Removal Defense

Many noncitizen defendants are already deportable (“removable”). This includes all undocumented people, as well as lawful permanent residents (green card-holders) who have become deportable because of a conviction. If immigration authorities find these people – which is likely to happen – they will be deported unless they are granted some kind of immigration relief.   For these defendants, staying eligible to apply for immigration relief is their most important immigration goal, and may be their highest priority in the criminal defense.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On April 8, 2026, the ILRC submitted a comment in response to a proposed federal immigration rule that would sharply limit appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals, arguing that it would weaken due process protections for people facing removal.

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.

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.

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.