My youngest siblings are graduating from high school this week. I’ve been thinking about their futures – where they’ll go to college and the adventures they’ll have as they transition into adulthood. They have so many options, and I am excited to see where their paths lead. Two years ago, not all high school graduates […]
Reflections on DACA and Status Renewals Read More »
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice released numbers that show the approval and denial rates from Immigration Courts and individual Immigration Judges around the U.S. Nationally, the average asylum grant rate in immigration courts is 53% which, effectively, brings the national denial rate to 47%. In contrast, the Stewart Detention Center in south
Asylum in Atlanta: Affirmative vs. Defensive Applications Read More »
One of my favorite things to do is to educate the community about immigration options and immigrant rights – even if they are in the United States without authorization. I’ve always been a big believer that education can move you forward. Education and knowledge are power. By sharing what I know about immigration and answering
Immigration Presentations Read More »
When someone is a victim of sexual assault or abuse, there are nearly no areas of that person’s life that are untouched. Daily routines are charged with memories, friends, and family can turn into adversaries, love, and affection are tainted with suspicion. Imagine how difficult life would be if you were a victim here in
April is Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness Month Read More »
I’m writing to you from Washington, D.C. today. Every year, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) coordinates a National Day of Action – inviting immigration attorneys from around the country to come to Washington, D.C. to meet with their elected officials to discuss immigration. So, here I am with hundreds of other immigration attorneys in
Lobbying for Immigration Reform Read More »
When we talk about adjustment of status, we typically think about a newlywed couple where one spouse is a U.S. citizen and the other is not. Much of the information out there about the adjustment of status focuses on the types of documents and questions that the couple should expect USCIS to want and ask. But
USCIS Interview Waivers Read More »
The past few weeks, I’ve written about the unwaivable types of fraud – marriage fraud, asylum fraud, and false claims to U.S. citizenship. But not every lie or misrepresentation is a permanent bar from immigration benefits. So today I am going to write about types of fraud that can be waived. Under section 212(a)(6)(C)(i) of the Immigration
General Fraud and Willful Misrepresentation Read More »
Not all marriage fraud is obvious. The classic example is when the foreign national offers U.S. citizen money in exchange for getting married and filing immigration paperwork. But if the foreign national and U.S. citizen are best friends and they just want to help each other out? Or what if the couple is elderly, never
Marriage Fraud Not Welcomed Here Read More »
There are three types of fraud that the Immigration and Nationality Act takes very seriously – so seriously that if you’re found to have committed one of these, your chances for any type of immigration benefit in the future are reduced to just about zero. In a future post, I’ll talk about the types of fraud that
When Fraud Cannot be Waived Read More »
Thirteen months ago, I met Christina. Christina is a lively, colorful 70-year old woman from Mexico. She’s lived in the United States since the early 1950s and swore she was a lawful permanent resident. She had lost her green card sometime in the 1970s, and since she lived in California, the need for her to
When You Know You’re Right Read More »
