Results

Since the publication of the 3rd edition of this guide in 2016, the DACA program has undergone a number of policy and processing changes. While this publication is still available for purchase, please visit our DACA page for updated information.

On Thursday, June 23, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a split decision in the case of U.S. v. Texas, letting stand the preliminary injunction of the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA+) program and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program. Without these programs, it is more important than ever to assist immigrants in pursuing existing immigration remedies, including original DACA, as well as avoiding immigration enforcement.

Naturalization and U.S. Citizenship: The Essential Legal Guide. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center continues to write the most accessible comprehensive guide on the naturalization process and citizenship. This indispensable guide thoroughly addresses the entire process of representing a naturalization applicant from the initial client meeting through the oath of allegiance. You will find sample forms, Immigration Service memos, practice guides, and many other critical tools for both private attorneys and practitioners working with community-based organizations. This edition includes a detailed explanation of the nuances involved in determining whether a naturalization applicant has sufficient good moral character to qualify for naturalization, a clear and complete description of the myriad of ways in which an absence could affect one’s naturalization application, and an explanation of the recently released N-400 form and how to best complete it.

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), Catholic Charities of Atlanta, the Latin American Association, and the New Americans Campaign are offering a special one-day training on January 25, 2017. 

In light of the anti-immigrant forces taking over in Washington, a confident understanding of all areas of immigration law is now more important than ever, especially given what looms as the worst immigration climate since passage of the basic Immigration and Nationality Act in 1952.

 

This seminar is limited to criminal defense counsel, immigration defenders, and their staff. It is taught by two national experts in the intersection of crimes and immigration law, Katherine Brady and Norton Tooby. In the morning session, immigration attorneys will meet separately to discuss updates to case analysis and eligibility for relief, while criminal defenders will look at a case-analysis method for determining the immigration consequences of criminal cases and identifying specific safer pleas. In the afternoon, the two groups will join for discussion of immigration consequences of criminal offenses, and post-conviction relief for immigrants, including discussion of several new California laws such as PC §§ 18.5, 1203.43, and 1473.7. This interactive training incorporates discussion, exercises, and demonstrations. Public Defenders must register via paper order form (fax or mail forms to ILRC).

Join us for a full-day training to learn how to assist immigrant survivors of domestic violence and other crimes, including when to apply for a U visa vs. self-petitioning under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the requirements for both, the process for both, and practice tips for working with clients.

We will take a close look at issues that arise in a master calendar hearing. We will discuss how to contest removal and take pleadings, how to prepare for the master calendar hearing, and practical considerations so you aren’t caught off guard. This webinar is a great introduction to helping clients placed in removal proceedings and a good refresher on contesting removal for seasoned practitioners. This is a free webinar and we can accept up to 1,500 registered attendees.

We will see several new California laws that benefit noncitizens. This webinar will provide a review of key laws that affect immigrants and the criminal justice system. We will discuss Penal Code § 1473.3 (AB 813) which provides a new vehicle to vacate a California conviction, Amendment to Penal Code § 18.5 (SB 1242) which makes the 364-Day misdemeanor law retroactive, the TRUTH Act, Government Code 7283 (SB 2792) which protects the rights of immigrants in California jails, Amendments to Government Code § 70615 and Penal Code § 186.34 and adding Penal Code § 186.35 (AB 2298), which provides notice requirements and the ability to challenge being placed on a gang database, and the immigration benefits of Proposition 64. This webinar will be presented by the ILRC staff attorneys who worked on drafting many of these bills and supported their passage.

The majority of states in the U.S. legalize use of marijuana for some purpose. Twenty-nine states permit medical use of marijuana, and seven states – most recently, California, Massachusetts, and Nevada – have passed laws permitting recreational use. The District of Columbia permits both uses. However, use of marijuana remains a federal offense, although one that is rarely or never enforced. This can create serious problems for noncitizens who, in good faith and following state law, use marijuana and hashish for any reason. This interactive, national webinar will cover how state-legalized marijuana is helpful to immigrants, how it is potentially harmful, and strategies for how to advise and defend noncitizens in order to prevent legal damage.

This webinar will cover the different types of background checks available for you and your client, including FOIA, FBI, state, and court-specific records requests. We will explain the types of records obtainable from each request and offer tips on how and where to file records requests. Using examples, we will walk through when each type of records request may or may not be appropriate for your client’s situation.

In this webinar, we will discuss how to get your client released on bond as well as other considerations when your client is detained. Specifically, we will cover how to determine if your client is bond eligible, when and how to challenge this determination, and how to best present your bond case before the immigration judge. Finally, we will provide some tips regarding managing a case in the detained setting.

CLE certificates will only be issued if you attend the entire duration of the webinar (e.g. 90 minutes) and login to the video portion of the webinar via the Internet. Simply dialing in to the webinar via telephone line and listening without logging in to the video portion (via Internet) does not qualify. We cannot issue a CLE certificate unless you provide us with your state bar license number.

CLE certificates will only be issued if you attend the entire duration of the webinar (e.g. 90 minutes) and login to the video portion of the webinar via the Internet. Simply dialing in to the webinar via telephone line and listening without logging in to the video portion (via Internet) does not qualify. We cannot issue a CLE certificate unless you provide us with your state bar license number.

CLE certificates will only be issued if you attend the entire duration of the webinar (e.g. 90 minutes) and login to the video portion of the webinar via the Internet. Simply dialing in to the webinar via telephone line and listening without logging in to the video portion (via Internet) does not qualify. We cannot issue a CLE certificate unless you provide us with your state bar license number.

CLE certificates will only be issued if you attend the entire duration of the webinar (e.g. 90 minutes) and login to the video portion of the webinar via the Internet. Simply dialing in to the webinar via telephone line and listening without logging in to the video portion (via Internet) does not qualify. We cannot issue a CLE certificate unless you provide us with your state bar license number.

CLE certificates will only be issued if you attend the entire duration of the webinar (e.g. 90 minutes) and login to the video portion of the webinar via the Internet. Simply dialing in to the webinar via telephone line and listening without logging in to the video portion (via Internet) does not qualify. We cannot issue a CLE certificate unless you provide us with your state bar license number.

CLE certificates will only be issued if you attend the entire duration of the webinar (e.g. 90 minutes) and login to the video portion of the webinar via the Internet. Simply dialing in to the webinar via telephone line and listening without logging in to the video portion (via Internet) does not qualify. We cannot issue a CLE certificate unless you provide us with your state bar license number.

CLE certificates will only be issued if you attend the entire duration of the webinar (e.g. 90 minutes) and login to the video portion of the webinar via the Internet. Simply dialing in to the webinar via telephone line and listening without logging in to the video portion (via Internet) does not qualify. We cannot issue a CLE certificate unless you provide us with your state bar license number.

CLE certificates will only be issued if you attend the entire duration of the webinar (e.g. 90 minutes) and login to the video portion of the webinar via the Internet. Simply dialing in to the webinar via telephone line and listening without logging in to the video portion (via Internet) does not qualify. We cannot issue a CLE certificate unless you provide us with your state bar license number.

Crimes SeriesDangers and Benefits of Legalized and Medical Marijuana (2/8/17)Clean Slate for Immigrants: How Immigrants Can Erase or Mitigate their Criminal Records (6/7/17)Register for both webinars at a discounted fee: $245 Regular / $160 Nonprofit

Naturalization SeriesUnderstanding FOIA and Other Records Requests (2/15/17)Hot Topics in Naturalization and Good Moral Character (3/30/17)Register for both webinars at a discounted fee: $245 Regular / $160 Nonprofit

U Visa & VAWA SeriesVAWA Fundamentals and Emerging Issues (4/20/17)U Visa Fundamentals and Emerging Issues (5/11/17)Register for both webinars at a discounted fee: $245 Regular / $160 Nonprofit

This conference is for invited participants only.

Note: The Trump administration has heavily curtailed parole programs into the United States. For example, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) discontinued authorizing advance parole for DACA recipients; the administration terminated the Central America Minors (CAM) Refugee/Parole Program; and the administration is considering a termination of military parole-in-place. Thus, much of the content of this manual is useful for assessing prior grants of parole, but the content no longer reflects the current state of parole practice. Advocates continue to challenge the actions of the current administration and some of these decisions are subject to lawsuits.

In light of the continued failure of the U.S. Congress to pass meaningful immigration reform and the continued dysfunction of our immigration system, President Obama announced a series of immigration policy changes though executive action during his presidency. This manual discusses the law, policy, and practice regarding the parts of President Obama’s executive action that have been implemented as of the time of this writing. These new changes, even if short-lived, can help many. They can provide individuals with much-needed immigration relief, and also provide a blueprint for future immigration policy and legislation. Many programs mentioned in this manual, such as parole, DACA, and the enforcement priorities, are in flux, particularly after the 2016 election. We therefore invite you to visit the Immigrant Legal Resource Center’s website at www.ilrc.org for updates and to join our education listserv by subscribing at www.ilrc.org/subscribe to receive email messages about updates to this manual as well as in-person and webinar trainings opportunities related to immigration executive actions.

Protect your permanent resident clients from being removed under a deportation or inadmissibility ground using the expert analysis and framework for representation contained in this manual. Designed as a “how to” manual, we provide clear, concise and detailed explanations of the grounds of removal permanent residents are most likely to face; when the grounds of inadmissibility and deportation do and don’t apply; how to argue that they don’t apply, and the immigration remedies available for each. We also discuss our tips for working with clients to elicit the evidence necessary to successfully defend their cases.

This webinar is geared to those new to bond practice and organizations hoping to support families prepare for bond proceedings. In this webinar, we will provide an introductory review of immigration detention and custody determinations, which will focus on preparing advocates new to bond proceedings. We will discuss how to find your client, tips for preparation, and the nuts and bolts of bond hearings. This webinar will prepare the advocate to argue legal eligibility as well as how to gather evidence in support of your case.