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About Cabrini Center

En Español

The St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance (Cabrini Center) is dedicated to providing high-quality legal services to individuals who would otherwise not be able to obtain legal representation. All services of the Cabrini Center are provided without regard to race or religion. Charges for services vary, with some provided at no charge and others provided for a minimal fee.

Cabrini Center was created as a separate non-profit organization in 1978. In 1986, the Cabrini Center became a program of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, which saw within the program an opportunity to “welcome the sojourner” and address the needs of immigrants and refugees. The Cabrini Center is the largest of the three Houston-based non-profit agencies accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent individuals in immigration legal matters.

Cabrini Center’s activities include outreach, legal assessment and counseling, legal representation, and advocacy. In 2009, Cabrini Center:

Conducted 151 outreach sessions called charlas to inform 7,882 individuals of available immigration benefits and legal rights;
Assisted 318 individuals seeking legal permanent residency;
Assisted 1,242 individuals with family visa and adjustment of status applications;
Assisted 121 clients with citizenship applications;
Filed 48 Violence Against Women Act self-petitions;
Collaborated with law enforcement to help 60 individuals apply for U and T visas;
Assisted 243 adult clients with asylum and deportation claims;
Represented 1,127 unaccompanied minors with asylum and deportation claims;
Reached 1,031 juveniles through 261 know-your-rights presentations.

Read about the types of cases handled by Cabrini.

Read about how to become a client of Cabrini Center

Learn how to volunteer for Cabrini Center.

Donate to Cabrini Center.

Staff Members

Cabrini Center accomplishes its work with a staff of eight attorneys, three accredited representatives, one business manager, eight caseworkers, one outreach coordinator, and two support staff:

Wafa Abdin - Legal Director

Kaitlyn Allen - Outreach Coordinator

Toni Alvarenga-Watkins - Senior Accredited Representative

Samantha del Bosque - Staff Attorney

Dalia Castillo-Granados - Staff Attorney

Suzanne Cevasco - Legal Caseworker, Jesuit Volunteer

Jenny Golac - VAWA Coordinator, Accredited Representative

Jenny Hernandez - Administrative Assistant

Rebecca Koford - Staff Attorney

Erin K. Langley - Business Manager

Stephanie Lubert - Legal Caseworker

Millie P. Lukose - Staff Attorney

Katie McManus - Legal Caseworker, Jesuit Volunteer

Maria Mitchell - Pro Bono Coordinator, Staff Attorney

Griselda Morales - Intake Operations Assistant

Trinity Nguyen - Legal Caseworker

Jonathan Rea - Accredited Representative

Jaime Retamales - Legal Caseworker

Sister Veronica Schueler - Staff Attorney

Arcella Urena - Legal Caseworker

Rosa Valdes - Legal Caseworker

Melissa Zavala - Legal Caseworker

Kristin Zipple-Shedd - Staff Attorney

Catholic Charities...providing help, creating hope.

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