigrants alone earned $66.5 billion in 2021, and $5.2 billion went to state and local taxes, which is money used to fund schools, roads, etc. Although immigrants made up 24.0% of the metro area’s overall population, they represented 30.1% of the working-age population. In a large city like Houston, their contribution is essential and necessary to keep the city on its feet. While immigrants keep Houston running, that begs the question: who or what is helping them?
There are a couple of organizations that offer assistance to immigrant communities. For starters, the Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library has lots of legal readings to help you understand where to start, including things such as immigration procedures, pleading and practice manuals, and many more statutes and codes. Here at the library, we can help place you on the right path easily when working with a complex and daunting system.
There are also lots of organizations extending help to the Houston immigrant community. For example, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston offers low-cost and pro-bono legal services through the St. Frances Cabrini Center For Legal Assistance - Catholic Charities Of The Archdiocese Of Galveston…for immigrants and refugees. Consultations are free of charge; just sign up via their website. The next day to sign up is July 1st, 2026. They can help with asylum cases, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and much more!
Then, we have the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, which consists of a network of local organizations working together to increase access to holistic legal services in the Houston area. They have a hotline that offers information about immigration policies, referrals to free and low-cost legal service providers, and referrals to social services. It is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the cost depends on your income level. You can reach them at 1-833-468-4664.
These are just a few resources out of the hundreds in Houston that can help. To read more about immigration law, immigration legal research, and services to immigrants in Texas, check out our previous posts here on Ex Libris Juris. For now, we extend our gratitude to the millions of immigrants that make Houston not only one of the most diverse cities in the USA, but one of the best!
Extra Links:
Houston-area groups offer free and low-cost immigration aid
National Immigration Legal Services Directory - Nonprofit Resource Center
For Community – Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative