The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) builds a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Through ILRC’s policy and advocacy efforts, we promote a vision of racial justice that advances the rights of all immigrants, including those who have had contact with the criminal legal system.
ILRC engages in policy and advocacy throughout the United States with a particular focus on local policy work in Texas, local and state policy work in California, and policy advocacy at the federal level. Our policy and advocacy efforts are guided by three main pillars: 1) dismantling the arrest to deportation pipeline and disrupting racial disparities in the immigration and criminal legal systems; 2) expanding immigration law to improve protections from deportation and access to immigration relief; and 3) preserving and expanding access to legal services and opportunities for citizens and non-citizens to engage in the political process.
Latest Resources
FAQs & Explainers
Resources
Publication Date
09/07/2023
In June 2023, the California Dignity Not Detention Coalition passed a budget initiative in California called HEAL (Healthy Economies Adapting to Last). HEAL dedicates 5 million dollars to incentivize California localities to divest from immigration detention by providing them funding to invest in new industries and jobs. HEAL presents a new tool in our advocacy toolbox to close detention centers once and for all. This community FAQ breaks down Dignity not Detention’s newest initiative.
FAQs & Explainers
Resources
Publication Date
07/26/2023
In the Spring of 2023, the ILRC surveyed partner organizations and immigration practioners to get a sense of how the Biden Administration’s enforcement priorities were impacting interior enforcement. Unsurprisingly, our analysis of the data showed that federal guidance does not prevent ICE from targeting and detaining people who do not meet agency priorities.
Public Comments / Sign-on Letters
Resources
Publication Date
06/16/2023
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center submitted this letter on June 16, 2023, to thank USCIS for the many changes that have already been made to the USCIS Policy Manual and to provide further recommendations for changes to the Policy Manual that USCIS can immediately implement to increase access to immigration benefits and reduce backlogs. The letter provides suggestions that include ongoing recommendations from prior letters and engagements as well as new ones.
Public Comments / Sign-on Letters
Resources
Resources
Publication Date
05/02/2023
On April 19, 2023, the ILRC sent a letter to USCIS commending the agency on several changes to the USCIS Policy Manual and practices. The letter acknowledges the agency’s updates to civil surgeon signatures on Form I-693, the inclusion of additional gender markers on forms, clarifications on filing deadlines, and the flexibility for special immigrant juvenile applicants to file Form I-360 in person if they are in danger of aging out of eligibility. These changes are welcome improvements to existing guidance and practices and the ILRC encourage USCIS to continue to make further changes to improve the applicant experience and efficient use of agency resources.
Public Comments / Sign-on Letters
Resources
Publication Date
03/22/2023
On March 22, 2023, the ILRC sent a letter to USCIS acknowledging the implementation of biometrics flexibilities for domestic benefits applicants who live in remote areas. The ILRC commended the agency on its provision of flexibilities to ensure that all domestic applicants could continue with their benefits applications regardless of physical location in the United States. The ILRC further urged USCIS to expand these flexibilities to applicants abroad and highlighted the negative effects that consulate closures abroad have had on U and T visa applicants attempting to complete their biometrics abroad.
Public Comments / Sign-on Letters
Resources
Publication Date
03/08/2023
On March 8, ILRC responded to a request for input from the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on how to broaden public engagement with the public in the federal regulatory process. ILRC suggested that OIRA partner with community organizations to ensure that information is shared in the most effective way possible, including written materials and trainings. ILRC also made several process suggestions that OIRA can implement to reduce barriers to public participation.
Public Comments / Sign-on Letters
Resources
Publication Date
03/08/2023
On March 8, ILRC provided comments on the USCIS proposed fee rule. In the comment, ILRC commended agency actions codifying fee exemptions. Additionally, ILRC requested that USCIS codify fee waiver eligibility standards and raise the income threshold for fee waivers. We also requested that fee increases be reduced for applications for lawful permanent residence, work authorization and family petitions, among others. Finally, the comment provides requested changes to various USCIS forms that are open for comment in conjunction with the proposed fee rule.
Public Comments / Sign-on Letters
Resources
On February 2, 2023, USCIS announced changes to the Policy Manual guidance on the one-year physical presence requirement for asylee/refugee adjustment. In a comment letter on February 16, 2023, ILRC commended USCIS on the changes. We believe they will increase fair and consistent adjudications for asylees and refugees seeking adjustment.
Practice Advisory
Resources
Publication Date
01/23/2023
Special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS) provides a way for certain young people who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected by a parent to obtain immigration status. This practice advisory reviews the history of the federal regulations implementing the SIJS statute and then provides an overview of the new SIJS regulations, published in the spring of 2022. In the overview, the advisory highlights notable policy changes implemented through the new regulations.
Public Comments / Sign-on Letters
Resources
Publication Date
01/23/2023
On December 19, 2022, USCIS published updates to its Policy Manual on how adjudicators should assess applications under the Public Charge ground of inadmissibility. This guidance accompanies the new final rule on Public Charge which took effect on December 23, 2023. The guidance is mostly positive, solidifying and strengthening longstanding public charge policy. However, the ILRC provided suggestions to clarify implementation of the new rule and help USCIS achieve their goals of ensuring that the public charge ground of inadmissibility is applied clearly, consistently, and fairly.
Related Products
Video
Video
In this short video, you’ll hear ILRC Immigration Policy Attorney, Aidin Castillo, offer her personal account about coming to the U.S. as a child, and describe the work that she’s doing to influence immigration reform legislation in Washington D.C.
Webinar
Webinar
This Webinar will offer an overview of the Texas v United States decision and what it means for current DACA recipients and DACA-eligible individuals. We will also provide considerations for practitioners as they advise community members about their legal options and possible next steps in finding a permanent solution.
Webinar
Webinar
Level: AllThis webinar will provide an overview of the regulatory process including finding and commenting on regulations and best practices for crafting comments. Our guest speaker is a former government attorney and expert in regulatory matters who will be providing more in-depth information to the regulatory process and comments practice. We will also highlight immigration regulations that are or are anticipated to be open for comment in the coming months.PresentersPeggy Gleason, Senior Staff Attorney - ILRC