Today we’d like to introduce you to William Holston.
Thanks for sharing your story with us William. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I went on to attend SMU Law School, graduating in 1981.
I have practiced law for over thirty years. After I found out I passed the bar I was sworn in by Judge Ed Kinkeade, then a state district judge. I immediately signed up for court appointed criminal defense cases.
I was fortunate to become a lawyer in that era. I tried my first jury trial in just a few months. Over the years, I tried jury and non-jury cases in state and district court. I had oral arguments in several Texas Courts of Appeal, and Federal including one in the Fifth Circuit. I was in a small firm, and I had lots of general business clients, and closed business deals worth millions of dollars. I tell you all this to provide some context, because nothing I’ve done has been as rewarding as my pro bono work representing people seeking refuge here in America because they fled their home countries because of their political opinion or religious belief.
I did not set out to be a human rights lawyer. This all began with a very simple first step. I met a Mennonite missionary, who was working with Central Americans here, and I agreed to help obtain guardianships for kids to enroll in school. Later, I took a training in asylum law. My first asylum case was a Guatemalan woman, whose husband was a labor leader, who was assassinated by a death squad as they took their kids to school. She fled when she started getting death threats. I helped her get asylum and after that I was hooked.
My policy was that once I finished an asylum case, I’d ask for another one. I’ve done that now for 32 years. I have provided pro bono legal representation for political and religious asylum applicants from twenty one different countries.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’d call it a long and winding road. It’s not easy to practice law, care about human rights, support your family. But I’ve been privileged to do all of that.
Of course this year has been a very difficult year. The administration is seeking to undermine the legal protections for immigrants including asylum seekers.
Human Rights Initiative of North Texas – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Our non-profit exists to provide free legal services to the most vulnerable immigrants. These include children escaping gang violence in Central America, pro-democracy activists and religious minorities and women escaping domestic violence. We do this in an innovative and creative way, through an extensive network of pro bono lawyers. We have over 300 volunteers from some of the best law firms in the United States. We have spent 18 years building these relationships.
We also have a very dedicated social service staff seeking to help out clients survive. We have marvelous relationships with many local non-profits including the Agape Clinic here.
We are most proud of our clients who exhibit the wonderful survival skills of very brave and resilient people. They are the very best additions to our country.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My Client, from Ethiopia was a 62 year old father of 4. He was a school teacher. He had been active in pro-democracy activities for over 30 years, from the time of Hallie Sallasie, when he was protesting feudalistic land practices. He was imprisoned by the Marxists for over 5 years, in a Prison, his only charge being a counter revolutionary. Over a half million died during this era of misrule.
Eventually he was released, but did not stop his activism. He was imprisoned several more times. He was beaten and tortured. I saw the scars on his body from the beatings. He lost his job. He was jailed, beaten and interrogated several times, with increasing severity. Finally after he obtained his release by bribes, and was forced to leave his wife and children behind to come to America. I represented him in Immigration Court.
At the trial I asked him,
“Sir, you had been repeatedly warned not to participate, and to stop your political
activities, why despite those warnings did you continue?” With tears in his eyes
he said, “For my children. There is a price for liberty. There is a cost for freedom and
that’s why I kept doing that.”
What a privilege to represent a man like that.
Every American should see this. It’s among the most inspiring things I know. The Judge granted asylum. This 62 year old man, thanked me, and hugged me.
Pricing:
- 100 % free services
Contact Info:
- Address: 2801 Swiss
Dallas, Tx. 75204 - Website: hrionline.org
- Phone: 214 855 0520
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: humanrightsinitiative
- Facebook: @HRIOnline
- Twitter: @hrionline
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
