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.

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Annotated ICE Administrative Warrants 2017

06/06/2017
Enforcement
In March 2017, DHS created a new policy where they would send an administrative warrant along with all ICE detainer requests. Along with this policy, they released new ICE warrant forms: I-200, and I-205. These annotated forms explain what ICE warrants mean and whom they are directed to.
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T Visas: What They Are and How They Can Help Your Clients

05/09/2017
U Visa/T Visa/VAWA
This practice advisory is designed to introduce legal workers to the T visa. It outlines T visa eligibility requirements, discusses the advantages of applying for T visas over other forms of humanitarian immigration relief, and analyzes how President Trump's recent executive orders impact T visa applicants.
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San Francisco Rapid Response Network: Lessons Learned and Best Practices

Enforcement
05/05/2017

This recording provides a review of San Francisco’s rapid response program, including a discussion of lessons learned and best practices. Topics include: Considerations when assessing whether a rapid response network is needed, and if so, what components to consider when establishing a local network, and lessons learned by guest presenters.

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The Promise of Sanctuary Cities and the Need for Criminal Justice Reforms in an Era of Mass Deportation

05/04/2017
Enforcement
Local criminal justice policies, such as vagrancy laws and cash bail requirements, endanger vulnerable immigrant populations and undercut the promise of “sanctuary” cities, according to a report released today by Harvard Law School’s Fair Punishment Project, the Immigrant Defense Project, and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. The report urges city and county leaders who want to protect...
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Understanding Allegations of Gang Membership/Affiliation in Immigration Cases

04/28/2017
Enforcement
Immigrant Youth
Crimes
Removal Defense
Immigrants who are alleged to be involved with gangs are top immigration enforcement priorities for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This is true even if they have no criminal convictions and DHS is targeting them based on allegations alone. If such individuals choose to apply for immigration benefits, they may be exposing themselves to serious risk. This practice advisory discusses...
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Know Your Rights and What Immigrant Families Should Do Now

04/28/2017
Community Resources
It’s important for everyone to know their rights if approached by an immigration (ICE) agent as well as how families can best prepare for something happening. This resource provides practical tips for things immigrant families can do now to prepare as well as information on rights everyone has in the United States, regardless of immigration status. Thank you to Tenderloin Neighborhood Development...
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Redacted Sample Penal Code 1473.7 Motion to Vacate

04/26/2017
Crimes
Post-Conviction Relief
Students at the UC Irvine Immigrant Rights Clinic prepared a Penal Code 1473.7 motion to vacate for one of their clients and offered it as a resource for others filing similar motions. This motion is a reference tool only, and should not be used as a template or a model, nor should it be reproduced without substantial alterations. If you are filing a 1473.7 motion, you must perform your own legal...
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Naturalization Reduced Fee Option and Fee Waiver

04/26/2017
Citizenship and Naturalization
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.
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FAQ on Trump’s Executive Order on Sanctuary Cities

04/26/2017
Enforcement
President Trump issued an Executive Order on immigration enforcement in January 2017. The Order included sections ordering that sanctuary cities would not be eligible to receive federal funding. This fact sheet breaks down the key issues raised by the Executive Order, examining the possible meanings of the order, and the legal limitations on what the President can do.
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Practice Advisory: Aggravated Felonies

04/10/2017
Crimes
The immigration statute designates certain types of crimes as “aggravated felonies.” See INA § 101(a)(43), 8 USC § 1101(a)(43). These are the most dangerous type of convictions for a noncitizen. Despite the name, this definition reaches offenses that are neither felonies nor aggravated. It can include selling $10 worth of marijuana, a misdemeanor shoplifting offense with a one-year suspended...
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Unaccompanied Minors & The New Executive Orders

03/21/2017
Immigrant Youth
The Republican Administration has already issued multiple immigration-related Executive Orders and implementing memoranda. These orders and memoranda touch on nearly all areas of immigration enforcement, including the treatment of immigrant children. In this resource, we address possible ways that UACs may be affected by these sweeping changes. Keep in mind that we do not know how these policies...
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Plan de Preparación Familiar

03/21/2017
Community Resources
Cada familia debe tener un plan de preparación. Aunque nuestro deseo es que usted nunca tenga que usar este plan, es buena práctica de tener uno a la mano para reducir el estrés de lo inesperado. Este paquete le ayudará a crear un plan de preparación familiar, independientemente de su estatus migratorio. Sin embargo, por los retos adicionales que los inmigrantes y familias con status migratorios...
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Los Derechos de los Residentes Permanentes Legales

03/21/2017
Community Resources
Los residentes permanentes siguen teniendo todos los mismos derechos. Este document tiene información sobre sus derechos y cosas que debe tener en cuenta si desea viajar fuera de los Estados Unidos, ha sido condenado por un crimen o es elegible para naturalizarse para convertirse en ciudadano estadounidense.
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Family Preparedness Plan

03/01/2017
Community Resources
Family-Based
Every family should have a Family Preparedness Plan. While it is our hope that you never have to use your plan, it is a good practice to have one in place to help reduce the stress of the unexpected. This packet will help everyone create a Family Preparedness Plan, regardless of immigration status. However, because of the additional challenges immigrant and mixed status families face, we also...
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Fact Sheet on Sanctuary Policies and 8 USC 1373

02/13/2017
Enforcement
This brief fact sheet explains the federal statute of 8 USC § 1373 and its relation to policies limiting compliance with immigration detainers or other immigration enforcement assistance by local law enforcement agencies, also called “Sanctuary Policies.” These policies do not generally conflict with 8 USC § 1373 and therefore do not put localities in jeopardy of losing federal funds.
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FAQ about Trump’s Interior Immigration Enforcement Executive Orders

02/02/2017
Enforcement
Crimes
Removal Defense
On January 25th, 2017, Trump issued two Executive Orders related to interior immigration enforcement policies. Taken together, these new policies are extremely harsh, and install a new deportation and detention enforcement scheme. This advisory is intended to provide community groups with a preliminary summary and analysis regarding these changes in interior immigration enforcement, which we will...

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