Dallas faith groups, volunteer lawyers amplify legal support for detained immigrants

A coalition of North Texas congregations, clergy, and attorneys is providing legal support to asylum seekers and challenging immigration detentions. The Immigration Detention Project, which includes Dallas Area Interfaith and the Industrial Areas Foundation, has reached more than 1,200 people over the past year, according to organizers.

The project partners with Texas A&M Legal Clinics and other groups to build a network of organizers and volunteer lawyers. These lawyers are trained to challenge detentions in federal court using habeas corpus petitions, which are judicial orders requiring law enforcement to justify a person's confinement in court.

The Rev. Ángel Ríos, pastor of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos-Santa Teresita Catholic Church, leads efforts with Dallas Area Interfaith to support immigrants and refugees. He noted that the judicial system is often unfamiliar to immigrants and those assisting them. The project began in late 2024 to address a shortage of legal resources amid a restrictive immigration system.