Human Rights Initiative of North Texas
Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, Inc. (HRI) is a non-profit organization that provides free legal assistance and social services to refugees and immigrants in the North Texas area who are the victims of human rights abuses. It was founded in 1999 by attorney Elizabeth "Betsy" Healy and social worker Serena Simmons Connelly. HRI assists clients through two main programs: the Asylum program and the Women and Children's program. The majority of legal cases are handled by a large network of volunteer attorneys. Asylum program The Asylum program assists refugees who have fled to the United States because of past persecution, or the fear of persecution based on one of the five protected grounds. Race Religion Nationality Political Opinion Membership in a particular social group Clients in the program come from all over the world, including Iran, Pakistan, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Botswana, Egypt, Rwanda, and the Congo. Women and Children's program The Women and Children's program assists immigrant women and children (and in some cases, men) who are the victims of domestic violence, a violent crime, and/or abuse and neglect. An immigrant woman who has been the victim of domestic violence and is married to a U.S. citizen or Legal