Immigration Matters
California Passes Law to Protect Undocumented Immigrants in Court
When Donald Trump became president, his administration made it a priority to crack down on illegal immigration and detain undocumented immigrants currently in the country. In his first eight months in office, arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have increased by 40 percent, according to reports. Under the Trump Administration, ICE agents have identified courthouses as safe places to arrest undocumented immigrants. In an effort to stop…
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Orange County Sheriff’s Department Finds Loophole in California Sanctuary State Law
While President Donald Trump’s Administration has taken a hardline stance against illegal immigration, the state of California has passed laws that make it difficult for federal immigration agents to find and arrest undocumented immigrants within the state. One such law is the California Values Act (Senate Bill 54), which took effect this year. This “sanctuary state” law limits how local law enforcement agencies can cooperate with federal immigration officials. However,…
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LA Increasing Efforts to Protect Immigrants Facing Deportation
Immigration has been a major issue concerning President Donald Trump’s administration. Since Trump took office, the number of immigrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has increased, and there have been reports that federal agents have arrested people in courthouses. Los Angeles has long held that it will be a sanctuary city for immigrants. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti emphasized this stance recently by calling for further protections for…
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Latinos Reporting Crime Less Due to Fear of Deportation
If you witness a crime being committed, you will likely call the police or inform nearby authorities. While doing this, you may also decide to walk away from the area because you don’t want to get caught up in the middle of it. Both of these actions are natural, but recent reports suggest that informing police about a crime is not something that is happening among a certain group of…
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Are Immigration Officials Targeting Immigrants with Criminal Records?
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) recently conducted a large-scale operation across the southern half of California, taking more than 240 immigrants into custody.1 According to officials, the vast majority had been previously convicted of felony or sexual abuse related crimes.2 The operation was in part a reaction by the federal government to changes in how local authorities are handling their interactions with immigrant populations, along with recent high…
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Russian Anti-Gay Laws and Policies Could Lead to Russian Gay Man Being Granted Asylum in U.S.
In Russia, he was an easy target because of his sexual orientation. After being attacked several times in his home country and getting no help from law enforcement, a gay Russian man sought asylum in the U.S. only to be denied by immigration officials. A federal appeals court recently ordered immigration officials to review their decision. Gay Russian Man Seeks Asylum A gay Russian man, who was identified only as…
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Illegal Immigrants Allowed Driver’s License in California
There have been many attempts in recent years to grant special driver's licenses to illegal immigrants in California. On Jan. 1, Section 1936.5 was added to the Civil Code and section 12801.6 was added to the Vehicle Code, which granted driving privileges to illegal immigrants who came to California as children. Earlier this month, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill 60, extending the ability to apply for driver's licenses to all…
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Process for Requesting Court Dockets from California Court
An immigrant who is seeking to obtain federal immigration benefits from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and has a history of criminal convictions or arrests is strongly encouraged to use the help of a criminal defense attorney in order to obtain the necessary court dockets/dispositions and records. Regardless of whether the immigrant is applying for adjustment of status, a nonimmigrant visa, or naturalization, it can be crucial…
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Governor Brown Vetoes Bill That Will Lead To Undocumented Immigrants Being Deported For Minor Offenses
Decision Deals a Serious Blow to Advocates for Equal Justice for Hard Working Immigrants California's governor late Sunday vetoed a bill that would have allowed local authorities to free undocumented immigrants from custody despite requests by immigration officials to hold them for possible deportation proceedings. In his veto message, Gov. Brown said he could not sign the bill because under it, "local officers would be prohibited from complying with an…
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Governor Brown Must Sign Trust Act So That The Police Will Not Deport Those That Have Lived In The United States For Many Years
By September 30, 2012 Governor Brown must decide whether to reduce California's cooperation with Secure Communities, a federal program that uses the fingerprints of those arrested to find and deport illegal immigrants, or to continue to allow state and local jails to hold immigrants for deportation when arrested for committing any offense. By signing the TRUST Act, Governor brown will prohibit state and local jails from holding immigrants for deportation…
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