Asylum Lawyer in Houston

Houston Asylum Representation Built on Personal Understanding

At Galaviz Law Firm, PLLC, we represent people in Houston and throughout Texas who are seeking protection through the U.S. asylum process. Attorney Abraham J. Galaviz is the son of Mexican immigrants who benefited from the 1986 amnesty. That background isn’t just part of our story; it shapes how we approach every client’s situation. We provide full services in both English and Spanish, and we stay accessible when immigration emergencies arise, including unexpected detentions that can’t wait until Monday morning.

Asylum claims carry strict deadlines, and the preparation starts early. Call us at (713) 597-5642 to schedule a consultation.

Who Qualifies for Asylum in the United States

Asylum is governed by Section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. To qualify, an applicant must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution, or show that they suffered past persecution, based on one of five protected grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Showing that harm occurred isn’t enough. The applicant must also show that their home government caused the harm or is unable or unwilling to provide protection against it.

There is one additional threshold requirement: asylum applicants must be physically present in the United States to apply. Someone still outside the country who needs protection pursues refugee status through a separate process.

Affirmative vs. Defensive Asylum in Houston

How an asylum case moves forward depends on whether the applicant is currently in removal proceedings. The two tracks have different procedures and different decision-makers.

Affirmative Asylum

Affirmative asylum is filed using Form I-589 with USCIS by someone not in removal proceedings. An asylum officer decides the case at an interview. If the officer doesn’t grant the application, it’s referred to immigration court, and it becomes a defensive case decided by a judge.

Defensive Asylum

Defensive asylum is filed by someone who already has a Notice to Appear and is in removal proceedings. The case is argued at a master calendar hearing and then at an individual merits hearing before an immigration judge. Houston Immigration Court operates under the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and our team appears there regularly.

The One-Year Filing Deadline

Asylum applicants generally must file Form I-589 within one year of their last arrival in the United States. Missing this deadline can bar eligibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Two narrow exceptions exist: changed circumstances that affect eligibility, and extraordinary circumstances that prevented timely filing, such as serious illness or legal disability. An applicant relying on an exception must affirmatively prove it applies. If you’re unsure whether the deadline has passed or whether an exception covers your situation, get a legal assessment before assuming you have no options.

Asylum with a Criminal Record: Withholding of Removal and CAT Protection

A prior criminal conviction doesn’t automatically end the pursuit of protection, but it changes the strategy. Certain convictions bar an applicant from standard asylum eligibility entirely. When that happens, withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture can still be available. These forms of relief carry a higher burden of proof than asylum, but they remain on the table for applicants who can meet that standard.

This is where our experience with the intersection of Texas criminal charges and immigration status becomes directly relevant. We’ve represented Lawful Permanent Residents working to retain their Green Cards despite prior aggravated felony convictions, obtained dismissals in high-stakes cases involving serious drug possession accusations, and advocated for clients facing deportation tied to Medicaid fraud and multiple DWI charges. We’ve also worked to secure the release of clients held in immigration detention facilities. These outcomes reflect the range of situations we handle. Every case carries its own facts and its own risks.

How We Handle Asylum Cases

Founded in 2013, Galaviz Law Firm, PLLC has built its reputation on complex immigration court litigation. We don’t apply a template to asylum cases. We analyze how an application affects the entire family unit, because an outcome that works for one person but separates a family for years isn’t a complete solution.

What that looks like in practice:

• Thorough initial consultation: We review the specific strengths and potential roadblocks of your case so you arrive at USCIS interviews and court hearings prepared, not surprised.
• Meticulous documentation: We emphasize evidence gathering for both master calendar and individual hearings, building the factual record that supports your claim before a judge.
• Local court knowledge: Regular appearances before Houston Immigration Court and coordination with local USCIS field offices give us insight into procedural realities that affect your timeline.
• Community presence: We volunteer at Houston-area legal workshops, offering free advice to help community members understand their rights before a crisis develops.

Attorney Galaviz is an alumnus of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and completed a clerkship for the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. That foundation informs how we approach every hearing.

Talk to an Asylum Attorney About Your Case

Asylum claims are time-sensitive, and the stakes are high. We offer consultations in English and Spanish and stay accessible when situations become urgent. Call Galaviz Law Firm, PLLC at (713) 597-5642 to discuss your case and understand your options before deadlines narrow them.