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.
04/26/2017
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.
04/10/2017
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...
04/10/2017
With a few exceptions, immigration authorities must use the “categorical approach” to determine whether a criminal conviction triggers a ground of removal. Expert use of the categorical approach may be the most important defense strategy available to immigrants convicted of crimes.
03/27/2017
As a trusted institution in immigrant families’ lives, schools can play a critical role in ensuring immigrant families have access to important information and resources during these turbulent and scary times. This document contains tips on what schools can do to help.
03/24/2017
Durante este podcast, discutiremos el impacto en una licencia de conducir de California de tener su DACA expirar o ser terminado. También revisamos en detalle cómo puede cambiar a una Licencia de Conducir de AB 60.
03/21/2017
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...
03/21/2017
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...
03/21/2017
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.
03/16/2017
Permanent residents continue to have all the same rights. This one-pager provides information on your rights as well as things to keep in mind if you want to travel outside the United States, have been convicted of a crime, or are eligible to naturalize to become a U.S. citizen. Spanish-language version available here: Los Derechos de los Residentes Permanentes Legales
03/01/2017
This interview with Professor Bill Hing discusses President Trump’s Executive Order to prevent so-called sanctuary cities from receiving federal grants. Professor Hing explains the constitutional limitations on the administration’s power to cut funding.
03/01/2017
In this resource, we discuss the visa backlog for youth from certain countries applying for a green card through Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). We discuss how to determine when your client may apply for a green card, and provide practice tips for representing youth seeking SIJS in this new context.
03/01/2017
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...
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!
02/13/2017
This resource in Spanish includes tips for community members to remain calm, get informed, be prepared and stay safe in the current deportation climate.
02/13/2017
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.
02/02/2017
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...
01/18/2017
Letter from 850+ national, state, and local non-profit organizations to President-elect Trump requesting that he continue Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in light of the public safety, economic, and humanitarian benefits.
12/19/2016
LGBTQ immigrants enjoy the same rights under immigration law as all other non-citizens. However, there are some areas where LGBTQ immigrants might face unique challenges. This resource is an outline of some special considerations for LGBTQ immigrants.
12/19/2016
An analysis of America’s counties and their voluntary assistance with deportations.
12/14/2016
This resource identifies and explains some key provisions that cities and counties can enact in order to protect immigrants from discrimination and deportation.
12/13/2016
In this issue: The ILRC outlines key priorities for 2017; Post-Conviction Relief and Protecting Constitutional Rights; Immigrants Benefit from California’s New Marijuana Reform; Harris County, TX: The “Deportation Capital” of the U.S.; California has the opportunity to lead the nation with dignity, not detention
11/29/2016
This Question and Answer (Q&A) addresses potential changes in a Trump administration, written for domestic violence and sexual assault advocates and attorneys who are serving immigrant survivors of gender-based violence. This information may change as we learn more about the plans of the incoming administration. This document was written by Americans for Immigrant Justice, Asian Pacific...
11/23/2016
This advisory contains general information shared by USCIS staff during multiple stakeholder events in 2016. It is authored by ASISTA, ICWC, ILRC, AILA, Just Neighbors Ministry, and Sanctuary for Families.
11/23/2016
During this podcast, we discuss the impact on a California Driver’s License of having your DACA expire or be terminated. We also review in detail how you can switch to an AB 60 Driver’s License.
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.