Provide Legal Support

We provide legal support to help displaced people know their rights, have access to protective services—including access to health, employment, and social services—and help them navigate the often-complicated legal systems that lead to permanent status and security.

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A HIAS legal client sits and talks with a client in this thumbnail for the video "Safeguarding Refugee Rights Through Legal Support." | Refugee Legal Support | HIAS

WATCH: Hear from some of the displaced people HIAS helps with our legal support programs around the world. (SideXSide Studios for HIAS)

Overview

As the number of refugees and other forcibly displaced people continues to grow each year, many governments have put policies in place to keep out those seeking safety from persecution, war, and conflict. Most displaced people spend years – and even decades – in legal limbo.

HIAS’ legal protection programs are dedicated to ensuring that displaced people know their rights, have access to protective services, and can navigate the often-complicated legal systems that lead to permanent status and security. With a focus on refugee community empowerment, HIAS works in the United States and around the world to protect the fundamental human rights of displaced people as established in international law. We are particularly focused on ensuring that the most vulnerable — including children, survivors of torture or sexual and domestic violence, and refugees with disabilities — can secure intensive legal aid.

Learn More About Our Legal Services

81,500+

people worldwide reached through HIAS legal services in 2024.

Strategies

Our legal support work is driven by our commitment to the fundamental rights and core needs of refugees and other forcibly displaced people as they navigate complex legal systems and work to rebuild their lives in a new country.

We achieve this through the following legal interventions:

  • Support displaced people to understand their legal options, make informed decisions, and be able to advocate for themselves.

  • Help clients apply for asylum and other forms of humanitarian and immigration relief to achieve their goals of finding safety, security, and stability.

  • Push systems to be fair, transparent, and to respect human rights through advocacy and strategic litigation in partnership with NGOs, community organizations, and law firms.

Join our network of pro bono lawyers

HIAS’ Bono & Partnerships team engages volunteer attorneys from across the United States to help refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced people access vital immigration legal services.

Learn more and join

Impact

HIAS Legal Protection Team Notches Important Victories

In an era of deep uncertainty and instability for refugee populations around the world, HIAS has recently notched important victories via our legal protection work in the United States, Israel, and Greece.

Read More

Together, we can help create a world in which refugees find welcome, safety, and opportunity.

Your gift will help us provide vital services to refugees and asylum seekers and advocate for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.

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