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Immigration Practice Resources

Search immigration practice advisories, sample filings, manuals, brief banks, and government guidance from trusted practitioner sources.

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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Jun 3, 2025

Immigration Consequences of Prop 36 and Other New California Offenses: Part One, Controlled Substance Offenses

This advisory discusses the immigration consequences of a conviction for a controlled substance offense under California Prop 36, specifically Cal. H&S Code § 11395. This advisory explains the immigration consequences of a criminal plea to a Prop 36 controlled substance offense. It outlines criminal defense strategies for defenders to avoid these pleas and outlines removal defense strategies for immigration practitioners where the plea cannot be avoided.

Removal defense Crimes and categorical approach Cross-forum Direct PDF
Direct PDF Source page Record
National Immigration Project Practice advisory Sep 17, 2024

Supreme Court Roundup: What Immigrants’ Rights Legal Representatives Should Know from the October 2023 Supreme Court Term

This roundup summarizes cases from the Supreme Court’s October 2023 term (through June 2024) that are potentially relevant to lawyers representing noncitizens, be it in immigration matters, criminal defense, or civil litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act or the U.S. Constitution.

Removal defense Crimes and categorical approach Evidence and procedure Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Dec 12, 2023

"Particularly Serious Crime" Bars to Asylum and Withholding

This advisory analyzes and explains the particularly serious crime bar to asylum and withholding of removal. It describes the factors to consider in determining whether a crime is a "particularly serious crime" and how to challenge a particularly serious crime determination.

Asylum Withholding / CAT Removal defense Cross-forum Direct PDF
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American Immigration Council Practice advisory Nov 28, 2023

Common Tools of Statutory Construction for Criminal Removal Grounds

This practice advisory describes some of the common tools of statutory construction to assist practitioners in advocating for narrow definitions of generic criminal removal grounds before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and the U.S. courts of appeals. To determine whether a criminal conviction renders a noncitizen removable under federal immigration law, federal courts and the BIA generally employ the categorical approach. Under this approach, adjudicators consider whether the elements of

Removal defense Crimes and categorical approach BIA appeals BIA Direct PDF
Direct PDF Source page Record
Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Nov 2, 2022

New Options for Survivors of Trafficking and Domestic Violence

Survivors of human trafficking and of domestic or sexual violence often are charged and convicted of offenses that arose as a direct result of their exploitation. For noncitizens, the criminal record can cause deportation or destroy their eligibility for humanitarian visas. In the last five years, California has enacted multiple laws to avoid this injustice in criminal court, including a defense to a criminal charge and a vehicle to vacate a past conviction for survivors who were coerced to comm

Removal defense Crimes and categorical approach Consular practice Cross-forum Direct PDF
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National Immigration Project Practice advisory Aug 31, 2022

Practice Advisory: Gathering Criminal Records for Immigration Matters

This practice advisory provides an overview of how to effectively gather criminal records for immigration matters. The advisory briefly reviews considerations for conducting a criminal contacts screening and for evaluating the possible implications of a noncitizen’s criminal history if they are applying for benefits before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) or seeking a defense from removal in immigration courts (Section II). It then provides a summary of common cri

Removal defense Crimes and categorical approach Naturalization USCIS Immigration court Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Jul 12, 2022

Overview of California Post-Conviction Relief for Immigrants

Thousands of noncitizens in California are at risk of removal or cannot qualify for immigration relief because they have unlawfully imposed criminal convictions. The good news is that there are several options under California law to eliminate these convictions for immigration purposes, using post-conviction relief (PCR). This Advisory can help advocates to identify which of these forms of California PCR may help your client, and direct you to more resources about how to obtain it.

Removal defense Crimes and categorical approach Cross-forum Direct PDF
Direct PDF Source page Record
Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Jun 27, 2022

Practice Advisory: Post-Conviction Relief Motions to Reopen

This advisory provides detailed instruction on how and where to file a motion to reopen for attorneys who have successfully vacated a conviction for immigration purposes and their client is now eligible for termination or a form of relief. In addition, the advisory addresses the impact of the post-departure bar and reinstatement of prior removal order on post-conviction relief motions to reopen.

Removal defense Motions to reopen / reconsider Crimes and categorical approach Cross-forum Direct PDF
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National Immigration Project Practice advisory Jun 24, 2022

Practice Advisory: Post-Conviction Relief Motions to Reopen

This practice advisory discusses motion to reopen strategies for noncitizens who have successfully obtained qualifying post-conviction relief. Section II distinguishes among motions to reopen, motions to remand, motions to reconsider, and motions to terminate. Section III provides an overview of motions to reopen. Section IV outlines the evidentiary requirements of motions to reopen. Section V summarizes exceptions to motions to reopen time and number limitations, including joint motions to reop

Removal defense Motions to reopen / reconsider Crimes and categorical approach Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Mar 25, 2022

2022 Case Update: Domestic Violence Deportation Ground

The domestic violence deportation ground at INA § 237(a)(2)(E) sets out four bases for deportation: conviction of a crime of domestic violence, a crime of stalking, or a crime of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment, or being the subject of a judicial finding of violation of a domestic violence stay-away order. Coming within one of these grounds also can be a bar to cancellation of removal for non-permanent residents or DACA.

Removal defense Crimes and categorical approach Children and SIJS Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Oct 5, 2021

How to Use the Categorical Approach Now (2021)

With a few exceptions, immigration authorities must use the “categorical approach” to determine whether a criminal conviction triggers a ground of removal. Expert use of the categorical approach may be the most important defense strategy available to immigrants charged with or convicted of crimes. This Update of our long-running article includes discussion of Pereida v. Wilkinson, 141 S.Ct. 754 (2021).

Removal defense Crimes and categorical approach Cross-forum Direct PDF
Direct PDF Source page Record