FAQs & Explainers

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status is a unique, hybrid form of immigration relief that requires the involvement of state courts before a child is eligible to apply for a special immigrant juvenile visa with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. This guide includes an overview of the process of requesting SIJS findings in different types of state courts in California, providing answers to...

The first handout, "AB 60 California Driver’s License: Frequently Asked Questions," is aimed at immigration attorneys and provides an overview of frequently asked questions regarding AB 60 licenses, including some common red flags. The second handout, "Preguntas Acerca de la AB 60," is aimed at community members and written in Spanish. It provides answers to common questions such as whether it is...

Obtenga aquí las respuestas a las preguntas más comunes sobre este nuevo programa para obtener una licencia de manejar en California.

This FAQ explains questions of legal authority for local law enforcement agencies to be involved in immigration enforcement. Specifically, the document reviews recent court decisions and examines how the law is evolving in regard to ICE detainers, administrative immigration warrants, and other immigration enforcement mechanisms that local law enforcement may encounter. The FAQ clarifies that even...

SB 873 appropriates $3M to provide legal representation for Unaccompanied Minors in removal proceedings. The law also eliminates any ambiguity that California Superior Courts, including family courts, have jurisdiction to make the findings necessary for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (“SIJS”). This fact sheet outlines how the law benefits Unaccompanied Minors, including practice tips for how...

A brief overview of the way Miranda-Olivares v. Clackamas County and the California TRUST Act have vastly limited the circumstances in which law enforcement may honor a hold, including the current standards under which holds should be assessed.

This handout provides a basic overview of U Visas specifically for law enforcement. Advocates may use this to advocate for stronger U Visa certification policies and practices with law enforcement.

This chart is a compilation of resources for advocates working with Unaccompanied Immigrant Children (“UAC”) and includes general resources for working with and representing the UAC population, immigration options for UACS, laws affecting UACs, overview of the immigration detention and deportation process for immigrant children, and legal know your rights for children.

On February 4, 2014 the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) introduced a new N-400 (Rev. 9/13/13), Application for Naturalization form that was updated in April and December 2016. All naturalization applicants must use the new form only. To help attorneys, BIA accredited representatives, and others learn how to complete this new form, we have developed a step-by-step guide.