For many people seeking asylum in the United States, the often-harrowing journey ends in a detention facility along the Texas-Mexico border. Here, new challenges await. Do they have a legal case to fight deportation? Can they prove it? Will the judge believe them? And, ultimately, is there anyone who can help them? That’s where the South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project comes in. Located in Harlingen, Texas, ProBAR is an ABA-sponsored project that helps asylum-seekers and other detained immigrants by providing and coordinating legal assistance and services in South Texas detention facilities. Kimi Jackson is ProBAR’s director, and she has dedicated her career to providing legal services to underserved communities. Jackson also oversees ProBAR’s Children’s Project, which assists youngsters detained while attempting to cross the border without a parent. Jackson and her staff of 80, including 14 lawyers, provide services such as legal representation, general orientation and pro se assistance.
Q. I imagine that, at times, your work can be incredibly depressing. How do you stay motivated over the long term and maintain the stamina of the staff you manage?
A. There are a lot of clients who don’t win. There are people who are not going to be able to stay, and we know that some of them may end up getting deported to their home country and even killed there. But we have to celebrate the victories. Last week, a ProBAR client who had previously won asylum received his green card, and he came by to thank us and to tell everyone how much this means to him. We are here because we want moments like that. We want to make a difference in someone’s life, and we want someone to be safe because of our help.
Read more from Jenny B. Davis about Kimi Jackson.
Attribution: Contributed photo; gallery produced by Andy Lefkowitz.