12/09/2022
This practice advisory reviews the updates and changes made by USCIS in 2022 to VAWA policy and process related to self-petitioners, and includes related practice tips .
11/29/2022
This fact sheet describes new Cal. Penal Code 372.5 ( AB 2195 ). As of January 1, 2023, a California defendant who is charged with any of several drug offenses, from infractions to felonies, can ask for the drug charge/s to be dismissed and instead to plead guilty to being a “public nuisance” ( Penal Code § 370 ). Section 372.5 provides that in this circumstance, the public nuisance offense is...
11/22/2022
On October 19, 2022, USCIS published major revisions to their Policy Manual on the English and/or Civics disability waiver for naturalization applicants. Overall, these changes were a welcome improvement in access to the disability waiver. However, we opposed the sections in the revised Policy Manual and N-648 that add a question about understanding the oath of allegiance. The oath waiver and the...
11/18/2022
(San Francisco, CA)—The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) congratulates and commends the historic tenure of Nancy Pelosi, as the first and only woman elected Speaker of the House. The ILRC looks forward to future collaboration with Rep. Pelosi through her work on Capitol Hill, and as a member of our Advisory Board since 1988. “Every year the ILRC honors her work on immigrant rights with our...
11/18/2022
Texas-based attorneys Priscilla Olivarez and Jennefer Canales-Pelaez submitted these comments to the Texas Senate Border Committee. The committee heard testimony on Nov. 15, 2022 on whether to fund Operation Lone Star in the future and the role of the state's Department of Public Safety.
11/16/2022
(Washington)—The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) welcomed a federal court’s decision striking down Title 42 and we urge the Biden Administration to work quickly to process asylum seekers who had been expelled due to this racist policy. The ruling is clear that Title 42 had nothing to do with public health but was instead another hateful tactic deployed by the previous administration to...
11/15/2022
(Washington)—Texans impacted by Gov. Greg Abbott’s racist Operation Lone Star were joined by immigration advocates Tuesday demanding the Biden Administration and the Department of Homeland Security immediately stop allowing federal funds and other assistance be used to support this harmful scheme. “We are in DC to be heard, everyone needs to know about Operation Lone Star,” said Liz Castillo,...
11/04/2022
The ILRC’s work in Texas focuses on building capacity and passing and implementing local policies that dismantle the arrest-to-deportation pipeline and decriminalize immigrants, Black people, and other communities of color. To further this goal, the ILRC’s Texas team employs an array of strategies to advocate for local policies and cultivate partnerships that promote immigrant rights and criminal...
11/03/2022
This Alert describes recent changes to the naturalization disability waiver. On October 19, 2022, USCIS announced major revisions to the Form N-648, which is used by naturalization applicants who seek a waiver of the English and/or civics requirement based on a disability or impairment that causes the applicant to be unable to learn or demonstrate knowledge of English and/or civics. USCIS also...
11/02/2022
Survivors of human trafficking and of domestic or sexual violence often are charged and convicted of offenses that arose as a direct result of their exploitation. For noncitizens, the criminal record can cause deportation or destroy their eligibility for humanitarian visas. In the last five years, California has enacted multiple laws to avoid this injustice in criminal court, including a defense...