Asylum seekers and other immigrants fleeing violence can find themselves vulnerable to predatory individuals, according to a north Texas human rights group.

The Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, set up in 1999 and based in Dallas, provides legal and other support services for immigrants.

It is involved in protecting those immigrants preyed on by U.S. citizens and permanent residents, according to Bill Holston, the organization's executive.  

"People in the situation can be prey to predators who want to manipulate and control," Holston told the Lone Star Standard. "These are people who are undocumented, vulnerable. We have heard these stories for many years."

These are people who may be victims of domestic violence or trafficking. 

Holston said his organization deals mostly with women referred to them by local shelters. Some clients are men, and although many of their clients are from Central and South America, they do come from across the world, including Africa and Asia.

HRI was founded in 1999 by attorney Elizabeth "Betsy" Healy and social worker Serena Simmons Connelly. HRI assists clients through two main programs – the women and children's program and the asylum program.

Although much of its work centers on legal work, the organization plans to put more assets into advocacy, Holston said. 

"We want to slowly build out social services and more advocacy work," Holston said, adding that the ethos of the organization is still driven by the values of its founders.

"It is a desire to give back, a sense of ethics and being humanitarian," Holston said. 

As a charitable organization, it does not get involved in any partisan politics but does take positions on specific policies, including unaccompanied minors and the tough stances on immigration taken by both federal and state governments. 

"I do not look on this as a right or left issue," Holston said. "This is to protect human rights."