Volume 9 Summer 2023

Message from ProBAR Director Laura Peña

The recently-ended Title 42 policy and the newly-implemented Circumvention of Legal Pathways have reshaped the experiences of immigrants and asylum-seekers at our U.S.-Mexico border. 

In this piece, ProBAR Supervising Attorney Luis Rios describes the impacts of these policies and how the team has responded.

Read more here.

Pro Bono Highlight

Introducing ProBAR's New Pro Bono Counsel and Her Reflections from the ABA Commission on Immigration (COI) Pro Bono Week at ProBAR

ProBAR is pleased to announce that we have hired Lindsay Schenk as our new Pro Bono Counsel! Lindsay joined ProBAR in 2020 as a HIAS Border Fellow, and we are excited about the contributions she will make to ProBAR's mission by leading pro bono programs.

Lindsay reflects on her first week in her new role during the ABA Commission on Immigration (COI) Pro Bono Week at ProBAR in her piece below. The tremendous efforts displayed by the pro bono attorneys will be impactful long after they return home.

Read more here.

Providing Insight into Immigration for Today’s Youth

ProBAR’s Outreach Department educates, engages, and develops initiatives that amplify the impact of our organization’s work. Read about how the Outreach team collaborates with different ProBAR departments to provide our community with insights into our services and career pathways.

Read more here.

ProBAR is Excited to Recognize our Summer 2023 Cohort of Law Student Fellows

This summer we have 5 additions to our team – Fatima, Geneva, Itzia, Emily, and Francisco. These five Fellows are dedicating ten weeks of their summer to immerse themselves in the field of immigration legal services at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Read more here.

In Case You Missed It

ProBAR: A Personal Retrospective Then and Now

Former ProBARian and current Commission on Immigration Member Ilyce Shugall documents her experience having just returned to Harlingen, Texas, to participate in COI’s pro bono week with ProBAR.  



Read more here.

How the ABA Helped Me Do Pro Bono Border Work

Camila LeMaster Esquivel describes her experiences during ProBAR’s pro bono week in Harlingen last May on the ABA’s Law Student Division page. Camila is a current 3L at University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.



Read more here.

Preparing Young Migrants for Immigration Proceedings: ProBAR Services for Tender-Age Children

When ProBAR staff provide services to tender-age clients aged 5 to 12 years old, they take a unique approach to ensure a child absorbs as much information as possible. This article highlights the comprehensive and holistic approach our Shelter Services team utilizes in their work to empower unaccompanied migrant children throughout their immigration process.



Read more here.

Welcome Back to the Office, Again!

This July, ProBAR staff returned to the Reese Building after months of construction and renovation. The team is happy to be reunited in our beautiful new space and grateful to our Facilities, IT, and Business Administration teams for all of their work to prepare for this moment.

ProBAR is Hiring!

Get Involved!

Pro Bono Opportunities

If you are an attorney interested in getting involved or learning more about our pro bono opportunities, fill out our Pro Bono Interest Form. Any questions can be sent to volunteer@abaprobar.org.

Remote Translation Program

ProBAR's Remote Translation Program is also accepting volunteer applications! If you or someone you know possess a language ability in addition to English and want to make a difference by providing crucial translation support, please fill out our Remote Translation Program Interest Form. Questions can be directed to volunteer@abaprobar.org.

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