ProBAR layoffs to hit 191 employees in May 2025

The American Bar Association's South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR) has been a cornerstone in providing legal assistance to immigrants and asylum-seekers in the Rio Grande Valley for over 35 years.

Recently, reports have surfaced indicating that ProBAR will lay off 191 employees at its Harlingen, Texas, location on May 19, 2025, as indicated in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN).

ProBAR's mission focuses on delivering high-quality legal information, representation, and connections to services for vulnerable populations. The organization operates primarily from its Harlingen office, with a field office in Houston, Texas. The anticipated layoffs represent a significant reduction in ProBAR's workforce, potentially impacting its capacity to serve the immigrant community in South Texas.

As of now, the American Bar Association has not released an official statement regarding these layoffs. The legal community and advocacy groups are closely monitoring the situation, given ProBAR's longstanding role in supporting asylum-seekers and immigrants in the region.

In related news, other organizations have also announced layoffs. For instance, Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan & Ulster is set to lay off 33 employees across multiple locations, with layoffs beginning on May 23, 2025.

These developments underscore a broader trend of workforce reductions affecting various sectors around the USA.