2022 Justice Report | Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

DEFEND. SERVE. SUE. Hey there, let’s talk about what makes TRLA truly tick – our unwavering commitment to justice that guides us

through thick and thin. We’re all about making things right, defending rights, serving our community, and, yeah, when needed, even suing the bad actors.

So, what gets us out of bed every day? It’s a simple yet powerful thing: justice. We’re on a mission to protect everyone’s fundamental human rights. We’re not just here to talk the talk; we’re here to walk the walk. We tackle the big stuff – like addressing unfair systems and fighting against inequality – all with an unbreakable resilience.

Now, things have changed since we started. The world’s spinning faster than ever, and our clients’ challenges are shifting, too. But you know what has yet to change? Their determination. They keep going, no matter what. And that lights a fire under us. We’re beside them, fighting for fairness and being their biggest cheerleaders.

Our mission is a bond we share with our communities. We’re in this together, committed to progress, justice, and empowerment. The road ahead might be winding, but we’re making a lasting impact that’ll echo for years with every mile traveled.

Editor in Chief: Hannah Allison Associate Editor: Julia Fourt Editorial Advisory Board: Karina Garza & Hailey Hollowell Contributors: Shelby Alexander, Robert Doggett, Jayme Hancock, Jessica Hood, Mary Johnson, Anna Novak Design & Layout: Zócalo Design

“Here’s to a year marked by resilience and steadfastness."

- ROBERT DOGGETT, TRLA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Outside the TRLA Administrative offices in Mercedes, TX.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE

Greetings, I am honored to present the 2022 Annual Justice Report, a testament to the unwavering commitment of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) in championing the rights of our communities. This year, more than ever, showcased the resilience and tenacity with which we approach our mission.

TRLA’s response was swift and robust during two critical events in 2022: Operation Lone Star (OLS) and the Uvalde school tragedy. These incidents brought to light pressing concerns regarding the allocation of resources and the state’s approach to crises.

While the unpredictability of such emergencies remains beyond our control, TRLA’s dedication to promptly assisting those affected is a testament to our mission. We pride ourselves on not just offering legal aid but going beyond. In Uvalde, our comprehensive support ranged from assisting families with Crime Victims’ Compensation applications to addressing nuanced challenges related to donations and needs-based public benefits. Marking a milestone, on October 18, 2022, the inauguration of TRLA’s Uvalde office, generously supported by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, ensured strengthened accessibility to our services for the community.

In the OLS situation, TRLA’s role is unparalleled. The complexities of the cases we handle often exceed routine legal concerns. Representing thousands, we have consistently been a beacon of hope for individuals requiring legal defense.

In a landscape where border “enforcement” allocations overshadow the funding aimed at safeguarding the legal interests of the underserved, it is imperative to spotlight this incongruence. We remain resolute in advocating for the resources essential to our cause.

The impact of such tragedies on our most vulnerable communities is deeply felt. With your invaluable support, we are poised to address these challenges head-on, understanding that their recurrence is inevitable.

Your generous contributions empower us to make a tangible difference in places like Uvalde. They enable us to stand beside our clients, guiding them both legally and empathetically.

I salute the relentless dedication of the TRLA team, our on-ground partners, our esteemed volunteers, and the indomitable spirit of our clients. Here’s to a year marked by resilience and steadfastness.

Warm regards,

ROBERT DOGGETT (Edited by ChatGPT)

01

WHO WE ARE If we were to sum up our purpose in three words, it would be Defend, Empower, Transform.

Yep, it’s more than legalese; it’s our guiding light, directing every step we take.

At the core of everything we do is a fierce dedication to justice. It’s not just a lofty ideal

but a North Star that steers our ship through challenges and triumphs. Our gig? Safeguarding the basic human rights of our clients, taking on unfair systems, and battling inequality head-on with a big dose of resilience.

Now, we’re no ordinary law firm. We navigate a crazy maze of laws and regulations, especially those that hit the underprivileged the hardest. Our turf? You’ll find us rocking the legal scene in 68 counties along the coastal bend region and the great landscapes of south, central,

and west Texas. And don’t forget about our Southern Migrant Legal Services team – they work across Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. For 53 years, we’ve been the go-to lifeline for folks who can’t catch a break when it comes to affording legal aid elsewhere.

Sure, times are changing faster than we can swipe right, which means our clients face new challenges daily. But here’s the kicker – they don’t back down. They show us what determination really looks like. And guess what? They’re the wind beneath our wings, propelling us to fight for fairness and champion resilience like it’s our middle name.

Our mission is a bond that ties us to our communities – it’s a two-way street

where commitment meets action. Together, we’re stitching the fabric of justice,

weaving empowerment into every corner. As we flip through the pages of this report, let’s celebrate the wins, acknowledge the setbacks, and gear up for another spin around the sun where justice and empowerment lead the way.

24,159

clients & households served

32,238

cases opened

21,792

cases closed

WHO WE ARE 01

BY THE NUMBERS REVENUE

TOTAL REVENUE $43,111,221

$14,979,289

LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

TEXAS ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION

$14,540,668

SBA PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM OTHER FEDERAL GRANTS

$4,917,647

$841,067

OTHER STATE, LOCAL & PRIVATE GRANTS

$3,166,439

PUBLIC DEFENDER PROGRAMS

$2,579,865

$1,636,098

ATTORNEYS FEES

RENTAL INCOME

CONTRIBUTIONS

INTEREST AND OTHER INCOME LITIGATION COSTS RECOVERED

$222,250

$174,694

$38,076

$15,128

EXPENDITURES

TOTAL EXPENSES $39,583,340

$32,158

PROGRAM SALARIES & BENEFITS

LITIGATION COSTS

$868,335

$4,248,749

OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES

SUPPORTING SERVICES

FUNDRAISING & GRANT SEEKING EXPENSES

$1,953,345

$354,446

WHO WE ARE 02

OUR FIGHT The Response Team:

Innovating Service on TRLA’s Front Lines When potential clients reach out to TRLA, they are direct-

Collaborating across TRLA’s practice areas, this Team as-

they call the TAJ hotline, these potential clients interact

due to the substantial monthly caseload. Since its estab-

ed to our Telephone Access to Justice (TAJ) hotline. When with operators who assess their eligibility for our services.

Unfortunately, being eligible does not necessarily guarantee access to TRLA services due to the high demand. Our

organization covers over 40 practice areas and has no choice but to prioritize individuals facing extreme circumstances and fighting to survive in the most critical situations in our service region. If a client meets eligibility criteria and their case aligns with TRLA’s priorities, it is accepted for extended representation.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the demand for our

services surged. Consequently, we reevaluated our service model to create support for cases that would not qualify for our extended representation. Enter the Response Team,

sesses the efficiency of various case-handling processes lishment in 2022, the Response Team has closed 1,371 brief service cases², has provided 1,353 clients with brief services, and has DR³’d 2,185 cases.

The Response Team comprises nine staff attorneys, two

paralegals, and Special Project Director Dina Hardwick.

Attorney Hardwick utilizes the combined 159 years of le-

gal experience among the attorneys and 50 years among the paralegals.

While the Response Team only provides limited advice to

our clients, there has been no limit to our clients’ gratitude for receiving substantive guidance to navigate their complex legal situations.

formed in 2022, to team up with the TAJ hotline. This addi-

tion to our service delivery model aided in bridging the gap for individuals who do not qualify for full-service but could

benefit from help navigating legal issues. The Response Team provides high-quality advice and limited assistance to appli-

“The support our clients receive comes from seasoned litigators and top-performing intake staff. Our clients are in good hands

cants whose circumstances require a guiding light.

with our Response Team, who know the ins

The Response Team has also improved the vetting process

and outs of the many complex legal issues

for priority cases, utilizing subject matter experts within TRLA’s practice areas. These individuals advocate for cases to receive extended services based on their thorough analysis.

Staff attorneys expedite guidance, provide brief support, and

they’re calling to receive assistance with.”

- RESPONSE TEAM DIRECTOR DINA HARDWICK

offer referrals to self-help resources or pro se1 representation.

1) Pro se, in modern law, means to argue on one's own behalf in a legal proceeding, as a defendant or plaintiff in civil cases, or a defendant in criminal cases, rather than have representation from counsel or an attorney.

2) Brief Services (now called Limited Action) address a client's legal problem without extended representation. Such services may include legal advice, document preparation and\or review, or guidance on how to prepare as one's own representative in court.

3) DR stands for Disposition Review – these are cases assigned to the Response Team for resolution. This includes cases that were eventually placed for extended services, rejected due to ineligibility, recoded in the case management system, and/or closed with brief services.

OUR FIGHT 03

An Unwavering Journey to Empower and Rebuild:

TRLA’s Disaster Response in Uvalde

Only a short hour’s drive from San Antonio--a city that hous-

working through the holiday weekend. These information

is a friendly, rural town with around 16,000 residents. On May

members provided hope and guidance on retaining public

es one of TRLA’s largest offices—you will find Uvalde. Uvalde 24, 2022, the tranquillity of this tight-knit community was shattered when a mass casualty event ended with nineteen

children and two adults killed at Rob Elementary School. This massacre would become the deadliest school shooting in

Texas history and the third deadliest in the United States.

News of the disaster quickly spread. Frighteningly familiar

to the response TRLA provided following the 2019 Walmart mass casualty incident in El Paso, staff members met to identify the immediate needs that TRLA could meet.

A myriad of legal issues needing to be addressed as soon as

possible spawned another worry amongst the already over-

whelming emotions and heavy grief thrust upon impacted

families. Many of the 68 counties in our service area include those profoundly marred by poverty. Uvalde is no different,

with one in five residents below the federal poverty guide-

lines. Our clients repeatedly bear the brunt of horrific natural and human-made disasters.

Staying true to TRLA’s commitment to holistic, compassionate justice, staff devised a multi-pronged approach that expand-

ed beyond the traditional concept of “disaster response.” Such as the potential impact of much-needed donations on the

sessions proved valuable for grieving families, as TRLA staff benefits, trustees’ primary duties, and introductory investment advice. Despite the reality that no amount of legal advice or community outreach would ever return Uvalde to the

town it was before, TRLA staff members knew firsthand that what they offered was a small step towards relief. Through our consistent presence and building of trust, Uvalde citizens have been empowered to voice other legal needs—is-

sues not directly related to the tragedy—many of which have been damaging remains of a community recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. These needs have provided

additional opportunities for TRLA staff to seek justice alongside this community.

To continue meeting the legal needs of the Uvalde Community, TRLA opened a physical location in the town just six months later.

The Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) made this physical presence in Uvalde’s heart possible.

needs-based public benefits many families receive. Rocketing them into fear about whether they would be able to meet their

basic needs. Mounting medical bills threatened the little financial security for survivors and their loved ones. The existence

of fund dispersal programs, such as the National Compassion Fund (NCF) and the Crimes Victims’ Compensation Pro-

gram (CVC), created the painful task of rehashing the tragedy on applications.

No one organization could have responded to a crisis of this magnitude alone—the TRLA Disaster Assistance Group

facilitated partnerships with organizations like the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), the Texas

Department of Emergency Management (TDEM), San Antonio Legal Aid (SALSA), and many more community stakeholders and agencies.

Impacted families and survivors congregated at the Uvalde Resiliency Center, established within days of the shooting.

TRLA attorneys and paralegals conducted intakes, meet-

ings, and community education events at the Center—many Photographer unknown:

group of onlookers at a Uvalde victims memorial mural.

OUR FIGHT 04

Justice for the Garcia Family Jesus Benito Garcia, Sr., tragically lost his life on March 9,

the family was compelled to file a lawsuit before the civil

Moran, a Bexar County Sheriff’s deputy. For over 18 months,

initiated the lawsuit in the Western District of Texas, nam-

2020, in Elmendorf, Texas, due to a fatal shooting by Brandin

TRLA worked with Mr. Garcia’s widow and five adult children to address various issues arising from the incident’s after-

math. The family sought mental health and grief counseling services and initiated efforts to uncover the truth behind

case’s statute of limitations expired. On March 3, 2022, TRLA ing both the deputy and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office as defendants. Following this, on March 21, Deputy Moran was indicted for manslaughter by a Bexar County grand jury.

fate.

Unexpectedly, on March 25, mere-

faced consistent denials, even

the Bexar County District Attorney

Mr.

Garcia’s

unfortunate

ly four days after the indictment,

Despite persistent attempts, they

denied access to Mr. Garcia’s autopsy report.

It was not until more than a year

after the incident and multiple re-

“Jesus Garcia was killed in his own home by an officer who issued no warningwho fired hius gun 10

jected requests under the Public

seconds after banging in."

nally obtained the chance to view

- MATT GARCIA, STAFF

Information Act that the family fibodycam footage and hear por-

tions of other related documents during a meeting with the Bexar

ATTORNEY TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID

County District Attorney’s Civil Rights division.

dropped the manslaughter charges against the deputy. Further-

more, the District Attorney’s office opted to represent the deputy in TRLA’s civil litigation.

In April 2022, during a pre-trial

discovery conference, TRLA suggested settlement discussions with

the defendants before proceeding

with litigation. This was met with a definitive “no.” As the litigation pro-

gressed, Bexar County eventually provided bodycam footage, shed-

Although the division promised to bring Mr. Garcia’s case

ding light on a tense domestic altercation between Mr.

and emails for updates remained unanswered. Eventually,

apparent mental distress, held a screwdriver to his neck,

before a grand jury, the family’s patience wore thin. Calls

Garcia and his wife. Throughout the incident, Mr. Garcia, in

From L to R: Matt Garcia (former TRLA attorney), Nicole Mendez Herrera (daughter), Lisa Garcia (widow), Jessica Garcia (daughter), Susan Watson (TRLA attorney), Amanda Garcia (daughter), and Amber Banks (TRLA attorney)

OUR FIGHT 05

threatening self-harm. Elmendorf Police Seargent Reyes

After Bexar County presented this evidence, a change of di-

tactics designed to de-escalate and resolve the situation.

tion. The mediation occurred on July 21, 2022, resulting in a

was first to arrive and engage with the Garcias. He used Then, Deputy Moran burst through the door and, in less than 10 seconds, shot Mr. Garcia multiple times.

The story takes a further disheartening turn when Deputy Moran is left alone with Mr. Garcia, who is still alive, after Sgt.

Reyes removed Mrs. Garcia from the scene to provide care.

Despite his training, Deputy Moran took no action except to

enter the kitchen to wash blood off his hands. Eventually,

rection occurred, and the county contacted TRLA for media-

settlement agreement. While the Garcia family is relieved to avoid the prolonged trauma of litigation, they remain unsettled by the lack of criminal accountability and the DA’s

dismissal of the indictment against Deputy Moran. As in-

dividuals who have tragically lost family members to law enforcement, they emphasize that progress in policing can only be achieved through accountability.

when Mr. Garcia stopped moving, Deputy Moran uttered the

words, “He’s done.” Emergency responders found Mr. Garcia with a pulse but he succumbed to his injuries at the scene despite their efforts.

“ We felt betrayed by the system.

We are grateful that a big step toward justice has been taken.“ - NICOLE HERRERA MENDEZ DAUGHTER OF JESES BENITO GARCIA & TRLA CLIENT

Pictured: Nicole Herrera Mendez & Jessica Garcia

ADVOCATING FOR FAMILIES

4,358

family law intakes

3,917

family law cases closed

11,160

family law clients and household members assisted

1,529

family clients assisted with Crime Victims Compensation

OUR FIGHT 06

Fighting for Financial Justice

Against Unjust IRS Assessments A 34-year-old Laredo, Texas resident experienced a surprising turn of events during the summer of 2020. She received unexpected notice from the Internal

Revenue Service (IRS) claiming she owed nearly $20,000 in unpaid taxes. De-

spite living her entire adult life with disabilities and relying on Social Security and SNAP benefits, her income was insufficient for tax filing. The IRS notice left her confused and anxious, especially as the deadline to challenge the assessment drew near.

IRS cases can be frightening for our clients due to the agency’s standing as a “super-creditor.” Unlike other creditors, the IRS can pursue collections without re-

quiring a court judgment, and exemptions under Texas law’s “judgment proof” status might not be applicable. Even a homestead could be in jeopardy.

Upon contacting TRLA for help, Polly Bone, Federal Tax Team Manager, quickly realized the client had fallen victim to identity theft. TRLA’s tax attorneys, Beto Mesta and Elizabeth Molina, collaborated to explore solutions and crafted a lawsuit that was

submitted to tax court. Although the case faced a year-long delay due to an IRS backlog, it finally proceeded to trial in 2022.

Attorney Mesta approached an IRS Appeals officer who, after reviewing the evidence presented, agreed that the assessment was incorrect.

Despite the long-standing link between our client’s Social Security number and her income, the IRS issued an inexplicable

income assessment. Our client was put in the position of having to demonstrate the assessment’s inaccuracy rather than the other way around. Mesta assisted her in gathering evidence, submitting an ID affidavit, and engaging in extensive communication with the IRS to establish the reasoning behind her case.

Our Federal Tax Team provides unwavering support to low-income taxpayers, guiding them through federal court pro-

cedures, including the United States Tax Court, and representing their interests at all levels within the IRS. We stand with individuals dealing with various disputes involving the IRS, such as incorrect refund denials, offset actions, and financial-

ly challenging collection efforts. This team is dedicated to safeguarding clients’ financial stability with modest incomes

while also employing outreach and advocacy to shield them from exploitation by unethical tax preparers, employers, and debt collectors.

$76,795

111

represented before the IRS

668

$146,083

events for taxpayers

federal income tax refunds obtained for taxpayers

decrease in federal tax liabilities for taxpayers represented before the IRS

number of tax cases attendees at educational

303

one-on-one consultations with tax payers

OUR FIGHT 07

Mental Health’s Role in Public Defense Since 2007, TRLA has offered public defender (PD) services.

In fact, TRLA is the largest provider of PD counsel in Tex-

as, serving fourteen southern counties out of four offices.

or outside support system realize, “I’ve been where you are.”

This first-hand connection allows them to build trust.

One unique aspect of PD at TRLA is our Mental Health Peer

Bob Strause, a peer specialist with TRLA since 2021, works pri-

Since 2017, the program has served Bee, Live Oak, McMullen, and

experientially credentialed, so my life on both sides of ad-

Specialist program, which operates out of our Beeville office.

marily with clients dealing with addiction. He explains, “I’m

Refugio counties.

diction is my college. . . Both sides of my recovery and addiction are used to help others.”

Access to mental healthcare is

“. . . by the time I found out that there

a severe problem for Texas resi-

dents. Texas’s most extensive

was a way out of my addiction, I had

mental health facilities are in

almost given up. I was 52 years old,

jails, with Dallas County and Har-

and every time I tried to quit, I was

ris County jails taking the lead.

Indigent populations are historically affected by mental health

struggles at a much higher rate: 40% of those booked in local jails

and 35% of prison inmates, as of 2013, had received public mental healthcare in the past. TRLA’s

unable to, and it just – my life was devolving and getting more and more unmanageable until somebody swooped in when I was in the darkest day of my life and showed me that there was a solution to my problem. So now, being

two Mental Health Peer Special-

able to use the Public Defender’s office

ternatives to incarceration, such

has been really, really good for me.”

ists work with clients to find alas mental health treatment or addiction recovery services.

as a vehicle to do the same for others – BOB STRAUSE

With TRLA since 2017, Red Gil-

bert is triple certified as a Mental Health, Reentry, and Recovery Support Peer Specialist. These credentials, along-

side his lived experience of incarceration and reentry, make Red uniquely positioned to support all our PD clients. As Red puts it, clients who often have no visitors

Pictured: Red Gilbert, TRLA Menatal Health, Reentry, and Recovery Support Peer Specialist.

In the face of significantly rising prison populations, mental

health support like that provided

by TRLA has gained traction in the

wake of a broader sweep of reforms instituted by the 80th Texas

Legislature in 2007. These reforms

have strengthened alternatives to incarceration and contributed

to reducing the recidivism rate in Texas to one of the lowest in the country.

The difference made in clients’

lives is incalculable. Bob’s experience both as a peer and a peer

specialist underscores the impact of this program.

Connecting indigent populations

with resources to address their mental health and recovery needs is vital to reducing imprisonment and re-offense. Furthermore, as Bob describes, working in our PD division offers “the opportunity to put a ray of hope into people’s lives . . .”.

Pictured: Bob Strause, TRLA Peer Specialist.

OUR FIGHT 08

Looking Back on a Year of

Operation Lone Star Defense September 20, 2021, U.S. immigration policy was thrust into

Criminal charges are not the only distinction between Op-

ingly whipping Haitian noncitizens in Del Rio, Texas went viral.

cies. In the past, noncitizens at the border were detained

scrutiny when photographs of Border Patrol agents seemAt that time, James Wong–a former deputy assistant commissioner for internal affairs at the U.S. Customs and Border

Protection, told NPR that he was most troubled by a cultural shift within the organization where agents saw themselves as more a paramilitary force than a law enforcement agen-

cy. Speaking to NPR’s Joel Rose in 2021, Wong stated, “I’ve had Border Patrol agents in the past tell me that they will not

retreat, and they will not give up one foot of American soil.

They view these people as the enemy.”

Just months before those images shocked the nation, in

March of 2021, Governor Greg Abbott launched Operation

Lone Star (OLS)–an attempt to curb immigration along the

eration Lone Star and the state’s earlier immigration poliby Border Patrol agents, under OLS, and were arrested by

troopers from the Texas State and National Guards and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Early into the state’s

program, Governor Abbott sent 500 troops from the Texas National Guard to the border. Nearly five times as many Na-

tional Guard troops were dispatched to the border as a part of OLS by September 2021. By November of that same year,

the Texas Tribune estimated that the number of troops at the border had ballooned to 10,000. James Wong’s figurative assessment of Texas’ border policies was literal: Operation

Lone Star has effectively created a military response to noncitizens seeking asylum at the Texas border.

border between Texas and Mexico. Under Governor Abbott’s

This heightened military presence at the Texas border

than being processed under the federal immigration sys-

Texas Tribune, Pro Publica, and the Marshall Project forecast

plan, when a noncitizen is apprehended at the border, rather tem, noncitizens are instead arrested by Texas law enforcement and charged under the state’s criminal codes and, if

unable to afford cash bail, sent to prison where they may

wait weeks to months before their trials. Often, these nonciti-

zens languish in Texas prisons under charges of trespass, a misdemeanor-level offense.

comes with a hefty price tag for taxpayers: estimates by that OLS spends 2.5 million dollars each week. By the end of

2022, Operation Lone Star spent an estimated 4 billion dollars towards a program whose claims to protecting Texas

are dubious: often, the claimed arrests and drug seizures

“success stories” coming from OLS are from criminal cases unrelated to the border.

Many of these noncitizens have not committed a crime and,

The client impact we can confirm is that there is an entirely

right to request asylum. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid is an es-

and TRLA’s OLS response has been to intervene and provide

under international conventions and federal law, have the sential partner in assisting noncitizens unfairly caught up in

our state’s criminal state with getting their criminal charges resolved and moving forward with their lawful claims to asylum. By September of 2021, just six months since the initiation

of OLS, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid had already taken on 500 cases of noncitizens arrested under the program. By April of

2022, as OLS rounded its first anniversary, TRLA was respon-

sible for representing over one-tenth of all the noncitizens

separate and unequal criminal justice system for migrants, clients with a strong defense, protecting their due process

rights under the constitution. Our attorneys have successfully defended appointed clients by arguing case dismissals,

pushing back against unconstitutional equal protection and discrimination issues, protecting clients’ rights to defend

themselves and to bond, advocating for language access in court, and so much more.

arrested through the state’s program. Not only is the sudden

The failure of Operation Lone Star highlights the need for a

cause these noncitizens have active criminal and immigra-

ers human rights, due process, and broader social impact.

Making this even more complicated, many migrants are de-

for noncitizens unjustly lost within the state’s criminal justice

nal charges in other countries or resulting in arrest warrants

every individual’s innate worth and potential, regardless of

required in-person proceedings.

nation and those who seek to call it home.

influx of clients a challenge TRLA has risen to meet, but be-

more comprehensive and nuanced approach that consid-

tion court cases under OLS, these cases are unduly complex.

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid has emerged as a vital advocate

ported before trial, requiring them to defend against crimi-

system under OLS. We fight for an environment that upholds

and bond forfeitures where they are unable to appear for

nationality, as we collectively shape a brighter future for our

OUR FIGHT 09

DEFENDING THOSE IMPACTED BY OPERATION LONE STAR

1,181

OLS clients served

516

OLS clients released from detainment

$70,872

obtained on behalf of survivors of a violent crime

OUR FIGHT 10

Striving For Justice: Triumphs in

Mississippi Farmworker Discrimination Cases In a noteworthy triumph, 13 Black farmworkers from the Mississippi Delta – TRLA and Mississippi Center for Justice (MCJ)

clients – achieved settlements in lawsuits against two Mississippi Delta farming operations. The lawsuits alleged racial discrimination and misuse of the immigration system by Delta Farms. The workers contended that these farms favored white workers imported from South Africa by paying them more and providing them with greater work hours compared to the Black workers from the Delta.

FARM LABOR VIOLATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI

Investigations that found violations

Farms Investigated

Since 2005, the Department of Labor

has only investigated a small share (less than 1%) of farms in Mississippi.

Of those investigations, 81% found violations of labor laws.

1%

81%

The percent of farms investigated uses the state’s estimate of about 34,700 farms in Mississippi.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor; Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

Courtesy of Mississippi Today

TRLA took action against Pitts Farms and Harris Russell Farms, businesses involved in cotton, soybean, corn, and catfish farm-

ing in Sunflower County. The lawsuits asserted that the farms secured visas for white South African workers by deceitfully assuring the U.S. Department of Labor that local workers would be compensated equally and given preference for job op-

portunities. Maintaining their privacy, the workers and farms agreed to keep the settlement amounts confidential. However, TRLA was determined to convey a message to other employers.

From L to R: Amal Bouhabib, SMLS Director; US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh; SMLS 2022 summer law clerk Morgan Peck; SMLS 2022 summer law clerk Julio Colby; our co-counsel, Ty Pinkins (then) attorney at Mississippi Center for Justice.

OUR FIGHT 11

Amal Bouhabib, Director of TRLA’s Southern Migrant Legal Services (SMLS) project, and Rob McDuff, a lawyer from MCJ, rep-

resented the workers. Despite these victories, the legal teams noted the persistence of unlawful practices among other Delta farms and pledged further actions against those not adhering to fair wage practices. In addition to the two cases that settled in 2022, SMLS currently represents another 40 Mississippi farmworkers who have suffered similar injustices.

“The plaintiffs in the Pitts case were trailblazers, and their bravery led to the widespread raising of wages for U.S. farmworkers throughout the Delta and gave others the courage to come to us and the Department of Labor for justice.”

- AMAL BOUHABIB, SMLS DIRECTOR

Efforts to address this issue extended beyond legal proceedings. TRLA and MCJ communicated with the U.S. Department of Labor about the prevalence of discriminatory practices in the Delta region. In response, U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh vis-

ited the Delta and, subsequently, the Department of Labor launched investigations resulting in the recovery of unpaid wages and imposition of fines against multiple farms.

Another encouraging success came as the MCJ hosted Secretary Walsh for a conference featuring clients from the PITTS60

case. This case involved Black U.S. farmworkers suing employers for unequal pay compared to South African H-2A workers.

The conference brought together stakeholders, including representatives from DOL and DOJ, and proved to be a platform for client voices to be heard.

H-2A VIOLATION IN MISSISSIPPI BY FARM TYPE Percent of H-2A violation in Mississippi since 2005.

1% 81%

Source: U.S Department of Labor

Courtesy of Mississippi Today

The event brought attention to the profound disparities faced by the clients and signaled Secretary Walsh’s commitment to addressing these issues. The clients’ narratives resonated deeply, drawing attention to experiences reminiscent of the Jim Crow era. The conference boosted morale, strengthening the resolve to combat discrimination and wage theft in the

Mississippi Delta farmworker community. These stories underscore the ongoing struggle for justice and equality within the agricultural sector, inspiring hope for change and fostering the courage to stand against systemic injustices. SMLS is proud to be the leading advocate in this fight.

OUR FIGHT 12

FIND YOUR PLACE

"Whatever a volunteer's skills and interests, TRLA does its best to match them with an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our clients."

– TRACY FIGUEROA, DIRECTOR OF PRO BONO AND PRIVATE ATTORNEY INVOLVEMENT

VOLUNTEERS TAKING ACTION

191

civil private attorney pro bono cases

93

civil private attorney were at reduced fee

150

closed civil private attorney reduced fee cases

2700 +

pro bono service hours from private attorneys

148

closed civil private attorney pro bono cases

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FIND YOUR PLACE 13

Ways to Connect MAKE A DIFFERENCE as a Petitioner of Justice We are immensely grateful for all our generous donors and ask that you consider making your gift

recurring the next time you donate with us. Our monthly donors are our “Petitioners of Justice” -- a

club with special perks like a pin to wear to our events, special impact newsletters, and a discount on tickets to our annual Evening of Gratitude. Plus, the benefit of knowing that you’re contributing to our stable monthly revenue so that we can address both emergencies and the everyday legal needs of low-income Texans!

ENGAGE with our Socials Want to get involved as soon as possible? Follow our socials, turn on Instagram alerts,

and start liking, sharing, and commenting! Your engagement will help our posts to get to others who could need our services or want to get involved. . . and it’s free!

JOIN THE FIGHT through our Pro Bono Volunteer program We have plenty of opportunities for both civil and PD pro bono work – in 2022,

our volunteers donated over 2,700 hours of pro bono service. The justice gap persists, and private attorney involvement is vital for assisting as many people as possible. to learn more visit: trla.me/probono

CELEBRATE with us At our annual Evening of Gratitude held in San Antonio in early December,

we celebrate our donors, volunteers, staff, and board members who make our mission possible.

We would love the chance to meet you in person there, share a meal, and get to know you better! learn more at: trla.me/2023EOG

WORK with us For jobs, internships, clerkships, fellowships, and more, check out: trla.me/careers

PARTNER with Us We’re always looking for fantastic organizations in and outside our service area to partner with, whether s to host a joint event or legal clinic, sponsor, donate in-kind, or create a custom partnership opportunity. contact: donations@trla.org

REMEMBER US in your will Create a lasting legacy that will reverberate throughout generations by remembering TRLA in your will.

check out our new pages at: trla.me/donor-faqs

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PETITIONERS OF JUSTICE Alex Abdun-Nabi

Glenys Chafin-Garrett

Barbara Hill

Hillary L. Schrenell

Hannah & Forrest Allison

Barbara Cramer

Mary Hoane

Daniel Sharfstein

Daniel Armendariz

Micah Culpepper

Thomas Koren

Douglas Stevick

Sidney Beaty

Joseph Dubin

Charlie Kupperman

Kay Taylor

James Bennie

Thomas Finucane

Robert Lewis

Abby West

Dan Berger

Samantha Ford

Julia Reza

SOME OF OUR LEADING SUPPORTERS Irene A. Adolph

Alice Cottingham

Craig & Alyssa Gilden

Margo Allison

Cousar/Squyres Family Fund

Ramanjeet Gill

Robert & Linda Appel Eleanor Arnold Katherine R. Austgen Bankruptcy Law Section State Bar of Texas

Marissa Cox Joseph G. Daly Richard Danysh Don & Janice Day

Lisa S. Barkley

Hanna Denmark

Michael Barrett

Vicki Dennis

Cynthia Bast

John DeVries

Hilary Scruggs Beebe

Lisa Ann Doggett

Richard Beecher

Kathleen Donovan

Sharon Billington

Anna M. Downing

Anne Bogaev

W. Franklin Frank Dunn

Debra Borkovitz

Sara Dysart

Leslie Botello

Mark Epstein

Andy Bouchard

Javier Espinoza

Richard Brimer

Rachel Fagan

Monica Bustamante

Margaret Fitch

Cynthia Carlson

Marisol Flores

Justin Roel Chapa

Ford Family Charitable Fund

Jeanne Chastain Gabrielle Chila George Cofer Alisa Cook-Roehs Alford Cooley Rosa Corrales-Ortiz Julia Cortez

David & Polly Francis Warren & Helen Franz LeeAnn Friedman JBligh Giving Fund Gallogly Family Foundation José Garza

Heather Gluck Joshua Gold Yasmin Goodman Andrew Gould Paul Grotevant The Hagens Kelly Haragan Dina Filley Hardwick Katherine Hart Dan Heath Sarah L. Heather Tim Helmers Eileen Hoff Nancy Hoffman Chavez Horacio Bob & Janie Houck Carmen Huerta-Perez Raquenel Jackson Lamont Jefferson Jami John Mary Johnson Anil Kalhan Jamie Katz W. Lee Keeling Laura Kelso

Ken Waitz & Jessica Henry Charitable Fund Brendan Kennedy Mary-Ellen King Kirkland & Ellis Foundation Casey Lee Laura Lein Lew & Laura Moorman Charitable Fund Michele Lewis-Muzzatti Anne Lightsey Lauren Lisi Angela Littwin Melanie Lyons Cullen Macbeth Susan Mack Molly Madsen Marcy Magid Meredith McGuire Erin McNiece Christopher McRorie David T. McTaggart Yolanda Medina Ann Megee Manuel Mendez Margaret Mendez Margo Mendoza

Continued on next page

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Lauren Milgroom

Jeffrey Plaut

Rebecca Smith

Miguel Villarreal, Jr.

Miriam Spiro Charitable Giving Fund

Rachel Proctor

Hon. Selena N. Soli

Vinson & Elkins LLP

William Ralston

Constance R. Somers

Marianne Reat

Travis Stalcup

Constance Wannamaker

Roger H. Reed

Sam Summerlin

Paul Reidy

Rustin Tawater

Raquel Reyes

Lisa Taylor

Don Rhorer

Mason Terry

Andrew Rockett

Texas Instruments Foundation

Molly Molloy John Paul Moore Susan Morrison Deborah Nathan Amanda Nicholson Emilio Nicolas Lauren Oertel Paul Oyer José Ozuna Catherine Parsley Kristine Patrick Sarah Peace Lora Petty Robert Phillips Kimberly Pine DLA Piper

Antonio Rodriguez Diana Rodriguez Shahram Samie Lauren Schoenbaum Schulze Family Fund Herbert Schwetman Maro Sevastopoulos Moses Silverman Nathaniel Norton & Jocelyn Slovak

Stefan Wanstrom Thomas Whatley Benjamin Wheeler Sandra White

Thomas Thoren Carrie Tilton-Jones Ashu Tiwary

Nigel Gusdorf & Alice Wilson Cheryl Wilson Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Foundation H. Leabah Winter

Lisa Tsai

Margaret Wittenmyer

Edward John Tuddenham

Jennifer Wuamett Michael Wyatt

Kathleen Tyler

Douglas Zabel

Oscar Valdez Kenia Santiago Velazquez

WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU ON THIS LIST NEXT YEAR! As a dynamic leader in legal aid for low-income individuals, TRLA has continued to grow and change over the

years: we’ve added public defense services, partnered with cities and counties across the state to achieve justice,

implemented cutting-edge peer support and mental health services for clients, and continued expanding our evergrowing 45+ legal specializations. Yet, as TRLA grows and changes, so do the threats our client populations face.

Your donation supports the innovative work required to serve our eligible population of 2.6 million individuals as a nonprofit law firm. There is no better time than now to join the fight for justice and offer hope to our client base made up of hardworking low-income families, veterans, foster youth, disabled individuals, survivors of domestic violence, abused seniors, unhoused individuals, and countless other individuals experiencing life-shattering legal issues.

We would be immensely grateful if you considered incorporating TRLA into your budget today.

Visit www.trla.me/donate Here's how your support helped put money back into the hands of our clients in 2022.

$439,401

received in lump sum settlements

$548,210

recovered for low -wage workers

$70,872

obtained on behalf of survivors of a violent crime

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GOVERNANCE Representatives from the 2022 TRLA Board with Awardees at the 2022 Evening of Gratitude held in San Antonio, TX.

TRLA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2022 Leonor Cortez, President | Nueces County Community Action Agency Javier Espinoza, Vice-President | San Antonio Bar Association Lisa Taylor, Treasurer | Cameron County Bar Association

Diana Abrego | Del Rio/Eagle Pass Clients’ Council Emma Alaniz | La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) Elsa Laura de Alejandro | Mercedes Clients Council Hidalgo County Carlos Blanco | Laredo Clients’ Council Webb County Rafael Carrasco, Jr. | Project BRAVO, Inc, El Paso County Ramona Casas | Edinburg Clients Council Hidalgo County Jeanne Chastain | Corpus Christi Bar Association Joseph A. Connors, III | State Bar of Texas Victoria Guerra | Mexican-American Legal Defense & Education Fund W. Lee Keeling | State Bar of Texas Mary-Ellen King | Austin Bar Association Christina Mendiola | Laredo/Webb County Bar Association Jose Ozuna | Hidalgo County Bar Association Marta Pelaez | Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc. Cindy Polinard | State Bar of Texas Judge Ron Rangel | San Antonio Bar Association Roger Reed | Hidalgo County Bar Association Judge Gloria M. Rincones | Cameron County Bar Association Judge Selena Solis | El Paso Bar Association Diana Torres | El Centro Del Barrio Michael Wyatt | El Paso Bar Association Ofelia Zapata | Advocates for Social Justice Reform

17 GOVERANCE 10

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

TRLA's El Paso office.

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) is a charitable organization as described in §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN#: 74-1675230,

registered in the state of Texas. Following the Internal Revenue Service guidelines, TRLA maintains discretion and sole control over the use of all donated funds.

Therefore, donors explicitly release TRLA from any restrictions on how those funds are spent. Contributions are tax-deductible to the

limit allowed by law if the donor itemizes. Donors who donate more than $25.00 in any given year will be mailed a statement for all their donations by February of the following year. If you have any questions regarding your gift (s) or need a receipt or a statement of your contributions, please feel free to contact us at donations@trla.org.

TRLA may not expend any funds for any activity prohibited by the Legal Services Corporation Act, 42 U.S.C. §2996 et seq. or by Public Law

104-134. Public Law 104-234 §504(d) requires that notice of these restrictions be given to all funding sources of programs funded by the Legal Service Corporation.

For a copy of these laws or any further information or clarification, please contact the Executive Director

JUSTICE BEGINS HERE | TEXAS RIOGRANDE LEGAL AID | 301 S. TEXAS AVENUE | MERCEDES, TEXAS 78570 | WWW.TRLA.ORG