The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) immigration attorneys’ expertise focuses on family-based immigration, humanitarian relief, naturalization and citizenship, immigration enforcement, and removal defense.
Since 1979 we have helped expand the immigration expertise of attorneys, nonprofit staff, criminal defenders, and others assisting immigrant clients.
In addition to authoring the ILRC’s practice manuals, our expert attorneys have been published by Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), ILW.com, Huffington Post, Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, Center for Law and Social Policy, The Hill, LexisNexis Emerging Issues, and Fox News Latino.
We have also provided training to National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), American Bar Association Commission on Immigration, Federal Bar Association, The State Bar of California, Legal Aid Association of California, Judicial Council of California and more.
These three charts, updated in 2024, outline the different requirements for acquiring and deriving citizenship. Because the law governing acquisition and derivation has changed many times and is generally not retroactive, these charts detail what the eligibility requirements are depending on the time period in question. Each chart has extensive footnotes that provide explanations about the legal requirements, possible arguments where there is any ambiguity, and cites to further resources.
On September 6, 2011, USCIS issued a policy memorandum on adjudications of VAWA self-petitions for applicants who are over 21 but under 25 years of age.
This model code was written as a collaboration between our staff and accredited representatives around the country. It was inspired, in part, by the complaint heard occasionally (mostly from attorneys) that, while attorneys have a code of ethics to which they are bound, accredited representatives have no such code.
A description of critical resources available for California criminal defenders defending noncitizens:
Updated October 2012! A guide to assist public defenders and other to determine the immigration consequences of selected Arizona offenses.
Practice advisory by Katherine Brady on the Supreme Court case Nijhawan v. Holder, which deals with the categorical approach and aggravated felonies.
This guide is a compilation of resources for immigrant youth living in the United States. It includes general descriptions of immigration relief as well as general advice on applying for benefits, driver’s licenses, financial aid for colleges, bank accounts and credit cards, filing taxes, registering for the national service and military service, and more.
ILRC’s Anti-Fraud comic books are being made available to non-profit agencies and organizations throughout the United States. These agencies are gathering places for families and communities and are therefore well-placed to make these comic books available to the people who will most benefit from them.
Supplementary materials to the Representing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Immigrants: Navigating the Challenges Faced by LGBT Clients Seeking Lawful Immigration Status webinar series.
This Policy Memorandum articulates USCIS policy regarding assigning appropriate gender designations on documents issued to transgender individuals and the adjudication of benefits applications involving the marriage of transgender individuals.
The Department of State answers frequently asked questions regarding non-immigrant and immigrant visa benefits for same-sex spouses.
USCIS issued these frequently asked questions that address the eligibility and application process for same-sex spouses applying for immigration benefits.
This practice advisory summarizes the immigration benefits for same-sex spouses after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor declared section 3 of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) unconstitutional. It covers family-based petitions (including VAWA) and nonimmigrant visas for same-sex spouses and children.
This resource describes all of the documents that will help in proving the requirements and where to obtain them. Special thanks to our Spring 2013 law students, Andrew Briggs and Maria Dominguez, for their efforts in helping create this resource.
Deferred Action is a form of prosecutorial discretion that provides a work permit and relief from removal for two years to certain eligible undocumented youth. This fact sheet outlines the benefits of DACA, who is eligible and the requirements.
This form screens for DACA eligibility and other immigration relief. It can be used by non-immigration attorney volunteers because it highlights the areas that need to be referred to an experienced immigration attorney or BIA-accredited representative.
This is a sample cover letter that can be used when submitting a DACA application. This is a sample cover letter that can be used when submitting a DACA application.
This is a checklist to help you gather all necessary documentation to apply for DACA.
This guide provides step-by-step guidance on how to check if you have a criminal record from the FBI and state government agencies.
This new resource provides step by step instructions on how to notify USCIS that your address has changed. This is important so that receipt notices, reminders, and other documents are sent to the correct address. (English and Spanish)
This guide outlines steps DACA renewal applicants can take if their renewal is delayed.