Articles Posted in Immigrants in California

The people that make up the United States have been compared to a melting pot, a salad bowl, and a quilt.  Whichever analogy you prefer, the immigration attorneys at Fong & Aquino have always believed that immigrants are a vital part of this society.  Immigrants may be found at all levels of the socio-economic ladder and within each of the fifty states.

We believe that immigrants should fully participate as part of the voting electorate and the body politic.  Immigrants can bring their wide breadth of experiences to bear while serving on juries of their peers.  And immigrants who have lived in this country for many years should participate in determining the direction of the country through the ballot box.  And as these privileges are only available to United States citizens, the first step to making this happen is to encourage the naturalization of as many eligible immigrants as possible.IMG_4761-300x225

The lawyers at Fong & Aquino have historically provided free services in this endeavor.  We have volunteered at immigration clinics.  We have partnered with local organizations to provide seminars on naturalization.  We want to do our part to encourage as many immigrants to naturalize and become full members of the American community.  From here on out, we pledge that for straightforward applications, our legal fees to prepare the application and to have an attorney attend the interview in the Los Angeles metropolitan area will  be significantly reduced.  (While we can also assist many folks who are farther away, we will need to assess costs for travel and accommodations.)

Drivers License for Undocumented Immigrants

Undocumented Immigrant Driver’s Licenses

What you should know

On January 1, 2015, California joined a handful of other states that issue driver’s licenses to undocumented individuals. Among the many goals that supporters of AB60 hope is that the requirement that undocumented individuals must pass the driver’s exams prior to the issuance of a license will result in safer roadways. Obtaining a license also helps undocumented immigrants avoid being cited for the dreaded California Vehicle Code § 12500 – Driving Without a License.

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Benefits for Immigrants - Covered California

Legal US immigrants have rights to benefits

If you are here legally, you may be missing out on benefits you are entitled to receive

Many legal immigrants (whether they are lawful permanent residents or naturalized U.S. citizens) do not apply for benefits for which they are eligible because they fear that they will tip off the authorities about any undocumented members of their families. However, one agency is working with community groups to ensure that people who apply for health insurance are reassured that their family members are safe.

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Naturalization of permanent residents

Cities for Citizenship launches in major metro cities

Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago

Occasionally, USCIS will hold group naturalization ceremonies specifically for children. One such ceremony occurred recently at the Los Angeles Public Library. These are really cool events and they are much more exciting than sitting in the waiting room at the federal building for an immigration officer to call your name and bring you the completed certificate.
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Most Common of Origin of Legal Immigrants (2012) - Slate

Where are most legal immigrants coming from?

The research shows some interesting results.

Not too long ago, we took a look at an interesting map of the United States that showed the potpourri of languages that are spoken across the United States when you you look beyond English and Spanish. This week, we take a look at another map:
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Adri-Anne Ralph, Singer-Songwriter Meet Adri-Anne Ralph

This week, I continue my quest to answer the big important questions in life, starting with “I’d like to refer more clients to you . . . What does an immigrant look like?” Some of you may recall that I took my first foray into this journey by introducing Continue reading

Los Angeles Immigration

Immigration to Los Angeles

It has fostered a rich mix of cultures

As an immigration attorney in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, I get to meet a lot of different people from all different parts of the world. It helps that this city is very popular with immigrants.
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Immigrant Children 2014

“I brought Hassan’s son from Afghanistan to America, lifting him from the certainty of turmoil and dropping him in a turmoil of uncertainty.”
– Khaled Hosseini, “The Kite Runner”

Rather than speculation about whether there is going to be a new immigration law this year, the recent headlines about immigration have been about the surge of unaccompanied minor children from Central America who have been arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. This mother’s statement to a reporter reflects a common misperception: “If she gets across [the U.S. border] she can stay here. Now they say all children need to do is hand themselves over to the Border Patrol.”

What information are parents and guardians missing?
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Bringing Children to the United States | Scialabba v. Cuellar de Osorio

How Does the Supreme Court’s June 9th Decision Affect Your Child’s Immigration Processing?

Also, what do F2B, F3 and F4 categories mean for your child’s immigration status?

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a very important decision regarding the ability of children to immigrate to the United States based upon petitions filed for their parents. The decision is known as Scialabba v. Cuellar de Osorio.
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Many Roads Lead To Immigration Court

Overview of Removal Proceedings

How do individuals find themselves in removal proceedings?

This week’s blog will kick off a series of posts aimed at providing a broad overview of removal proceedings. Removal proceedings, formerly known as deportation proceedings, are the process by which the Department of Homeland Security (or “DHS”) seeks to deport individuals that it deems do not have authorization to be in the United States. Except under certain situations Continue reading

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