The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) provides free legal help to some refugees and displaced people. 

• IRAP helps some people find services and prepare refugee and visa applications. 
• IRAP is not part of any government, IOM, or UNHCR. 
• IRAP cannot grant refugee status or visas or speed up cases. 
• IRAP cannot provide financial help, find or pay for housing, or find jobs.
• All of IRAP’s help is free. No one affiliated with IRAP has the right to ask you for money or any other service.

IRAP decides to help people based on their need and eligibility for immigration status. IRAP does not decide to help people based on any other social or political or religious criteria.

This website provides general information about legal processes available to some refugees. It is not meant as legal advice for individual applications. 

Requirements may change. Always check for current requirements from the government or agency deciding your request.

If you are in a refugee emergency,  we recommend that you contact the UNHCR office in the country where you live.

Since January 20, 2025, the U.S. government has made many policy changes that affect people at the U.S.-Mexico border. A lot of these changes are still very confusing, both for lawyers and for people trying to enter the U.S. at the border. Here is what we know so far:

CBP One Is No Longer Available

The CBP One Mobile App is not available to make appointments at the border anymore. The U.S. government cancelled all appointments. No new appointments are available. There is no other way to make appointments to go to the U.S. border now.

The MPP or “Remain in Mexico” Policy

The U.S. government has said the MPP or “Remain in Mexico” policy is coming back. MPP was a policy that made people wait in Mexico for their U.S. immigration court cases. Right now, we do not know who is or will be put in the program. We do not know how the details of the program will work this time, but we will update this page when we know more.

Other Actions Affecting the U.S.-Mexico Border

The U.S. government has said that the U.S.-Mexico border is closed. We do not know exactly what this means. It appears the U.S. government is saying they have the right to expel, or return, people at the border with no legal process. 

We do know that the U.S. government is working to deport people very quickly. Often that makes it very hard for people to exercise their rights, including their right to seek asylum. We do not know how people can apply for asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border right now. 

We will update this page as we know more

Again, things are very uncertain and changing quickly now. However, IRAP will be doing its best to share information as we learn it. 

We will update this page when we have more information.