Our Mission  Political Asylum Project of Austin (PAPA) promotes justice for immigrants and refugees by providing free and low cost legal services and education.

While the majority of PAPA's clients are from Central America, our services are not limited to people from any one region or country. In 2006, PAPA provided legal services to over 2,500 people from around the world and edcuational services to another 2,000 people. PAPA’s clients came from such diverse regions as the following: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Columbia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, England, Ethiopia, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, South Korea, Liberia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam and Venezuela.

The Papa Story

The Political Asylum Project of Austin began in 1987 as a response to the legal needs of the large number of Central American refugees arriving at the Texas border in the 1980’s. Like the thousands of others PAPA has helped through the years, these refugees were fleeing violence and war in their home countries in search of a safe haven.

PAPA offers safety and hope for a new life to hundreds of men, women and children every year from approximately 75 countries around the world. Today, immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers continue to benefit from legal representation—and so much more. PAPA empowers immigrants to advocate for themselves and their families and keeps them informed about their rights and responsibilities. PAPA educates law enforcement, the legal community, and other advocates on how to use social and legal resources to uphold the law and make Central Texas a safe place to build a new life.

PAPA has grown from only two employees in 1987, to twelve employees in 2007, including three attorneys. The high quality legal work provided by the staff, the board, and the volunteers of PAPA was recognized by the Austin Chronicle’s Best of the Year Award. In 2002, PAPA was chosen the Best Legal Services in Austin by the Critics of this local, independent newspaper.