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.
09/17/2012
Matter of Rodriguez, 25 I&N Dec. 784 (BIA 2012). Section 212(h) of the INA1 is an important waiver of crimes-based grounds of inadmissibility.
09/17/2012
The Ninth Circuit En Banc Decides Key Issues About the Categorical Approach; overturns Sandoval-Lua: Young v. Holder __F.3d__ (9th Cir. Sept. 17, 2012) (en banc). This quick Advisory provides the headlines from an important Ninth Circuit case published today. Further advisories may provide a more in-depth analysis.
09/10/2012
This videocast describes Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and answers some common questions like, “What does it mean? Will it grant me immigration status? Is this the DREAM Act? Can I apply for citizenship down the road?”
05/25/2012
These notes were taken at the May 18-19, 2012 conference and contain lots of important practice questions, updates and filing tips for U visa cases.
05/15/2012
This Q&A fact sheet from USCIS provides information on making the appointment and preparing for the interview for U nonimmigrants who need to consular process. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176...
05/15/2012
This page from DOS provides information on how to apply for a U nonimmigrant visa, the required documents and fees, visa ineligibility and more. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/other-visa-categories/visas-for-victims-of-criminal-activity.html
05/14/2012
Prosecutors' Consideration of Immigration Consequences of Crimes in Light of Padilla v. Kentucky .
05/02/2012
On September 6, 2011, USCIS issued a policy memorandum on adjudications of VAWA self-petitions for applicants who are over 21 but under 25 years of age.
05/02/2012
On August 30, 2011, USCIS issued a policy memorandum on eligibility to self-petition as a battered or abused parent of a U.S. citizen.
05/01/2012
This 77-page guide contains checklists, step-by-step help and sample materials for detained pro so applicants (those without lawyers) who are representing themselves in filing a U visa application. It was produced by the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic of Stanford Law School on behalf of Centro Legal de la Raza in Oakland, California.
05/01/2012
Highlighting Changes Implemented by the Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act (03/2009): These are materials from our March 2009 webinar which highlighted important new changes implemented by the Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act of 2008 (signed into law on December 23, 2008) to the eligibility requirements for filing a Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS...
04/24/2012
This Policy Memorandum articulates USCIS policy regarding assigning appropriate gender designations on documents issued to transgender individuals and the adjudication of benefits applications involving the marriage of transgender individuals.
03/28/2012
Eligibility for Waiver in Removal Proceedings under the Former INA § 212(c), Pursuant to Judulang v. Holder
01/06/2012
Supplementary materials to the Representing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Immigrants: Navigating the Challenges Faced by LGBT Clients Seeking Lawful Immigration Status webinar series.
12/13/2011
Testimony before an IJ may not be used to characterize an offense, or to link two documents from the record of conviction. A Ninth Circuit panel has withdrawn a very bad opinion on the modified categorical approach and substituted a substantially better one.
10/26/2011
Practice Advisory: California Health and Safety Code § 11357(b) prohibits possession of not more than 28.5 grams of marijuana. After January 1, 2011 it will be treated as an infraction.
08/10/2011
Legal Services Support Centers and Rebellious Advocacy: A Case Study of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center , by Bill Hing.
08/01/2011
Planes v. Holder (9th Cir. July 5, 2011): Criminal defenders must assume that filing a timely direct appeal of right will not prevent a conviction from having immigration effect. This is a change in the law, created by Planes v. Holder , supra . Advocates will file a petition for rehearing and there is a good chance that this will be granted, and a reasonable chance, although no guarantee, that...
07/18/2011
Warning: Immigrant Defendants with a First Minor Drug Offense: “Rehabilitative relief” will no longer eliminate a first conviction for simple possession for immigration purposes, unless the conviction occurred before 7/14/11
06/13/2011
What are U Visas? U Nonimmigrant Visas were created by the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act of 2000. Victims of qualifying criminal activities who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse may apply for a U Visa if they are willing to assist law enforcement or other government officials in the investigation or prosecution of those crimes.
06/13/2011
April 19, 2011 USCIS Policy Memorandum: Extension of Status for T and U Nonimmigrants; Revisions to Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) Chapter 39.1(g)(3) and Chapter 39.2(g)(3) (AFM Update AD11-28)
06/13/2011
December 15, 2010 USCIS Policy Memorandum: Revocation of VAWA-Based Self-Petitions (Forms I-360); AFM Update AD10-49
06/13/2011
June 22, 2010 USCIS Policy Memorandum: Extension of U Nonimmigrant Status for Derivative Family Members Using the Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-539); Revisions to Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM), New Chapter 39.1(g)(2)(i) (AFM Update AD10-08)
05/13/2011
Overview of the Anti-Fraud Campaign ILRC Announces Major Immigration Fraud Public Awareness Campaign. The ILRC has been a leader in the educational campaign to warn immigrants about immigration fraud. Too often, immigrants fall prey to scam artists that promise them an easy path to legal status only to cheat them out of their hard-earned money and, often, put them at risk of deportation. To...
05/13/2011
ILRC’s Anti-Fraud comic books are being made available to non-profit agencies and organizations throughout the United States. These agencies are gathering places for families and communities and are therefore well-placed to make these comic books available to the people who will most benefit from them. What are ILRC’s Anti-Fraud Comics? IIRC has produced 2 versions of a comic book designed to...