Find a Primerus Lawyer

List of Primerus Law Firms (A-Z) List of Primerus Law Firms (by Geo) List of Primerus Lawyers (A-Z) Global Map of Primerus Law Firms

Learn More About
Immigration Law Firms

The body of immigration law concerns the legal rights, duties, and obligations of aliens and foreign nationals who enter the country either on a permanent or temporary basis. Immigration law, also termed naturalization law, focuses on the application procedures associated with the naturalization process of foreign individuals who seek to establish U.S. citizenship, in addition to dealing with matters of people who illegally cross the U.S. border, foreign refugees or asylees, and those illegally transport foreign nationals into the U.S.

The main legislation governing immigration is the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, (INA). The act hads been amended numerous times, the most significant of which was the establishment of a new quota system in 1965. For INA purposes, an “alien” is any person who is not a citizen or a national of the United States. There are different categories of aliens: resident and nonresident, immigrant and nonimmigrant, documented and undocumented (“illegal” ).

Immigration law is under the control of Congress. Presidential power is limited to policies on refugees. Courts will not become involved in immigration issues unless constitutional rights are involved.

Several laws have been passed to strengthen regulation of illegal immigration practices, such as hiring of illegal aliens and sham marriages. Congress enacted the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986, which toughened criminal sanctions for employers who hire illegal aliens, denied illegal aliens federally funded welfare benefits, and legitimized some aliens through an amnesty program. The Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986 attmepts to curb sham marriages for the sole purpose of obtaining citizenship.

Immigration policies are implemented by granting or denying visas. There are two types of visas: immigrant and nonimmigrant. Nonimmigrant visas are primary issued to tourists and temporary business visitors. Only a few categories of non-immigrant visas allow their holders work in the United States. Immigrant visas permit their holders to stay in the United States permanently and ultimately to apply for citizenship. An alien who has an immigrant visa is permitted to work in the United States. Congress limits the overall number of immigrant visas, and many immigrant visas are also subject to per-country caps.