Federal Court Litigation and Appeals FEDERAL COURT LITIGATION AND APPEALS Litigation in federal court is becoming more and more common in the practice of immigration law, particularly due to the unreasonable delay faced by many foreign nationals who have applied for immigration benefits. Our federal litigation practice consists of the following types of cases: petitions […]

Crimmigration CRIMMIGRATION The intersection of criminal and immigration law is a particularly important and complex area of the law.  Various crimes can make an immigrant inadmissible or removable (i.e. deportable).  To make that determination, a legal analysis must be conducted, as immigration law reclassifies certain state crimes and criminalizes certain acts that may not be […]

Removal/Deportation Proceedings Removal/Deportation Proceedings Being placed in removal/deportation proceedings is often an immigrant’s biggest fear.  The government can initiate removal proceedings against non-citizens, including legal permanent residents (i.e. green card holders) under various circumstances.  With limited exceptions, most individuals placed in removal proceedings can have their case heard before an Immigration Judge.  This is the […]

Citizenship and Naturalization Naturalization Naturalization is the process through which an immigrant to the United States can become a U.S. citizen. Only certain immigrants are eligible for this benefit.  Eligibility for naturalization generally depends on several factors, including but not limited to: How long you’ve had your green card; How long you’ve physically lived in […]

Options For Military Families OPTIONS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES Parole-in-place (“PIP”) allows certain spouses, children and parents of active duty or veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces to potentially remain in the U.S. and obtain certain benefits from within the U.S., even if they entered the country without permission. Some benefits include eligibility for work authorization […]

Deferred Action and Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) Deferred Action Deferred action is defined as “a discretionary determination to defer a deportation of an individual as an act of prosecutorial discretion.” Deferred action can be granted by the Department of Homeland Security or by a federal immigration judge. Although it does not confer lawful status and […]

VAWA AND U VISAS VAWA Undocumented immigrants who have been victims of domestic violence at the hands of a U.S. citizen or green-card holder spouse, child or parent, may be able to self-petition for a green card under the Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”) without the abuser’s help or knowledge. Those who are eligible will […]

Family-Based Green Cards and Immigrant Visas One of the benefits of U.S. citizenship is the ability to file green card petitions for various family members including spouses, children, parents, and siblings.  In addition, a U.S. citizen may also sponsor a foreign fiancé to come to the U.S. for the purpose of marriage.  Immigration law differentiates […]