As a top rated immigration lawyer California residents turn to in their time of need, attorney Franklin Nelson knows how important it is for immigrants living in the U.S. to familiarize themselves with U.S. immigration facts. Today, attorney Nelson is sharing some of the most important immigration facts that he feels you should be familiar with.
Top Rated Immigration Lawyer California Shares Important Immigration Facts That All Immigrants Should Know
Immigration is Managed and Overseen by Congress.
The U.S. constitution grants congress the power to both manage and oversee U.S. immigration concerns. This puts the management of immigration in the hands of the federal government and not the state government. There are, however, some states that have put laws in place that allow police to carry out investigations of possible illegal immigrants living within their state.
The particular department within the federal government that takes charge of immigration processes is the Department of Homeland Security.
There Are Various Branches of Homeland Security That Deal with Different Immigration Concerns
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has various agencies that carry out the regulation and enforcement of immigration laws.
ICE or the Immigration and Customs Enforcement is responsible for overseeing immigration as a whole as well as for prosecuting offenders who break current immigration laws.
USCIS or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services oversees the applications for immigrants who are seeking to legally come to the U.S. They are also responsible for the issuing and renewal of residency status – for example, green cards.
The Customs Border Protection agency is responsible for monitoring the country’s borders and ensuring that only those eligible to enter the country are getting through the border.
The Visa Waiver Program
By law, there are a select few countries that the U.S. has special relationships with when it comes to short term entry to the U.S. If you are from one of these “special” countries you are permitted to enter the U.S. for 90 days for either business or pleasure without a visa, however, you must carry an e-passport. This program is referred to as the visa waiver program. You can find out if you are eligible for the VWP by reading over the list of current countries with which the U.S. has a VWP arrangement in place here.
USCIS Staff Cannot Give You Information on Specific Immigration Laws
If you need help understanding immigration law or the details of the immigration process, it’s best to consult a reputable immigration attorney. An attorney is well versed in U.S. immigration laws and any and all recent updates to individual policies on immigration. USCIS staff members, however, are not immigration attorneys and they do not have accessibility to this type of information. This means that there’s a possibility that a USCIS employee could provide you with inaccurate information or they could be unable to help you at all. It’s always best to go straight to a professional who specializes in immigration law so that you don’t cause any unnecessary delay in your case!
Refugee Admissions to the U.S. Can Be Frozen
If you are unfamiliar with the Trump presidency then you may be unaware that the president has the ability to freeze refugee admission to the U.S. In the past, the U.S. has offered a place to more refugees of countries all around the world, than any other country around the globe. However, at the beginning of President Trump’s presidency, he implemented a freeze on refugee admission amid security concerns. Poorly planned, this policy tore many families in two and caused a whole host of problems and worldwide resentment. Since then, however, the country has once again started offering a safe haven for refugees BUT under Trump’s rule, much fewer refugees are granted admission to the country and persons who are suspected of being a security risk can be denied entry. By implementing new rigorous security checks, the refugee admissions process has become extremely lengthy and many refugees are being left in dangerous situations while they go through these checks.
While reform of the administration’s current immigration policy is being called for, the constant back and forth between and the people and states of the U.S. is making very little progress.
Immigration Law is Confusing For Everyone
Due to the many ins and outs and detailed intricacies of U.S immigration law, it can be exceptionally difficult to navigate. Yes, even immigration attorneys and judges have difficulty with immigration law at times and have to rely on their professional networks for assistance. This is important to know because it’s yet one more reason why you should ALWAYS seek out an attorney who is familiar with immigration policy. They may have to conference with their professional network or scour the law library, but they are more able to apply laws to the overall legal framework of the U.S. and the U.S. immigration policy.
Looking For a Top Rated Immigration Lawyer California Residents Trust?
If you live in or around the Pasadena, California area and are looking for an immigration attorney in California who you can depend on, Nelson and Associates can help. Just dial 626-683-3451 today to find out how attorney Nelson can help you.
