Topics: Immigration - 1486 results

  Jose Antonia Franco-Gonzalez spent nearly five years in detention, separated from his mother after his deportation case was closed. Severe mental impairment prevented him from defending himself. Lawyers.com videojournalist Matt H. Mayes introduces you to Franco-Gonalez, who cannot even speak a complete sentence. But in this landmark court case, a Los Angeles federal judge ruled the U.S. government must provide legal representation for mentally disabled immigrants who cannot afford lawyers and are facing deportation. Franco-Gonzalez’s lawyer, Ahilan Arulanantham, deputy …

People, often  women, illegally in the United States can feel that they must choose between lives of abuse or, if they report a crime, the threat of deportation. As a result, many illegal immigrants suffer silently rather than reporting abuse. This is not necessary. They can petition for a U visa.   U Visa Protections U visas grant victims and their close relatives temporary legal status and work eligibility for at least four years. After three years of living in …

A gun rights group is fighting in court to arm legal immigrants, filing lawsuits over the Second Amendment’s application to those who are in the country legally and want to tote weapons. In Nebraska and New Mexico, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) says gun laws that restrict conceal carry permits to U.S. citizens unconstitutionally prohibit legal immigrants from carrying concealed weapons. And judges are agreeing.   One State at a Time  In New Mexico, on Mar. 30, a federal court issued …

A federal court on Mar. 28 struck down an Indiana law, inspired by Arizona’s infamous SB 1070, that reportedly allowed police to arrest immigrants without warrants. With that lawsuit, immigrant advocate groups have basically shut down state efforts to pass laws that give police unfettered power to bust suspected illegal immigrants.   Indiana Can’t Create an Immigration Crime The Indiana law, SB 590, was passed in 2011. Two of its provisions were especially disturbing to immigrant advocate groups including the …

The road to a green card is now less burdensome for some spouses, children and parents of U.S. citizens. An executive order signed by President Barack Obama allows some undocumented immigrants who are applying for green cards to remain in the United States during most of this process. The new rules went into effect March 4, 2013.   Old Requirements Forced Separation Previously, immigration law required undocumented immigrants seeking a green card to leave the country and seek a visa …