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.
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.
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.
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.
Annotated 287(g) MOAs
The 287(g) program authorizes local law enforcement to make an agreement with DHS to conduct certain immigration enforcement activities. Without 287(g), local police and sheriffs generally do not have any authority to enforce immigration laws. The Memorandum of Agreement for 287(g) describes how the program will work and what powers are delegated to the local agency. We have annotated these MOAs to explain what the agreements include and how the program works.
Guide to Filing Your First Habeas Corpus Petition: Central 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 Central District of California.
Ninth Circuit Rules on Due Diligence Standard for Equitable Tolling For Motions to Reopen
This analysis could be particularly helpful for clients from countries that previously did not accept individuals deported from the U.S., such as Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, as well as those from former Soviet countries.
Supreme Court Holds LPRs with Pending Criminal Charges May Be Deemed Applicants for Admission When Re-Entering the United States: Blanche v. Lau
This advisory summarizes the majority and dissent’s opinions, and shares key takeaways and practice tips for criminal defenders and immigration practitioners in light of the decision.
ILRC Comment Opposing Interim Final Rule regarding Signatures for Immigration Benefit Requests
The comment explains that denying applications after they have already been accepted can result in the loss of filing fees, lengthy delays, and even permanent loss of immigration benefits when eligibility depends on the original filing date.