In the beginning of December, a federal judge ordered the federal government to fully reinstate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The government had started this program back in 2012 but has since made efforts to repeal the program. Now, with...
Immigration
Immigration
Immigration status in danger because of criminal charges
Non-citizens have significantly fewer rights than U.S. citizens, especially when it comes to criminal law. If you are in the U.S. legally on a visa or a green card, the federal government has standards of behavior for you to maintain your legal status. One of two...
Naturalization and your good moral character
If you have been anticipating the time when you would become a U.S. citizen, you may be frustrated by the recent circumstances that have limited the available services of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. You are not alone. Many who wish to go through the...
Certain issues could put your citizenship application at risk
You may have lived in the United States for years, and coming here from another country may have been a stressful experience. Now you consider Texas your home, and you want to adjust your immigration status to become a naturalized citizen.Pursuing citizenship can...
Will ICE agents enter a church to arrest me?
In recent years, you may have heard news stories about people hiding in churches due to fear of immigration agents and deportation. That is because many places of worship have become sanctuaries for individuals and families who feel threatened by U.S. Immigration and...
Adjusting your resident status from temporary to permanent
A lot has happened in the time since you applied for your visa to work, study or travel in the U.S. Perhaps you met someone you want to remain with, or you simply fell in love with Texas. Whatever your reasons, if your temporary visa is due to expire, you have some...
Immigration court provides few protections for your rights
When you think of going to court, you may imagine appearing before a judge or jury to defend yourself against criminal charges. You may also know of people who have gone to court for family law matters, financial issues or to claim damages after an injury.If you are...
Becoming a U.S. citizen can provide many benefits
Individuals who come to the United States have different immigration status options. If they plan to stay temporarily or for a specific purpose, they may only need to obtain the applicable visa. Of course, some individuals may come to the country on a visa and later...
Three common ways to obtain your Green Card
If coming to the United States to live and work has been a dream of yours, you may be confused about how to obtain lawful permanent residency status in this country. It is true that the process of immigrating to the U.S. is complex and carries no guarantees. In fact,...
Texas immigrants and field sobriety tests: Things you should know
As someone who emigrated from another country of origin to live in Texas, you may have found aspects of life in the U.S. a bit strange at first. Sports, family customs, religious events and even traffic rules and regulations may be peculiar to someone who has lived in...