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.
01/10/2018
On January 9, 2018, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an important ruling on the termination of the DACA program. The court granted plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction, putting the rescission of the DACA program on hold until a final determination is made in the case. The court ordered USCIS to resume accepting DACA renewal applications. This resource...
01/09/2018
This toolkit provides advocates with the tools to effectively meet with local law enforcement regarding the California Values Act (SB 54) and enforcement policies generally. The toolkit includes the steps advocates should take prior to any law enforcement meeting, a sample agenda, sample questions, a FAQ section, and other tools.
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...
01/05/2018
On November 6, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced changes to the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program that impact TPS holders from Honduras and Nicaragua. On December 15, 2017, DHS published notices in the Federal Register explaining how TPS holders from these two countries can re-register and re-apply for work permits, or Employment Authorization Documents (EAD)...
01/04/2018
USCIS recently updated the Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status. Among other notable changes, the new form has increased in length from six pages to 18 pages, the form instructions are now 42 pages, and the section on eligibility and inadmissibility has been expanded to include entirely new questions about working without authorization, false claims to U.S. citizenship, and unlawful voting...
01/02/2018
As of January 1, 2018, California has changed its “Deferred Entry of Judgment” program to a true “pretrial diversion” program. See Penal Code § 1000, amended by AB 208. Qualifying defendants charged with minor drug offenses can participate in pretrial diversion without incurring a drug conviction for immigration purposes. This Advisory will discuss how pretrial diversion works, and how to assist...
01/02/2018
This practice advisory is designed to introduce practitioners to the concept of Conditional Permanent Residence, and to explain the requirements and processes for removing the conditions on residence, thereby enabling the conditional resident to obtain Lawful Permanent Residence that can last indefinitely.
12/20/2017
It is important to maintain valid immigration documents. Unfortunately, when unexpected natural disasters such as fires, floods, or earthquakes occur, documents may be destroyed or lost. This can leave you unprotected and vulnerable without a way to travel, verify authorization to work, prove U.S. citizenship, identify yourself, or check on pending applications. Below is information on the...
12/18/2017
This is a comprehensive (but not exhaustive) list of important laws passed in California in 2017 pertaining to immigrants, spanning the areas of education, housing, employment and worker's rights, healthcare, criminal justice/law enforcement, immigration detention, and gang databases.
12/11/2017
This resource for child welfare social workers provides updates on immigration policy affecting children and families, discusses how immigration enforcement impacts the child welfare system, describes protections that exist to help keep immigrant families intact, and provides resources for social workers to support and work more effectively with immigrant families.
12/05/2017
In this issue: Post-DACA Legislation Proposals; The ILRC Covers Ground in D.C.; Legislative Victories: A Cause for Cautious Celebration; The Wall: A Symbol of Inhumanity; The ILRC Helps Support Santa Clara County Immigrant Outreach Day; and much more!
12/05/2017
AB 699 is California’s new bill on education equity around immigration and citizenship status. Starting Jan. 1, 2018, AB 699 requires that all local educational agencies in California implement additional protections to ensure that all students, regardless of immigration status or country of birth, have the opportunity to pursue their education without undue fear or risk.
12/04/2017
The Know Your Rights Skit is a guide for presenting know your rights materials in the case of contact with ICE. The document includes a skit which is designed to educate participants while reducing fears.
11/29/2017
In light of increased scrutiny of Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) state court predicate orders by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, advocates are advised to include a brief summary of the factual basis supporting the eligibility findings for SIJS within the state court predicate order. This guide includes recommendations for what information to include in state court predicate...
11/28/2017
This webinar will highlight an innovative pro bono model that ensures every immigrant has their full due process rights protected and no person is deported on the basis of an unconstitutional conviction. Led by Rose Cahn from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and Josh Gresham from Latham & Watkins, this training will describe the Immigrant Post-Conviction Relief Project and how the nonprofit and firm partnership has brought essential relief to hundreds of immigrant clients who would face certain deportation without it. This will be of particular interest to nonprofit immigrant...
11/15/2017
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.
11/14/2017
Recent California legislation, SB 29 and AB 103, places a check on the expansion of immigration jail in our state. This infographic provides an overview of these two new bills and explains how they work together to limit the growth of the immigration detention system.
11/14/2017
The attached document is a compilation of resources to help organizations and service providers prepare for immigration enforcement actions.
10/17/2017
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...
09/28/2017
October 2017 report by the ILRC and Professor Tom K. Wong estimating the cost that ending DACA would have to the Social Security and Medicare trust funds over ten years. The report that concludes that the end of DACA will lead to $39.3 billion in losses to Social Security and Medicare contributions over ten years, half of which represents lost employee contributions and half employer...
09/27/2017
Letter from 500+ national, state, and local organizations requesting that the Dream Act of 2017 sponsors adopt more flexible requirements in regards to expungements and misdemeanors.
09/25/2017
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...
09/22/2017
This short screening sheet is designed to help child welfare professionals identify potential avenues for noncitizen youth to gain legal status. It also includes a resource sheet with further information on common ways that youth can get immigration status.