FAQs & Explainers

This updated memo explores recent case law on immigration detainers and how the 2015 detainer forms are still constitutionally deficient.  Local jails who detain immigrants for ICE continue to risk liability for unlawful detentions.
This brief fact sheet explains the federal statute of 8 USC § 1373 and its relation to policies limiting compliance with immigration detainers or other immigration enforcement assistance by local law enforcement agencies, also called “Sanctuary Policies.”  These policies do not generally conflict with 8 USC § 1373 and therefore do not put localities in jeopardy of losing federal funds.
AB 1343 is a new law that safeguards due process for immigrants inthe criminal justice system by ensuring that immigrants are provided access to fair, honest, and competent legal advice.  Check out this infographic to learn more!
After a record number of unaccompanied children came to the United States in 2014, the U.S. is again responding to a new influx of children and families from Central America. This one-page resource sheet for individuals interacting with unaccompanied children in the U.S. can be used to help children get connected with legal, educational, medical, mental health, and faith-based services.
In recent years, California’s appellate courts have provided guidance on the state court’s role in Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) cases. The following decisions clarify many of the common questions that these cases present in state courts, including one-parent SIJS, notice and service issues, and the role of the state court.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status is a unique, hybrid form of immigration relief that requires the involvement of state courts before a child is eligible to apply for a special immigrant juvenile visa with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. This guide includes an overview of the process of requesting SIJS findings in different types of state courts in California, providing answers to common questions about this process as well as practice pointers for different types of proceedings in California.
The first handout, "AB 60 California Driver’s License: Frequently Asked Questions," is aimed at immigration attorneys and provides an overview of frequently asked questions regarding AB 60 licenses, including some common red flags. The second handout, "Preguntas Acerca de la AB 60," is aimed at community members and written in Spanish. It provides answers to common questions such as whether it is safe to apply for an AB 60 license depending on prior criminal or immigration history.