Areas of Expertise

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.

2016 Annual Report
The ILRC’s work is about far more than politics and immigration law. It is about keeping families and communities of all backgrounds where they rightfully belong–together. This compels the ILRC’s staff to remain focused on protecting the progress made in our field to date and to continue to call for greater protections for immigrants in our country. Read more on ILRC’s 2016 Annual Report.

Red Cards / Tarjetas Rojas
All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. The ILRC’s Red Cards help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home.

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Todas las personas en los Estados Unidos - sin importar su estatus migratorio - tienen derechos y protecciones bajo la constitución del país. Nuestras Tarjetas Rojas ayudan a los inmigrantes ejercer esos derechos y protegerse en muchas situaciones, como cuando agentes de inmigración visitan nuestras viviendas.

Crimes and DACA Renewals
DACA
Immigrant Youth
Post-Conviction Relief
The Trump Administration has announced the “phase-out” of DACA, and tens of thousands of DACA recipients must decide whether to apply for a last renewal.  Other DACA recipients are wondering what may happen to them if they can’t or don’t renew.  This is an especially worrisome situation for DACA recipients who have a criminal record. Acknowledging that we don’t yet have clear answers, this advisory will provide information to help advocates address the following questions with their clients: Is it “safe” for someone with a criminal history to renew their DACA application? What kinds of legal self-defense steps can people take, whether or not they apply to renew? What are the “dangerous crimes” that are bars to DACA and/or listed in the Notice to Appear Memorandum (NTA Memo)?

¿Quien Puede Solicitar su Residencia a Través del Proceso de “Ajuste de Estatus”?
Community Resources
Family-Based
Sobre la base de una reciente decisión del Noveno Circuito o viajando por Advance Parole, una persona que entró inicialmente sin inspección en los EEUU puede ajustar de estatus y solicitar la residencia permanente. Este aviso en español contiene información para personas con el estatus de protección temporal y para personas que viajaron con Advance Parole sobre cómo pueden ser elegibles para este proceso.

Representing Clients in Bond Hearings: An Introductory Guide
Crimes
Removal Defense
This introductory guide to representing clients in bond hearings is divided into two sections. The first covers basic bond topics that advocates are likely to encounter when representing any client in a bond hearing. Section two includes a review of more advanced bond topics, including how to challenge mandatory and prolonged detention.

Governor Brown Protects Residents with California Values Act, Preventing Needless Deportations and Conserving Vital Public Safety Resources

For Immediate Release: October 5, 2017
Contact: Jareyah Bradley, jareyah@balestramedia.com, 908.242.4822

Governor Brown Protects Residents with California Values Act, Preventing Needless Deportations and Conserving Vital Public Safety Resources
Bill Reduces Police Involvement in Deportations While Increasing Due Process Protections for Immigrants

Governor Brown Protects California Immigrants, Preventing Needless Deportations and Advancing Smart Drug Policy Reform

For Immediate Release: October 15, 2017
Contact: Christina DiPasquale, christina@balestramedia.com, 202.716.1953

Governor Brown Protects California Immigrants, Preventing Needless Deportations and Advancing Smart Drug Policy Reform

New Law Mitigates Federal Immigration Consequences of Misdemeanor Drug Offenses  

Legislation to Replace DACA in 115th Congress
DACA
This practice advisory provides a summary of five bills introduced by Congress as of October 11, 2017 that would provide relief to recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that was terminated by the Trump Administration. This advisory summarizes the eligibility requirements and consequences for each of the five bills: Dream Act; Bridge Act; RAC Act; American Hope Act; and the Succeed Act.

Immigration Resources for Teachers and Educators
Community Resources
As teachers are the individuals interacting with students and their families on a daily basis, the following resources may be useful to educators as they work with students, parents, and community members. This packet can help disseminate material learned in trainings to make sure useful resources are in the hands of those who are best able to share this information.

Practice Alert on Ramirez v. Brown, November 2017 Update: Adjustment Opportunities for People with TPS and People Whose TPS Will Expire
Family-Based
Temporary Protected Status
The recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, Ramirez v. Brown, provides an opportunity for certain people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to apply to adjust status. This advisory explains the implications of the Ramirez decision, with examples to illustrate. This advisory is particularly significant for people, such as TPS holders from Nicaragua, whose TPS will end.