Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services

What Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services does

Estrella del Paso, formerly Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services (DMRS), is a nonprofit immigration legal services organization founded in 1986 and operating as a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso. Headquartered at 2400 E. Yandell in El Paso, Texas, the organization provides free immigration legal services to migrants and refugees across West Texas and New Mexico, positioning itself as the largest provider of such services in the region. Its service portfolio includes Legal Representation, Non-Representation Services, Community Education, Initial Consultation and Qualification, and a specialized Unaccompanied Minors Program (UMP) that served over 6,300 children in 2023. The organization reports a denial rate near zero and has cumulatively delivered 550,259 services since inception, including 57,248 services to individuals from 60 countries in 2023 alone.

The underlying delivery model is human-attorney-led rather than technology-driven: services are delivered in person at the El Paso office and through community partner referrals across the Diocese network, with bilingual English/Spanish support. There is no proprietary technology stack, no consumer-facing application, and no API or productized software component; the "product" is expert legal representation and advocacy. Distribution is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth, church referrals, and partnerships with the Catholic Diocese and community organizations, supported by a light digital presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Revenue mechanics are entirely nonprofit in nature: 99% of services are provided free to clients, and the organization is funded primarily through donor contributions, with no disclosed venture, private equity, or public funding. There are no funding rounds, subsidiaries, or M&A activity. Governance runs through the Catholic Diocese of El Paso as parent, and the 2024 rebrand from DMRS to Estrella del Paso was a restructuring event rather than a change in ownership, mission, or service model.

Name

Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services

Legal name

Estrella del Paso

Website

https://dmrs-ep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Estrella del Paso (formerly Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services) is a nonprofit immigration legal services organization founded in 1986 and affiliated with the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, providing free legal representation, community education, and unaccompanied minor services to migrants and refugees across West Texas and New Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigration Legal Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigration Legal Services & Representation (Law Firms) (THACAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immigration Law (BPAHAAAL), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

Keywords

• Immigration legal services
• Refugee legal aid
• Unaccompanied minors program
• Asylum legal representation
• Nonprofit immigration advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

El Paso

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Contributions: As a nonprofit ministry of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, Estrella del Paso relies primarily on donor funding to sustain operations. The organization states 'Most important source of funding: Donors like YOU!' indicating charitable contributions as their main revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Estrella del Paso provides free immigration legal services to migrants and refugees in West Texas and New Mexico, operating as a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso since 1986. Service offerings include Legal Representation, Non-Representation Services, Community Education, Initial Consultation/Qualifications, and a specialized Unaccompanied Minors Program that served over 6,300 children in 2023 alone. 99% of services are provided free of charge to qualifying clients.

Product overview

Estrella del Paso (formerly Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services) is a non-profit immigration legal services organization operating as a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso. The organization offers a unified portfolio of free legal services including Legal Representation, Non-Representation Services, Community Education, Initial Consultation, and a specialized Unaccompanied Minors Program. Together, these services form a comprehensive legal aid ecosystem serving tens of thousands of migrants and refugees annually since 1986, with a denial rate approaching zero and operations spanning West Texas and New Mexico.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Representation Services Comprehensive immigration legal representation services provided free of charge to migrants and refugees in West Texas and New Mexico, with a denial rate near zero.
• Non-Representation Services Legal services for individuals who choose to represent themselves in immigration matters, providing guidance and resources without full representation.
• Community Education Educational programs and outreach initiatives to inform immigrant communities about immigration issues, rights, and available services.
• Initial Consultation & Qualifications for Free Services Assessment and qualification process to determine eligibility for free immigration legal services offered by the organization.
• Unaccompanied Minors Program (UMP) Specialized program providing comprehensive legal representation and support to immigrant children arriving at the border, serving over 6,300 children in 2023 alone.

Quantifiable outcome

• 550,259 total services provided since 1986
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Catholic Diocese of El PasocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstrella del Paso is a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, providing immigration legal services as part of the diocese's charitable mission. This is the founding and parent organization relationship, with Estrella del Paso operating as an extension of the diocese's outreach to migrants and refugees.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network): National Catholic-affiliated network supporting immigration legal services programs at local agencies. Comparable as a capacity-building and training peer for Catholic immigration legal aid providers like Estrella del Paso.
• HIAS: International Jewish nonprofit providing refugee resettlement and immigration legal services. Comparable as a faith-based refugee/migrant legal services organization with similar donor-funded mission.
• Catholic Charities USA: National umbrella for Catholic Charities agencies, many of which provide immigration legal services. Comparable via shared faith-based, donor-funded nonprofit immigration legal services model with diocesan ties.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): International humanitarian organization providing refugee resettlement and immigration legal services in the U.S. Comparable via shared mission of providing legal services and resettlement support to refugees and migrants.
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC): National nonprofit providing training, education, and technical assistance to immigrant-serving organizations. Comparable as a peer in the immigration legal aid ecosystem with overlapping mission and beneficiary advocacy.

Direct peers

• RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services): Texas-based nonprofit providing free and low-cost immigration legal services to migrants and refugees, including unaccompanied minors. Directly comparable as a large-scale, mission-driven immigration legal aid provider in Texas.
• Justice for Our Neighbors: Faith-based network providing free and low-cost immigration legal services to low-income immigrants. Comparable as a faith-affiliated, donor-funded immigration legal aid peer serving vulnerable populations.
• Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center: El Paso-based nonprofit providing free immigration legal services to low-income immigrants and refugees. Directly comparable as a same-city peer serving the same border-region population.
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): National nonprofit dedicated to the legal defense of unaccompanied immigrant children, directly comparable to Estrella del Paso's flagship Unaccompanied Minors Program in mission and beneficiary population.

Others

• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of El Paso: Sibling ministry under the same Catholic Diocese of El Paso umbrella as Estrella del Paso. Comparable as an affiliated social services provider serving the same low-income immigrant population in El Paso.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJjOChDLN3uUhfN_TbZ2-hA
• Facebookfacebook.com/DMRSInc
• Instagraminstagram.com/estrella_del_paso
• Xx.com/DMRS_ElPaso

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services