| Founded | October 6, 1986 |
|---|---|
| 74-2436920[1] | |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization |
| Purpose | To model a welcoming nation by fighting for the freedoms of immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking people and families. |
| Headquarters | San Antonio, TX |
| Location |
|
| Services | Immigration Legal and Social Services |
Chief Executive Officer | Dolores K. Schroeder, MSW, JD |
| Employees | 320 |
| Website | www |
Headquartered in Texas and with national reach, RAICES, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formally known as the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, promotes migrant justice by providing legal services, social services case management, and rights advocacy for immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking people and families.
RAICES is currently the largest immigration legal services agency in Texas.[2]
History
[edit]RAICES was founded in 1986 during the Sanctuary Movement as a response to immigration policies that created impossible legal barriers for Central American refugees to seek protection in the U.S.
In June 2018, publicity regarding the Trump administration's family separation policy led to the creation of an Internet campaign to collect funds for RAICES.[3][4][5]
A Facebook user in California created a fundraiser for RAICES called "Reunite an immigrant parent with their child." Raising over $20 million, the fundraiser was created in response to a "zero tolerance" immigration policy implemented in April 2018 by United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions,[6] which requires United States Border Patrol agents to detain for criminal prosecution all adult immigrants suspected of crossing the border illegally, which requires separating children from their incarcerated parent(s).[7]
In 2018, the organization refused a $250,000 donation from Salesforce because the company had contracts with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Executive Director Jonathan Ryan wrote in an email to Salesforce, "Pledging us a small portion of the money you make from [CBP] contracts will not distract us from your continuing support of this agency. We will not be a beneficiary of your effort to buy your way out of ethical responsibility."[8][9]
See also
[edit]- Immigration detention in the United States
- Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation
- American Immigration Council
- National Immigration Law Center
- Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES)
- Right of asylum
References
[edit]- ^ "REFUGEE & IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATION & LEGAL SERVICES". GuideStar. GuideStar USA. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ ""Suspiciously little" done to inform undocumented families of their rights, legal advocate says". Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ Salmon, Felix. "Why Even Viral-Fundraising Skeptics Can Feel Good About Donating to RAICES". Slate Magazine. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ Lyons, Kate (June 20, 2018). "Facebook campaign to help separated children seeks $1,500 but gets $7.5m". the Guardian. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ Jackson, Amanda. "$4,000 a minute pours in to help reunite separated immigrant families". CNN. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ Rizzo, Salvador (June 19, 2018). "Analysis | The facts about Trump's policy of separating families at the border". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ "Jeff Sessions: Parents and Children Illegally Crossing the Border Will Be Separated". Time. May 7, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ Wong, Julia Carrie (July 19, 2018). "Aid group Raices rejects $250,000 from Salesforce over border agency contract". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
- ^ "RAICES on Twitter". Twitter. July 19, 2018. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2025.