Texas is home to one of the largest immigrant populations in the United States, with millions of foreign-born residents living and working in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, McAllen, and communities across the state. As a border state with extensive federal immigration infrastructure, Texas sees an enormous volume of immigration cases, from asylum claims and border enforcement proceedings to family-based petitions, employment visa sponsorships, and naturalization applications. Texas also maintains one of the most aggressive state-level immigration enforcement postures in the country, making experienced legal representation a necessity for any immigrant navigating the system here. Aftalion Law Group serves as an experienced immigration lawyer in Texas, providing comprehensive representation through virtual consultations and direct practice before Texas immigration courts.
Aftalion Law Group handles the full scope of immigration law for Texas clients.
Deportation and removal defense is one of the most critical services for Texas immigrants. Texas has more immigration courts and processes more removal cases than nearly any other state. The firm represents clients facing proceedings before the Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, and Harlingen immigration courts, handling cancellation of removal, asylum-based defenses, bond hearings, withholding of removal, Convention Against Torture claims, motions to reopen, and emergency stays.
Family-based immigration services include I-130 petitions for spouses, parents, children, and siblings, adjustment of status, consular processing, and marriage-based green card applications. Texas has one of the highest volumes of family-based immigration filings in the country, and Aftalion Law Group manages these cases from petition through interview at any of the state’s USCIS field offices.
Texas is one of the largest markets for employment-based immigration in the nation, driven by the energy sector; healthcare; technology (Austin, Dallas); aerospace (Houston); construction; and agriculture. The firm handles H-1B, H-2B, L-1, O-1, TN, and EB-category petitions, along with labor certification (PERM) and visa sponsorship compliance.
Additional services include asylum and refugee protection, DACA renewals and advance parole, U.S. citizenship and naturalization, VAWA self-petitions and U-visas, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), immigration waivers, and federal mandamus lawsuits against USCIS for unreasonable delays.
Texas immigrants with criminal charges face among the most serious consequences in the country because of the state’s enforcement climate and cooperation with ICE. Aftalion Law Group’s immigration criminal defense practice provides integrated representation designed to protect both your criminal case outcome and your immigration status.
Texas has the most extensive federal immigration infrastructure of any state outside of California, with multiple USCIS offices, immigration courts, and detention facilities.
USCIS Field Offices in Texas:
Texas has USCIS field offices in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, and Harlingen, along with multiple Application Support Centers (ASCs) in suburban and mid-size communities. The specific office that handles your case depends on your county of residence. To locate the office currently serving your area, visit the USCIS field office locator.
USCIS Texas Service Center:
The Texas Service Center in Irving processes immigration petitions and applications filed from across the United States, not just Texas. Many forms filed by Texas residents, including I-130 petitions, I-140 employer petitions, and certain work authorization applications, are routed here. The Texas Service Center is one of the busiest processing centers in the country, and processing backlogs are common.
Immigration Courts in Texas:
Texas has immigration courts in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, and Harlingen, along with additional court locations inside immigration detention facilities. Texas processes more removal cases than nearly any other state, and certain Texas courts, particularly those along the southern border, carry some of the highest case volumes and denial rates in the nation. Detailed court information is available through the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).
Immigration Detention Facilities:
Texas has numerous ICE detention facilities, including large facilities in the Rio Grande Valley, Central Texas, and the El Paso area. Detained individuals face accelerated court timelines and need immediate legal representation for bond hearings and removal defense.
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No matter where you are located in Texas, our team is ready to assist with your immigration needs.
Texas has one of the largest and most diverse immigrant populations in the United States, with over 5 million foreign-born residents representing approximately 17% of the state’s total population.
The Houston metropolitan area is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country, with large Mexican, Salvadoran, Honduran, Guatemalan, Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Nigerian, and Filipino communities. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has similarly diverse communities, with substantial populations from Mexico, India, El Salvador, Vietnam, and Ethiopia. San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley have deep Mexican and Mexican-American roots, with large populations of immigrants at every stage of the immigration process. Austin’s technology sector has attracted a growing population of H-1B visa holders and employment-based green card applicants from India, China, and across the globe. El Paso’s border location creates unique immigration dynamics, including a high volume of asylum claims and border enforcement cases.
Key industries employing immigrant workers in Texas include energy (oil and gas), healthcare, technology, construction, agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, and hospitality. Texas’s economy is deeply dependent on immigrant labor at every skill level, from farm workers and construction crews to software engineers and medical professionals.
Texas has one of the strictest immigration enforcement environments in the United States, with extensive state-level legislation, aggressive local enforcement partnerships, and a shared border with Mexico.
Senate Bill 4 (SB 4): Texas passed SB 4 in 2017, which prohibits sanctuary city policies anywhere in the state and requires local law enforcement to comply with ICE detainer requests. The law imposes penalties on local officials who fail to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. This means that in any county in Texas, a routine encounter with law enforcement can lead to immigration screening and ICE involvement.
287(g) agreements: Numerous Texas counties participate in the 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to perform immigration enforcement functions in partnership with ICE. This is especially prevalent in counties along the border and in the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan areas.
Operation Lone Star: Texas has deployed state resources, including the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety, to the border under Operation Lone Star. This state-directed operation has led to arrests and detentions of immigrants along the Texas-Mexico border, often in parallel with federal enforcement. Individuals encountered by Texas law enforcement under Operation Lone Star may face both state criminal charges and federal immigration proceedings simultaneously.
Driver’s licenses: Texas requires proof of lawful immigration status to obtain a driver’s license. DACA recipients with valid Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) are eligible. Undocumented residents cannot obtain a Texas driver’s license.
ICE enforcement: Texas encompasses multiple ICE areas of responsibility, including Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, reflecting the sheer volume of federal enforcement activity in the state. ICE conducts regular worksite operations, community enforcement, and border-area operations throughout Texas. Knowing your rights during an ICE encounter is essential for every immigrant in the state.
Texas immigrants face a wide range of challenges, many of them amplified by the state’s enforcement climate and border proximity.
The sheer volume of cases before Texas immigration courts creates significant backlogs. Non-detained respondents in Houston and Dallas may wait years for a hearing date, while detained respondents along the border face compressed timelines with limited preparation time. Having an immigration lawyer in Texas who can navigate both the detained and non-detained dockets is critical.
Texas’s SB 4 and 287(g) participation mean that any arrest, even for a minor traffic offense, can trigger an immigration hold and potential ICE transfer. Immigrants with any criminal history, even old or minor offenses, need to understand the immigration consequences before any interaction with law enforcement. Aftalion Law Group’s dual practice in immigration and criminal defense is built for exactly these cases.
Asylum seekers who enter the United States through the Texas-Mexico border often face their cases in border immigration courts with high denial rates and limited access to counsel. The firm helps asylum applicants, including those who have been released on parole, received Notices to Appear, or are seeking to file affirmative asylum applications, build the strongest possible case.
DACA recipients in Texas face particular uncertainty, as the original federal court ruling that halted new DACA applications was issued by a Texas district court. Existing DACA recipients should continue renewing on time and should consult an attorney about advance parole options and potential paths to permanent residence.
The Texas Service Center processes applications from across the country, and its backlogs can delay even straightforward filings. Texas residents experiencing unreasonable delays on I-130 petitions, I-140 employment petitions, or naturalization applications may benefit from a federal mandamus lawsuit to force USCIS to adjudicate their case.
Immigration law is federal, and an experienced immigration attorney can represent you from anywhere in the country. Aftalion Law Group serves Texas residents through:
Aftalion Law Group offers a wide range of immigration services designed to help individuals and families secure lawful status and confidently navigate the U.S. immigration system. Our team provides reliable, structured assistance tailored to the needs of Texas residents, including but not limited to:
The immigration system changes frequently, and staying updated can protect your status and your future. Our firm closely monitors USCIS policies, federal decisions, and court developments to help Texas residents stay informed. We share helpful updates through our official blog so clients can stay aware of important changes. For personalized assistance, contact us today for a free evaluation.
