This one-page infographic summarizes the various California post-conviction relief vehicles, their requirements, and their immigration benefits.

USCIS recently announced that naturalization applicants may receive neighborhood visits to ask neighbors and/or co-workers questions about the applicant’s work, family status, social activities, travel, criminal history, and more. USCIS also acknowledged that it has discretion to waive these neighborhood visits. New USCIS guidance invites applicants to affirmatively submit two-character reference letters as consideration to waive the neighborhood visit. These letters are not required for naturalization eligibility. ILRC has created the following template letter to help applicants who choose to submit letters.

This practice advisory analyzes the recent changes in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Policy Manual regarding the implementation of neighborhood investigations in naturalization adjudications. The advisory includes practical tips and considerations that practitioners should use when advising clients on applying for naturalization under this new policy.

USCIS recently announced that naturalization applicants may receive neighborhood visits to ask neighbors and/or co-workers questions about the applicant’s work, family status, social activities, travel, criminal history, and more. USCIS also acknowledged that it has discretion to waive these neighborhood visits. New USCIS guidance invites applicants to affirmatively submit two-character reference letters as consideration to waive the neighborhood visit. These letters are not required for naturalization eligibility. ILRC has created the following template letter to help applicants who choose to submit letters.

This resource takes a brief look at the history of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), how it was coopted by the Trump Administration and used as part of the larger enforcement mechanism in the U.S. We will look at the impact of adding ICE administrative warrants into NCIC, why the Houston Police Department’s entanglement goes beyond what state law requires and how this policy betrays Houstonians.

On August, 24, 2026, the ILRC submitted a comment opposing a proposed rule entitled Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments. The rule seeks to raise the application fee for Form N-400 by 75-80% as well as eliminates the fee waiver and fee reduction for naturalization applications. ILRC opposes this rule given that it will create a substantial barrier for low-income naturalization applicants who could be permanently priced out of citizenship.

On September 28, 2026, the ILRC submitted a comment in opposition of an interim final rule (IFR) entitled Affirmative Asylum Referrals without Interview. This rule will deprive many asylum seekers of their ability to fully present their cases at the asylum office and instead, push them into the immigration court backlog where they face and adversarial system and ever-growing due process violations. ILRC also opposes the issuance of this rule without the notice and comment period required by the Administrative Procedures Act.

On September 22, 2026, the ILRC submitted a comment opposing a proposed USCIS rule to increase the filing for for H-1B Visa petitions. The proposed rule set a filing fee of over $100,000 and also proposed to use the USCIS filing fees for other agencies.

This practice advisory summarizes this case and the issues that remain live in the Fifth Circuit, and offers advice on how to advocate for admin closure and termination in the current climate.