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.
04/16/2018
Since 1986, the Continuing Education of the Bar, in its “Crim Law Bible,” California Criminal Law Procedure and Practice , has included a chapter about representing the noncitizen criminal defendant. This chapter and the advice therein is often cited as establishing the prevailing professional norms at the date of any given conviction. Thanks to the diligent work of University of California...
04/16/2018
Since 1986, the Continuing Education of the Bar, in its “Crim Law Bible,” California Criminal Law Procedure and Practice , has included a chapter about representing the noncitizen criminal defendant. This chapter and the advice therein is often cited as establishing the prevailing professional norms at the date of any given conviction. Thanks to the diligent work of University of California...
04/10/2018
This advisory provides an introduction to the Affidavit of Support including various ways to meet the financial requirements, different types of sponsors who may submit Affidavits of Support, who is considered a “household member” for purposes of the Affidavit of Support, and exemptions to the Affidavit of Support.
03/29/2018
In October 2017, the Department of Defense issued new policies that impact lawful permanent residents and other non-U.S. citizens in the military. This practice advisory discusses how these policies affect those who seek to enlist, and those who currently serve in the military, including in the Reserve Components. This practice advisory was jointly authored by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center...
03/29/2018
Meaningfully Addressing Gang Violence: This resource analyzes congressional proposals on gangs, discusses how gang affiliation impacts immigration enforcement, and discusses solutions and examples. Understanding Allegations of Gang Membership/Affiliation in Immigration Cases: The purpose of this advisory is to help immigration advocates better understand how law enforcement in the United States...
03/29/2018
Meaningfully Addressing Gang Violence: This resource analyzes congressional proposals on gangs, discusses how gang affiliation impacts immigration enforcement, and discusses solutions and examples. Understanding Allegations of Gang Membership/Affiliation in Immigration Cases: The purpose of this advisory is to help immigration advocates better understand how law enforcement in the United States...
03/07/2018
This guide provides California employers with guidance in the event of ICE workplace enforcement including a brief introduction to immigration enforcement, a review of rights and best practices if ICE comes to the workplace for both employers and employees, and a list of additional resources.
03/05/2018
Immigration law has its own definition of what constitutes a criminal "conviction." Because most, although not all, immigration consequences require a conviction, if your client does not have a conviction the immigration case might be saved. This Advisory discusses which dispositions that come out of criminal court actually constitute a conviction for immigration purposes, and how to avoid a...
03/05/2018
Immigration law has its own definition of what constitutes a criminal "conviction." Because most, although not all, immigration consequences require a conviction, if your client does not have a conviction the immigration case might be saved. This Advisory discusses which dispositions that come out of criminal court actually constitute a conviction for immigration purposes, and how to avoid a...
03/05/2018
Immigration law has its own definition of what constitutes a criminal "conviction." Because most, although not all, immigration consequences require a conviction, if your client does not have a conviction the immigration case might be saved. This Advisory discusses which dispositions that come out of criminal court actually constitute a conviction for immigration purposes, and how to avoid a...
03/02/2018
Recent government announcements and court cases on DACA have created confusion around who can apply, when they can apply, and how they can apply for DACA. To mitigate this confusion, here is an informational FAQ for your reference. Please note that DACA cases are still pending in the courts, and information is changing. As of March 2018, the DACA program is still partially available and will...
03/02/2018
In a time of increased immigration enforcement, advocates must consider all possible forms of relief for clients facing deportation. U nonimmigrant status (also frequently referred to as a “U visa”) is commonly pursued as an affirmative immigration benefit for undocumented individuals, but it may also be a particularly important form of removal defense for certain lawful permanent residents (LPRs...
03/02/2018
In a time of increased immigration enforcement, advocates must consider all possible forms of relief for clients facing deportation. U nonimmigrant status (also frequently referred to as a “U visa”) is commonly pursued as an affirmative immigration benefit for undocumented individuals, but it may also be a particularly important form of removal defense for certain lawful permanent residents (LPRs...
02/14/2018
Vote No on Heller 1954 Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act: Policy statement in opposition to the Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act, which if passed would lead to unchecked racial profiling and other unconstitutional police practices. Vote No on Secure & Succeed Act: Policy statement in opposition to the Secure and Succeed Act, which fails to offer a real solution for DACA recipients...
02/14/2018
These three charts 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,...
02/13/2018
This infographic shows options for how a TPS holder may be able to get a green card through a U.S. citizen family member.
02/12/2018
Schools across the country are working to protect their students and students’ families from immigration enforcement activities on campus. However, the school to prison to deportation pipeline is often overlooked in efforts to keep students safe. This resource explains how an incident at school can result in a youth facing deportation, and encourages schools to review their disciplinary polices...
02/12/2018
Schools across the country are working to protect their students and students’ families from immigration enforcement activities on campus. However, the school to prison to deportation pipeline is often overlooked in efforts to keep students safe. This resource explains how an incident at school can result in a youth facing deportation, and encourages schools to review their disciplinary polices...
02/08/2018
This advisory discusses the provisions of SB 54 (De Leon) and the California Values Act, relevant to criminal defense counsel who represent noncitizen clients. In addition to discussing specific provisions of the California Values Act, this advisory discusses how to incorporate this new law into your defense practice.
02/08/2018
This advisory discusses the provisions of SB 54 (De Leon) and the California Values Act, relevant to criminal defense counsel who represent noncitizen clients. In addition to discussing specific provisions of the California Values Act, this advisory discusses how to incorporate this new law into your defense practice.
02/07/2018
This resource provides analysis on why congressional proposals to expand penalties for reentry prosecutions should be rejected.
02/07/2018
This resource discusses how current immigration laws criminalize individuals, and provides analysis of current congressional proposals.
02/07/2018
This resource analyzes congressional proposals on gangs, discusses how gang affiliation impacts immigration enforcement, and discusses solutions and examples.
02/06/2018
On November 20, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it terminated the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Haiti. This TPS designation was supposed to expire on January 22, 2018. DHS has given TPS holders from Haiti an additional 18 months of TPS status (until July 22, 2019) and it is unlikely that TPS for Haiti will be extended past that date. On January 18...
02/01/2018
In the past four years, California voters and the California Legislature have created many new mechanisms for people to reclassify, vacate, and resentence offenses to eliminate the ongoing impact of criminal convictions. This advisory discusses how these new laws can benefit immigrants and can erase or mitigate certain criminal grounds of removability.