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.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Completing the New Naturalization Application

01/11/2018

On February 4, 2014 the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) introduced a new N-400 (Rev. 9/13/13), Application for Naturalization form that was updated in April and December 2016. All naturalization applicants must use the new form only. To help attorneys, BIA accredited representatives, and others learn how to complete this new form, we have developed a step-by-step guide.

Warning for Immigrants About Medical and Legalized Marijuana

01/08/2018

A majority of states in the U.S. have legalized some medical use of marijuana, and ten states and the District of Columbia also have legalized recreational use. Based on this, immigrants may reasonably think that using marijuana in accord with state law will not hurt their immigration status. Unfortunately, that's wrong. Marijuana remains a federal controlled substance. In April 2019, USCIS...

A Step-by-Step Guide to Completing FOIA Requests with DHS

11/17/2017

A FOIA request can be an invaluable tool in immigration law to help an immigrant and her representative. This guide details how to complete a FOIA request for USCIS, ICE, OBIM, and CBP. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to complete Form G-639 and also also includes tips about alternatives to Form G-639, such as online submission options.

Immigration Consequences of Driving under the Influence

08/30/2017

This practice advisory goes through all of the ways that an arrest or conviction for California driving under the influence (DUI) can affect an immigrant, and reviews possible changes to the law. It also will discuss reckless driving as an alternative to DUI.

Practice Advisory: Absences and Continuous Residence

08/25/2017

Absences from the United States can affect an applicant’s eligibility for naturalization in numerous ways. In this practice advisory, we focus specifically on how absences of varying lengths of time affect the continuous residence requirement.

California Criminal Sentences and Eligibility for Relief

08/22/2017

Criminal sentence can have a big impact on immigration status and eligibility for relief. In this Advisory, we discuss how immigration law treats different sentencing dispositions in general, and then apply that to California sentencing law. We talk about how advocates can use California law, including the newly amended Penal Code § 18.5, to help their clients.

N-400: Annotated Form & Translations

06/27/2017

The last update to Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, was December 23, 2016. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) only accepts the current version of the form. The last major update to the N-400 was on February 4, 2014 , when USCIS announced changes that doubled the length of the form. The increase in length stemmed in part from additional questions related to determinations...

Naturalization Reduced Fee Option and Fee Waiver

04/26/2017

This practice advisory reviews options for naturalization applicants who cannot afford the filing fee for the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization: the reduced fee option (Form I-942) and the USCIS fee waiver (Form I-912). The practice advisory also provides resources and tips for completing either application.

Community Flyers on Marijuana

02/17/2017

These flyers inform community members of the fact that it is very dangerous for any noncitizen, including a permanent resident, to discuss marijuana use with any official. This is true even if the person used marijuana in their own home and it was legal under the law of their state (because of medical or legalized marijuana state laws). Get legal counsel and get informed!

Naturalization Fee Waiver Packet

11/15/2016

This packet is designed to help advocates prepare naturalization fee waiver applications. The packet includes information from USCIS and ILRC on how to complete and review a fee waiver application to accompany naturalization applications, the adjudication standards for fee waiver applications, and a sample completed fee waiver form.

Solicitudes de información bajo la Ley de Libertad de Información (FOIA)

07/13/2015

Este video provee una introducción a, conocido como “FOIA”, por sus siglas en ingles. También provee información y ejemplos sobre como determinar cuándo y a que agencia debe de enviar su solicitud de FOIA, y ejemplos sobre cuando una solicitud de FOIA no es la mejor opción para obtener información.

Freedom of Information Act Requests

06/02/2015

This videocast provides an introduction to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and offers tips for how to file FOIA requests in immigration cases. It also provides information and examples regarding how to determine when and with which agency to file a FOIA request as well as examples of when a FOIA response is not the best option for gathering information.

Innovation in Action: Micro Documentary by the New Americans Campaign

09/16/2013

In just four minutes, this micro documentary about the New Americans Campaign will show you the needs that are being met and the difference that has already been made by this critical campaign.

Off-Site Processing of Naturalization Examinations

12/06/2010

by ILRC Staff Attorneys, 1996 This manual focuses on how agencies can participate in the INS "Off-Site" processing program where INS conducts naturalization interviews at community agencies. The experience of organizations in off-site efforts show that this approach increases convenience and reduces anxiety for naturalization applicants enabling them to achieve greater success. The manual offers...

Profile of Organizing Efforts of Proyecto Campesino

12/06/2010

This report is an introductory narrative of how Proyecto Campesino and O.L.A. Raza conduct community organizing, rural leadership development, and civic participation campaigns using radio programs, naturalization assistance, citizenship classes, and civic action leagues comprised of immigrant membership. Farmworker organizations can duplicate and adapt some of the information and organizing...

Document Gathering for Citizenship: The Oakland Model

12/06/2010

Written by Doug DiSalvo East Bay Citizenship Network May 1999 This guide explains which documents are frequently required of naturalization applicants, in what circumstances they are required, and how to get them. It contains simple explanations of each type of document, and sample forms and letters applicants can use to get them. Obtaining documents that will probably be required, and taking...

Areas of Expertise

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