Guides to Filing Your First Habeas Corpus Petition by District
These four step-by-step guides will walk you through the steps for filing your first petition for habeas corpus (immigration) in each of the California federal district courts--the Eastern District of California, the Northern District of California, the Central District of California, and the Southern District of California.
Civil Penalties and Fines Part II: Defenses Against Civil Penalties and Fees
This advisory is part II of a two-part advisory on civil penalties and civil fees. Part I, on how to appeal a civil penalty, is found here. Part II discusses the statutory, common law, and Constitutional defenses advocates can make in opposition to the implementation of the civil penalties. This advisory outlines the various defenses advocates can make to rescind the civil penalties and fees, including statutory arguments, retroactivity arguments, statute of limitations arguments, and Constitutional arguments.
Latest on TPS
Last Updated: Nov 10, 2026
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is an immigration benefit that generally offers protection from deportation T and provides an employment authorization document (EAD), also known as a “work permit” or “EAD” to those that qualify. .
To be considered for TPS, individuals must be from a designated country-specific and meet the applicable eligibility requirements for the particular designation, including the required date of residence and physical presence in the United States. TPS does not, by itself, provide a path to lawful permanent residence or citizenship, but
ILRC Opposes ICE's Anonymous Tip Reporting Form
On November 2, 2026, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center submitted a comment in strong opposition to ICE's Information Collection Activity, "Suspicious/Criminal Activity Tip Reporting" (OMB No. 1653-0049), published in the Federal Register on October 5, 2026. ILRC argues the activity violates the Paperwork Reduction Act because ICE never published the proposed form during the required 60-day and 30-day comment periods, and did not respond to ILRC's October 14 request for a copy. Beyond the procedural objection, ILRC contends the form would funnel more people into the deportation pipeline
Danger on the Road
This brief will focus on 2025 data gathered from the Houston Police Department (HPD) police reports coded as “immigration inquiry.” This brief will also takes a look at continuing trends in 2026. By analyzing the HPD data, we can anticipate future immigration enforcement patterns in Houston and provide data-driven policy recommendations to help disentangle these agencies.
What You Need to Know Now About Public Charge
In this community explainer we will address some frequently asked questions on what this change means and who and when it applies.
Who Has Initial Jurisdiction Over UC Asylum Claims? Matter of M-A-C-O- and JOP v. DHS
The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 confers initial jurisdiction over asylum claims filed by unaccompanied children (UCs) to the asylum office. The Board of Immigration Appeals’ decision in Matter of M-A-C-O-, along with policy changes implemented during the first Trump administration, sought to strip away this crucial protection from many child asylum seekers. Because of these changes and legal challenges by immigrant youth advocates, the current landscape of initial UC asylum jurisdiction has changed. This practice advisory provides an overview of the current state
SIJS Adjustment of Status in October 2026 - Who Can File Now? What are Some Considerations?
This community explainer discusses who can apply for SIJS-based adjustment of status during the month of October 2026, what it means for an expected timeline, and considerations in deciding whether to apply.
ILRC Comment Opposing USCIS Rule Mandating Electronic Filing of Immigration Benefit Applications
On October 12, 2026, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) submitted a comment opposing a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) interim final rule that would make electronic filing mandatory for immigration benefit applications, along with a proposed form requiring applicants to request a waiver from that requirement.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): Inadmissibility Grounds and Waivers for Adjustment of Status
This practice advisory will cover some common grounds of inadmissibility, waivers available for VAWA self-petitioners who will be filing for adjustment of status, and how to identify whether a ground of inadmissibility has been triggered and whether a waiver is available.
Texas's Privately Operated and Armed 287(g) Transportation Scheme
After receiving $170.7 billion in additional funding through H.R. 1, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is finding new and dangerous ways to rapidly target and deport Texas residents. On August 31, 2026, DHS awarded GardaWorld Federal Services, a privately owned company, a $382 million contract to begin an armed 287(g) transportation scheme throughout the state.
Changes in the USCIS Policy Manual Affecting Naturalization: Neighborhood Investigations
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.
Character Reference for Naturalization
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
A snapshot of the Houston Police Department's policy to call ICE on community members
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.
ILRC Comment Opposing Proposed Rule Raising Naturalization Application Fee
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.
ILRC Comment Opposing Interim Final Rule on Asylum Referrals without Interview
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.
ILRC Comments Opposing Fee Increases for H-1B Visas
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.
Administrative Closure, Termination, and Texas v. Department of Justice
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.
Reference Sheet on the Immigration Consequences of Delinquency
This chart describes commonly applied conduct-based grounds of inadmissibility and deportability and the juvenile court dispositions that might provide the government with evidence that the person comes within the ground.
ILRC Comment Opposing Proposed Form I-130 Changes
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) submitted a comment to USCIS opposing proposed changes to Form I-130, which would more than double the form’s length and require additional information from petitioners and beneficiaries, including expanded criminal history, employment, education, and family-history questions.
2025 Annual Report
The ILRC has published its 2025 Annual Report, which includes information about the initiatives the organization took that year, as well as the organization's financial position.
Guide to Filing Your First Habeas Corpus Petition: Southern District of California
This step-by-step guide will walk you through the steps for filing your first petition for habeas corpus (immigration) in the Southern District of California. The guide provides helpful tips and how-tos from registering for PACER, the federal court electronic filing system, to applying for admission to the district bar, to formatting and filing your petition and motion for injunctive relief. The guide includes helpful screenshots and references to the local rules, as well as links to other useful practice advisories and resources.
FOIA Requests at DHS: Overview and Updates from 2025-2026
This practice advisory reviews recent changes and current practice in filing FOIA requests with DHS and with the different offices within DHS. Since January 22, 2026, all have transitioned exclusively to online filing. The only exception is for persons who lack internet access, such as incarcerated requestors, who may still file on paper, by mail.
Advance Parole Travel and Considerations - What You Must Know Now
In this community explainer, we will discuss the effects of this decision, how it impacts advance parole travel and applications for adjustment of status, and what applicants must consider moving forward.
Understanding Matter of Delcarmen-Lara: The New Meaning of "Departure" Under INA § 212(a)(9)(B)
On August 13, 2026, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) issued a decision on Matter of Delcarmen-Lara, that overruled Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly and held that travel on advance parole is now a "departure" for purposes of the unlawful presence bars at INA § 212(a)(9)(B)(i).
Quick Guide: Defending SIJS Clients in Removal Proceedings
This practice advisory, authored with our partners at the End SIJS Backlog Coalition, Children's Immigration Law Academy, Make the Road New York, National Immigration Project, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, and Safe Passage Project, offers strategies at every stage of an SIJS client’s removal proceedings to advocate against the client’s removal and to preserve the record for appeal.
ILRC Submits Comment Opposing DHS Final Rule on Immigrant Registration
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) submitted a comment strongly opposing the Department of Homeland Security’s Final Rule on “[Immigrant] Registration Form and Evidence of Registration.” The rule expands and formalizes a registration process that could expose millions of immigrants—and potentially U.S. citizens—to increased fear, confusion, racial profiling, and immigration enforcement.
US v. Lopez: Ninth Circuit Holds Cal. Pen. Code § 273.5 not a Crime of Violence
On July 28, 2026, the Ninth Circuit ruled that Cal. Pen. Code § 273.5 is not a crime of violence. This practice advisory discusses the reasoning of the decision and provides advice on next steps for removal defense practitioners and criminal defenders representing noncitizens.
ILRC Submits Comment Opposing Proposed Rule to Restrict Work Permits
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) submitted a comment urging DHS to withdraw its proposed rule that would dramatically restrict access to employment authorization for many immigrants.
A Platform for Immigrant Justice and Building a New Way Forward
This new policy platform examines how the 1996 laws expanded detention, deportation, and family separation – and outlines a vision for a more just and humane future.