In response to the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and its draconian policies, California became a sanctuary state. Among other things, California provides much needed legal protection to undocumented immigrants by limiting the amount of cooperation between state and local law enforcement agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Unfortunately, since the bill was passed,…
On January 9th, 2020, the Los Angeles Times published an important and illuminating story on Bismarck, North Dakota—a relatively small and racially homogenous city that, while once considered to be a haven for refugees from all around the world, has become a much more challenging place for immigrants to live in the era of President…
On January 2nd, 2020, President Trump ordered an airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian general. By doing so, the administration unilaterally and dramatically heightened tensions across the globe—potentially even pushing the United States closer to a very serious military crisis. There have been immediate ramifications back at home. At the border, there have…
Last Fall, California lawmakers passed a bill banning private prisons, including private immigration facilities. As the law takes effect on January 1st, 2020, one of the nation’s top private prison companies is taking legal action against the state. According to reporting from the Los Angeles Times, the GEO Group—the largest private, for-profit immigration detention contractor…
Through an O-visa, individuals with extraordinary abilities or achievements may be eligible to get authorization to live and work in the United States. Indeed, O-1 visas are the primary employment immigration option used by people in the entertainment industry. As explained by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), there are two types of O-1 visas:…
Through a U visa, a victim of a serious crime may be eligible to obtain protection under immigration law. To apply for a U visa, a crime victim must report the offense and work with law enforcement and government agencies. Navigating the U visa application process can be confusing and challenging. We want to make…
According to reporting from The San Diego Union-Tribune, the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) is among a coalition of advocacy groups that are pushing for reforms of California’s state tax laws. Under the current tax rules, immigrants—simply because of their immigration status—are excluded from a state-based tax credit. Here, our Los Angeles immigration law attorney…
According to reporting from NBC Southern California, Freedom for Immigrants (FFI), an immigrant rights group based in California, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for ending a free hotline that offered detainees an opportunity to report poor or dangerous conditions in detention facilities. The hotline, which received a wave of national attention after…
According to reporting from Fox 40, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is facing a complaint over allegations that one of its deputies violated California’s sanctuary state laws. Under Senate Bill 54, police officers and law enforcement agencies in California are legally required to limit cooperation with federal immigration officials. Immigrant rights activists believe that the…
On December 2nd, 2019, Mother Jones published an investigative report on the legal barriers that the Trump Administration has put into place to make it more difficult for qualified applicants to obtain H-1B visas. While the steps that the administration is taking behind the scenes are somewhat unclear, the effects are not: H-1B visa applications…
