Resources
Publication Date
11/09/2020
President Trump has imposed travel restrictions blocking the entry of certain immigrants who are outside the United States and trying to enter. These restrictions last through December 31, 2020. The travel restrictions apply based on type of visa and/or the country where the traveler resides or has spent time in immediately prior to their attempted entry to the United States. The restrictions do not apply to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (green card holders). This brief guide outlines which visas and countries are covered by the restrictions.
Resources
Publication Date
05/08/2024
Every applicant for naturalization should complete a Red Flags Checklist before applying for naturalization to help gauge their eligibility and determine if a more thorough screening is necessary.
Resources
Publication Date
12/15/2020
On December 4, 2020 a federal judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security to fully restore the original DACA Program. Allowing for the continuation of renewals, and opening the program to first time applicants. This resource is a summary on what this means for the community, how it impacts those looking to apply, and what next steps someone can take.
Resources
Publication Date
12/21/2020
TPS recipients from six countries face potential termination of that protection from the Trump Administration, potentially impacting approximately 300,000 people. This resource provides an update on the current status of TPS for these countries and what rights and options beneficiaries have. It also outlines what they might expect as a result of legal challenges to the termination and under a new administration.
Resources
Publication Date
12/23/2020
As new applicants begin to set their sights on initial DACA requests, there are several questions worth asking and steps worth taking to prepare productively. This guide is designed to walk community members through eligibility and process for submitting an initial application for deferred action and employment authorization. For information on submitting a renewal DACA application, please visit our full application deep dive video here.
Resources
Publication Date
12/02/2024
Despite new state laws legalizing cannabis for recreational use, archaic U.S. drug laws still classify marijuana as federally illegal. Because immigration is governed by federal law, this means that noncitizens may face serious problems down the line if they are not aware of how their experiences with cannabis could impact their immigration journey. This video and accompanying infographic detail the specific risks associated with the use or possession of cannabis and/or industry employment.
Resources
Publication Date
02/25/2022
California immigrants who file taxes may now receive cash from the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC). During COVID-19, immigrant families need support, and filing taxes may mean cash benefits for qualifying families. This community resource is designed to help answer the most common questions immigrant communities may have on the CalEITC. For more information on the CalEITC, visit CalEITC4Me.org.
Resources
Publication Date
03/12/2021
With USCIS now accepting requests for DACA from individuals who have never had DACA, it's VITAL that we understand how to put our best foot forward when compiling evidence documents and application forms. In this video Staff Attorney Veronica Garcia and Legal Outreach Coordinator Abraham Bedoy walk through everything you need to know to prepare to submit your initial application packet!
Resources
Publication Date
09/09/2021
This
Resources
Publication Date
03/24/2021
The ILRC’s DACA Team has put together a page-by-page form guide for anyone looking to apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) as an initial request. This annotated community resource provides insights into many of the questions asked of recipients when completing the forms needed to make up a complete application packet (forms I-821D, I-765, and I-765WS). As stated in the document, it is important that any individual completing their forms ensures that they are using the most up-to-date forms USCIS offers – otherwise they will reject your submission.
Resources
Publication Date
05/05/2021
Persons are barred from receiving or renewing DACA if they have been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, three or more misdemeanors, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety. DACA applicants who have been arrested or convicted of a crime may still be eligible, but they should first obtain their criminal records and take them to an expert immigration practitioner to obtain legal advice about their eligibility and potential risks of applying. This resource provides persons applying for DACA with instructions about what criminal records they need for their application and how they can find them.
Resources
Publication Date
05/05/2021
As you explore potential immigration options for you or your family, finding trusted support from a reputable immigration attorney or other legal service provider can be difficult. Just as payday lenders often prey on under-resourced communities, or predatory scammers pose as immigration officials to demand gift cards, certain businesses can mislead the public by offering immigration legal services despite being unqualified and illegal to do so. This guide is designed to help you identify some key red flags that may indicate a business is not acting in your best interest or is otherwise not providing reliable legal advice or services.
Resources
Publication Date
05/05/2021
Los recientes anuncios sobre las propuesta sobre la reforma migratoria en el Congreso han dejado a muchos miembros de la comunidad con preguntas, y aunque ninguno de estos proyectos de ley son ley, muchos se preguntan cómo pueden prepararse para un caso de inmigración en el futuro. Este recurso proporciona tres pasos que los miembros de la comunidad pueden tomar ahora para comprender sus opciones legales y lo que pueden esperar al buscar apoyo legal.
Resources
Publication Date
05/11/2021
Applicants must meet certain requirements to be eligible for DACA, including showing that they have been continuously residing in the United States since June 15, 2007. Acquiring documents to use as evidence to prove the continuous residence requirement can be tedious. As such, this resource focuses on the types of evidence initial DACA applicants can gather to prove continuous residence and where applicants can get this evidence.
Resources
Publication Date
05/24/2021
This handout provides a list of some of the most common public benefits programs that do not count for public charge. Whether or not public charge applies to you and no matter your immigration status, the programs on this list are safe to use.
Resources
Publication Date
06/21/2021
Various pieces of legislation have been introduced in the US Congress in 2021 designed to provide immigration relief to certain members of the undocumented community. In this resource, we provide a comparison of key provisions of some of these bills. The ILRC applauds the leadership and organizing of immigrant communities who have bravely fought for years to ensure these proposals for relief are considered by Congress and that all members of our communities can live with dignity. These bills are important steps forward in addressing the inequities in our immigration system, however the ILRC believes that legislative proposals should be fully inclusive so that individuals who have had contact with the criminal legal system are not disqualified for relief.
Resources
Publication Date
07/13/2021
TPS is an important form of protection that has been the subject of many changes and updates over the last few years. A recent Supreme Court decision limiting where and how certain TPS holders can apply for permanent residence through a family member has created confusion in the community. This resource provides a quick overview of the rights and options of TPS recipients and outlines the paths to permanent residence that remain available to many TPS holders.
Resources
Publication Date
07/15/2021
While the immigration field has long explored how to provide legal services to underserved communities, determining how to deliver high quality services remotely became a universal concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, as organizations gradually return to in-person services, some are exploring how to integrate remote practices into this changed landscape. In this practice advisory, we review the ongoing impact of the pandemic on immigrant communities, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and immigration legal service agencies. We also provide lessons learned from agencies across the country that are continuing to think expansively about how to incorporate remote services to meet clients’ needs.
Resources
Publication Date
10/22/2021
Resources
Publication Date
10/05/2021
AB 32 (People Not Profit) signed in 2019 and effective January 2020, outlaws criminal and civil private incarceration in California, with some exceptions. Some brief months after AB 32 was signed, private prison company GEO Group Inc. and the Trump administration sued California aiming to strike down this momentous law. Federal District Court Judge Sammartino largely upheld AB 32, afterwhich GEO and the Biden administration appealed to the Ninth Circuit.
Resources
Publication Date
12/09/2021
Black people and other communities of color, including immigrants, have faced decades of overpolicing, criminalization, and incarceration in Texas, often for alleged conduct that does not mandate an arrest or even carry jail time in the state. One way to effectively reduce arrests is to pass a local cite and release policy. This advocacy toolkit gives local organizers and advocates in Texas the tools they need to lead a successful cite and release campaign. We have included many helpful resources, samples, and insights for every step in a cite & release campaign – from initial education, research, and data collection through policy implementation.
Resources
Publication Date
02/25/2022
This toolkit is designed to assist education and outreach workers presenting public charge information to immigrant community members. Some of the materials in the toolkit have a California focus or include California-specific details, but all materials remain useful for a national audience. Our goal is to spread accurate information about what public charge is and who is impacted by it, to help reverse the chilling effect from the Trump public charge rule which is no longer in effect.
Resources
Publication Date
03/09/2022
A U visa is a type of immigration status for victims of certain crimes who have been helpful in the investigation or prosecution of that criminal activity. This one-page guide provides an overview on the U visa, what it provides, and who qualifies.
Resources
Publication Date
03/10/2022
This downloadable social media explainer provides insights about the REAL ID, what compliance means, and the eligibility requirements. Feel free to upload to your social media feeds to share with your community.Download here.
Resources
Publication Date
03/16/2022
Two immigration statuses that may overlap are Asylum and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) because they both help people who are afraid of returning to their home country. While these two are different in a few ways, it is useful to know what each option offers and that applying for both is allowed, so long as an applicant is eligible. This brief guide delves into the ways these two options might intersect and what to keep in mind as individuals consider each type of status.
Resources
Publication Date
03/16/2022
On March 7, 2022, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new policy that applies to young people who have been granted Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) but are not yet able to become a green card holder because they are waiting for a visa to be available (“the visa backlog”). The new policy, which goes into effect May 6, 2022, provides for young people stuck in the visa backlog to be granted deferred action, which will allow them to apply for work authorization. This guide addresses some questions the community may have about this recent change.
Resources
Publication Date
04/14/2022
Currently, individuals who have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) can request and travel with Advance Parole. DACA recipients can request Advance Parole for humanitarian, employment, and education reasons. To qualify, DACA recipients will need to demonstrate that their need to travel falls within one of these categories. This community resource provides an overview of travel with Advance Parole and gives some examples of what may qualify.
Resources
Publication Date
02/21/2024
In California, there are several state and local programs that help California families, including immigrants, meet their basic needs. These programs often play an important role by extending benefits to immigrants who are not eligible for federal benefit programs. This resource gives an overview of some of the public benefits that are available to immigrants in California to access education, healthcare, food assistance, and other important necessities.
Resources
Publication Date
08/31/2022
On August 30, 2022, the Biden Administration issued a new rule on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that will incorporate DACA into the Federal Regulations. Since its announcement, several questions have been raised around who can access DACA now and what it means for all those first-time applicants who are waiting to obtain DACA. This community resource outlines key points for you to keep in mind as you navigate access to DACA now and when the rule goes into effect on October 31, 2022.
Resources
Publication Date
02/22/2024
Many undocumented immigrants are now eligible for Medi-Cal. Starting January 1, 2024, full-scope Medi-Cal is available to all income-eligible Californians, regardless of immigration status or age.
This bilingual, two-sided flyer is meant to provide a quick overview of eligibility and key notes regarding the healthcare benefit. Included are also links for identifying registration directories as well as a national directory for free or low-cost immigration legal services.
This bilingual, two-sided flyer is meant to provide a quick overview of eligibility and key notes regarding the healthcare benefit. Included are also links for identifying registration directories as well as a national directory for free or low-cost immigration legal services.