One of the most common ways for people to get a green card is through a family member. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can help certain family members immigrate to the United States. This is a two-step process. First, the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files a family visa petition. Second, the foreign national relative files an application to become a permanent resident. Each step involves different legal and factual issues.

As a national expert on these issues, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) provides ongoing trainings on the family-based immigration process, answers case-specific questions from practitioners, authors a comprehensive manual, Families & Immigration: A Practical Guide, and advocates locally and federally in support of immigrant families.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a policy that allows certain individuals who meet program requirements to get request a grant of deferred action.  Individuals who are granted DACA are able to renew their grant and are eligible for work authorization. 

Our DACA page is a hub of resources and information for attorneys, legal advocates, and community members.  Resources on this page include program updates and information on how the changes in policy impact DACA recipients.  Additionally, there is information for those helping DACA recipients with their immigration case. 

The crossover between immigration and criminal law is one of the most complex and technical areas of law. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is recognized as a national leader in criminal immigration law and immigration consequences of crimes. We provide critical support to immigration attorneys and criminal defenders through analysis, policy work, trainings, technical assistance, and developing and disseminating best practices. 

On March 12, 2020 households began receiving invitations to complete the 2020 Census. Because of the pandemic, the U.S. Census Bureau have changed the deadline to complete the Census. Households now have until September 30, 2020 to complete their responses either online, by paper, or by telephone. 

Although the U.S. Supreme Court prevented the Trump administration from including a question asking whether a person is a U.S. citizen in the 2020 Census, immigrants continue to express fear and confusion about filling out the Census. This fear and confusion continued when the Trump administration announced in July 2020 that it intends to exclude undocumented immigrants from the Census overall count that determines how many Congressional representatives each state receives.

Despite these attacks, immigrants should complete the Census. Completing the Census 2020 is a very easy, and safe, way to voice your idea, even if the administration doesn’t want you to.

These resources help demystify myths surrounding the 2020 Census and why it matters that immigrants get counted.

To learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 Census and how to get involved in advocacy efforts, visit our Coronavirus and Immigration: ILRC’s Resources and Responses page.

Many people come to the United States seeking protection because they have suffered persecution or fear that they will be harmed if they return to their home country. Asylum is a form of protection our government may grant to someone fleeing their country because they fear they will be harmed based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. This area of immigration law is very complicated but is essential to those fleeing their countries in search of safety.

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) builds the capacity of immigration advocates to assist immigrants in their claims for asylum in order to provide more immigrants with a meaningful chance at justice. As experts in the field, the ILRC publishes The Essentials of Asylum Law, a manual which provides a thorough review of asylum law with practice tips. In addition, the ILRC hosts several webinars on asylum law and emerging issues. We also support practitioners in their specific cases through our Attorney of the Day (AOD) technical assistance service.

Many people come to the United States seeking protection because they have suffered persecution or fear that they will be harmed if they return to their home country. Asylum is a form of protection our government may grant to someone fleeing their country because they fear they will be harmed based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. This area of immigration law is very complicated but is essential to those fleeing their countries in search of safety.

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) builds the capacity of immigration advocates to assist immigrants in their claims for asylum in order to provide more immigrants with a meaningful chance at justice. As experts in the field, the ILRC publishes The Essentials of Asylum Law, a manual which provides a thorough review of asylum law with practice tips. In addition, the ILRC hosts several webinars on asylum law and emerging issues. We also support practitioners in their specific cases through our Attorney of the Day (AOD) technical assistance service.