Appreciation and Giving Back Community service has always been an important part of my life. For me, as someone who has been blessed with many favorable opportunities, it is a way to give back to those who may not have been as fortunate. I can probably trace it back to…
Will there be immigration reform in 2013? Every now and then, when a judge is writing a decision, that judge will add a footnote about a question that is NOT being considered by the court. It’s a way of signaling that a particular legal issue remains an open question. Or…
The tidal wave of the first same-sex marriage (SSM) cases has passed, and I’d like to share some very brief observations. Romben Law, APC, with offices Hollywood and Palm Springs, fielded over 150 inquiries about SSM and has undertaken representation for some 100 cases this year. Some things I’ve noticed:…
Romben Law, APC has many, many clients from the Philippines, both at the Los Angeles office and the Palm Springs office. Last week, the Philippine Islands suffered catastrophic damage from the winds and rain of Typhoon Haiyan. The nation is only now beginning to get assistance to its stricken citizens,…
How automatic citizenship can keep children from being deported Over the years, I have met with families whose sons or daughters have been placed into removal proceedings. During the course of our meetings, I will learn that Junior (or Junior-ette) came to the United States as a lawful permanent resident…
The Immigration and Naturalization Service is long gone. In its wake lie a slew of acronyms that can leave your head spinning. Recently, I met with some clients who wanted to know if their prior applications for immigration benefits would cause any harm to a new application. They showed me…
With the federal government shutdown now in the rearview mirror, the question now becomes: Is there going to be a new immigration law this year? Here’s some of what I learned as a political science major: The two parts of Congress — the House of Representatives and the Senate —…
I’m a green card holder with a prior conviction. Am I able to leave and come back to the United States? What you should know about traveling internationally if you’ve had a prior conviction. Over the years, I have encountered this scenario multiple times: “I have a green card. A long…
How does the government shutdown affect immigrants, the courts and our border? Although the federal government has been shutdown, the effects upon my immigration clients have been varied. U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the primary agency that handles petitions and applications related to…
On Tuesday, 26 June 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the constitutionally discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). A US citizen or Legal Permanent Resident may now submit an immigration petition for a same-sex spouse. This is historic news and a true change in the way immigration…