Immigration Law
Graphic by Alondra Pulido
The United States permits 1 million foreign nationals to become permanent legal residents every year and grants more visitor visas than any other country. Immigration lawyers deal with issues like green cards citizenship, naturalization, deportation, and employment for non-citizens. As of 2017, more than 44 million U.S. residents were born in another country, and immigrants accounted for about 13.6% of the entire U.S. population, which means that there exists the potential for many non-citizens to require legal assistance from immigration lawyers.
An important skill for immigration lawyers is to speak another language. Immigration lawyers frequently assist clients for whom English is not their first language. In addition, clear communication skills are important for connecting with clients from other cultures. In the United States, the most commonly spoken language among immigrants is Spanish (43% of immigrants speak it at home), followed by Chinese, Hindi, Filipino/Tagalog, and French.
Because police power is decentralized in the United States, some cities and counties are known as sanctuary cities for undocumented immigrants because they don’t actively assist the federal government in enforcing immigration laws and deportation. In other cities and states, like Texas, authorities actively enforce immigration laws. In these areas, undocumented immigrants can be deported for reporting a crime if the officer suspects them of being undocumented and they fail to produce identification, which makes the role of immigration lawyers especially important in these areas.
Photo by Elias Castillo on Unsplash
Law students interested in pursuing a career as an immigration lawyer may consider taking part in the Immigration Clinic at the University of Washington School of Law. Participants in the clinic advocate for the rights of immigrants, and represent individuals who lack legal representation. This is important because immigrants do not have the right to government-appointed counsel in immigration court.
Immigration Law Resouces
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American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
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Immigration Law Clinic [University of Washington School of Law]
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Links of Interest (Immigration Resources) [ABA]
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University of Washington School of Law Faculty:
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Angélica Cházaro - UW Assistant Professor of Law
Teaches immigration law at UW. Previously worked for the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. -
Christine N. Cimini - UW Professor of Law
Current research focuses on immigration law.
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Video: Basics of Practice Before the Immigration Court
Books
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Banned: Immigration Enforcement in the Time of Trump
by
Within days of taking office, President Donald J. Trump published or announced changes to immigration law and policy. These changes have profoundly shaken the lives and well-being of immigrants and their families, many of whom have been here for decades, and affected the work of the attorneys and advocates who represent or are themselves part of the immigrant community. Banned examines the tool of discretion, or the choice a government has to protect, detain, or deport immigrants, and describes how the Trump administration has wielded this tool in creating and executing its immigration policy
Publication Date: 2019-09-10 -
Immigration Law and Procedure in a Nutshell
by
[This title offers an] overview of the history, constitutional basis, statutory structure, regulatory provisions, administrative procedure, and ethical principles related to immigration law and practice. Updated to reflect developments since the 2016 Presidential election.
Publication Date: 2023 -
Immigration Law and the US-Mexico Border: ¿Sí Se Puede?
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Publication Date: 2011Available online from ProQuest Ebook Central -
Immigration Law Sourcebook: A Compendium Immigration-Related Laws and Policy Documents
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Publication Date: 2011Available online from ProQuest Ebook Central -
U.S. Citizenship Test
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Supplies sample questions from the test for becoming a naturalized citizen, and surveys the information about American history and government covered by the exam.
Publication Date: 2014 -
Understanding Immigration Law
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[This book] lays out the basics of U.S. immigration law in an accessible way to newcomers to the field. It offers background about the intellectual, historical, and constitutional foundations of U.S. immigration law. The book also identifies the factors that have historically fueled migration to the United States, including the economic 'pull' of jobs and family in the United States and the 'push' of economic hardship, political instability, and other facts of life in the sending country. Each chapter has been updated to analyze the unprecedented number of immigration enforcement measures--and many simply unprecedented measures--taken by the Trump administration.
Publication Date: 2019-08-20 -
Understanding Immigration Law and Practice
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At a time when immigration law is in flux, Understanding Immigration Law and Practice offers a thorough, accessible, and practical approach to understand and apply U.S. laws and regulations to help protect refugees, bring needed workers to the U.S, prevent separation of and reunite families, and provide relief to foreign nationals facing removal proceedings. Attuned to the sensitivity and responsibility necessary to ensure just results in high stakes immigration cases, the authors, who have a combined 35-plus years of front-line experience, provide readers with in-depth information and highlight readers recent changes and ongoing litigation where applicable. In addition, the book offers a new section on enforcement in both in the non-and employment-based contexts, providing avenues for discussions on matters of policy. They generously and freely offer their knowledge and insights into the complex legal issues faced by immigration clients, followed up by proposing strategies for the professionals seeking to help them. New to the Second Edition: Major revisions that reflect a new focus on strict enforcement of immigration laws and the use of Executive Orders and procedural changes that affect the implementation and application of the law including: Migrant Protection Protocols Zero Tolerance Policy Safe Third Country Proposals Extreme vetting Muslim Ban Updated discussions of significant legal changes arising from case law such as: Pereira v. Sessions, a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court and subsequent decisions by the Board of Immigration Appeals and circuit courts, highlighting tensions around what information a valid notice to appear should contain. Matter of A-B, which sought to categorically exclude asylum claims based on domestic and gang-based violence Matter of L-A-B-R-, which severely restricts the use of continuances in removal proceedings Matter of Castro Tum, which limits the ability of immigration judges to close removal proceedings administratively. Analysis of the changes to public charge requirements affecting family members seeking to immigrate or become permanent residents in the United States Review of the recent changes to the EB-5 or investor visa process as an avenue to achieve permanent residency for those who provide job creating investments in the United States Professors, students, and legal practitioners new to the practice of immigration law will benefit from: Compact, accessible coverage of complex fluctuating U.S. immigration law and regulations, including: Nonimmigrant visas, including B-1/B-2, F-1. H-1Bs, and visas for investment and trade. Immigration options for humanitarian immigrants such as asylum seekers, refugees, survivors of domestic violence protected by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), SIJ, U, and T visa applicants. Lawful permanent resident applications based on family relationships, employment, and investment, including adjustment of status, Permanent Labor Certification Program (PERM), and consular processing. Grounds of inadmissibility, deportation, and immigration court removal processes, including waivers and relief from removal. Explanation of immigration court procedures and relief available in removal proceedings Naturalization and citizenship eligibility. Balanced coverage of statutory and procedural rules with practical insights to aid in problem solving. Numerous cases for discussion, with responses on the companion website available to instructors. Frequent vivid examples and cases from real life to assist readers in translating legal rules and theory into practice. Tools for student success, including learning objectives, marginal notes on key terms, and many documents and illustrations from actual practice. A chapter on managing the immigration practice, including performing case assessment and interviewing. Website updates to keep students and faculty current with the latest changes in this fast-moving subject area.
ISBN: 9781543820805Publication Date: 2020-02-10
