Immigration Law Manuals
CLINIC uses publications to build awareness among immigration counselors, policymakers, news media, advocates and the general public on immigration issues. Materials are aimed to educate the public, train advocates, or contribute informed analysis on key policy concerns. CLINIC's publications support positive change, based on the compelling message of Catholic social teaching and social justice. Immigration manuals are available for purchase from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Other CLINIC publications are available for download by clicking on the name of the publication.
CLINIC PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FROM AILA
IMMIGRATION LAW & THE FAMILY: This book is a practical guide to all aspects of family-based immigration, including immediate relatives and the preference system, application process for permanent residence, consular processing, immigrating through marriage, grounds of inadmissibility, the affidavit of support, and other topics of concern to practitioners. It is published by AILA Publications.
AILA'S FOCUS ON THE CHILD STATUS PROTECTION ACT: Charles Wheeler, director of CLINIC's National Legal Center for Immigrants, draws from his own experience and expertise, as well as from the collective wisdom of other practitioners, to explain the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). It encourages leaders to challenge government interpretations that are at odds with the regulation. The book is published by AILA Publications.
IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES OF CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS: This book is a practical guide to the immigration consequences of criminal convictions. It provides detailed information to assist legal advocates in analyzing the potential immigration consequences of criminal conduct. The manual covers the basic framework for evaluating the impact of crimes, and discusses in detail crime-based inadmissibility and deportability grounds, establishing good moral character, detention and removal issues, post conviction relief, and judicial review.
REPRESENTING CLIENTS IN IMMIGRATION COURT: This book is a practical guide to all aspects of relief from removal cases. This manual provides a detailed description of the law, as well as strategies for defending clients in removal proceedings. Chapters cover an overview of removal proceedings, asylum, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, NACARA, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture. It is published by AILA publications.
VAWA: IMMIGRATION RELIEF FOR ABUSED IMMIGRANTS: Written by CLINIC and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center under a generous grant from the California Endowment, the manual is a comprehensive guide for legal advocates working with immigrant survivors of domestic abuse and crime. The manual consists of 15 in-depth chapters on VAWA self-petitioning, adjustment of status, inadmissibility and waivers, and consular processing; conditional permanent residence, VAWA cancellation of removal, special immigrant juvenile status, T and U visas, gender-related asylum, and public benefits. The manual also contains extensive appendices of sample applications and forms, primary source documents, and community education brochures.
To purchase the AILA published manuals, please click here.
FREE GUIDES
The following handbooks and guides are available for download. They are also availabe under our Resources.
ASYLEE ELIGIBILITY FOR RESETTLEMENT SERVICES: A SHORT GUIDE The report gives service providers the information needed to address the resettlement needs of asylees. The guide contains crucial and timely information about the benefits and services for which asylees are eligible, including job placement assistance, English language classes, health screen, cas assistance, social security cards, adjustment of status, travel authorization, petitioning for immediate relatives and federal student financial aid.
A MORE PERFECT UNION: A NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP PLAN The report sets forth the resources, activities, and partnerships that would be required to naturalize as many eligible immigrants as possible. It calls for a national mobilization in support of citizenship, identifying the roles of government, immigrant service agencies, and other sectors of society in a coordinated plan. It describes a program that could serve as the linchpin of an emerging U.S. immigrant integration strategy.
AN ADVOCATE'S MANUAL FOR SOLVING EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS IN LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI ASYLEE ELIGIBILITY FOR RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE: A SHORT GUIDE: The purpose of this guide is to give service providers the information needed to address the resettlement needs of asylees. The guide contains crucial and timely information about the benefits and services for which asylees are eligible, including job placement assistance, English language classes, health screening cash assistance, social security cards, adjustment of status, travel authorization, petitioning for immediate relatives and federal student financial aid.
CITIZENSHIP FOR US: A HANDBOOK ON CITIZENSHIP AND NATURALIZATION 6th EDITION: Citizenship for Us is a comprehensive guide to the naturalization process that provides detailed information on citizenship eligibility, requirements, and benefits and a step-by-step explanation of the N-400 (Application for Naturalization). The guide includes 13 study units on U.S. history and civics, historic photos, timelines, a sample naturalization interview, and a chapter on civic participation. It is geared for immigrants, community leaders, ESL teachers, and other non-attorneys.
Chapters are available for download here.
Hard copies are also available for $40. Click here to order online. Click here for the printable order form.
CITIZENSHIP FOR REFUGEE ELDERS: ISSUES AND OPTIONS IN TEST PREPARATION: A unique handbook for teachers and administrators on creating and managing a citizenship program for the elderly learner. Contains information on citizenship requirements, refugee cultures, and instructional materials. This book is available in hardcopy only. To order a copy of this manual, please complete the order form and mail with check or money order to address provided. Click here to download an order form.
IMMIGRATION MANAGEMENT MANUAL: This manual describes best practices used by many of the country's most experienced nonprofit immigration programs and managers. The training curriculum covers program design, case selection criteria, case management systems, fee schedules, alternative funding sources, financial controls, marketing, staff training, BIA agency recognition and staff accreditation, and legal representation ethics.
STRATEGIES FOR NATURALIZING THE MOST VULNERABLE APPLICANTS: This handbook discusses English exemptions, due consideration, reasonable accommodations, disability waivers, oath waivers, fee waivers, and expedited processing.
LEGALIZATION MANUAL: This manual provides a starting point for charitable immigration service providers to begin preparing for immigration legalization.
MANUAL ON DEPORTATION DEFENSE AND CHILD CUSTODY FOR CRIMINALLY INCARCERATED IMMIGRANT PARENTS
PREPARING FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM: AN EARNED PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP & BEYOND: The manual was created to help charitable immigration agencies increase program capacity and prepare for a large increase in the number of people needing immigration services. Its recommendations are offered to spur thinking and planning by these programs.
RESOURCE LIST FOR IMMIGRATION DETAINEES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
REPORTS
CLINIC At-Risk reports
In 2000-2001, CLINIC published a series of reports on immigration issues based on numerous case studies. The reports identify, track, and examine the impact of our nation's immigration laws and policies on at-risk immigrants. They illustrate particularly compelling problems faced by immigrants, clear explanations of the law at the root of such problems, and other research.
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REPORT 1 - IMMIGRANTS AT-RISK: Through more than 60 case studies of newcomers experiencing hardship in the United States, the report attempts to put a human face on the harsher aspects of our nation's immigration laws. The report addresses the following topics:
- Family-Based Immigration
- Backlogs
- Processing Delays and Poor Service
- The Undocumented and Others subject to bars on Admission
- Victims of Domestic Violence
- How Detention Divides Family
- Workplace Raids
- Unauthorized Legal Practitioners
REPORT 2 - CITIZENSHIP AT-RISK: Illustrates the problems that plague the U.S. naturalization process. More than 20 case studies detail the stories of lawful permanent residents facing the backlog, poor customer service, increased application fees, and fee waiver inaccessibility. The report also addresses elderly and disabled applicants, good moral character issues, naturalization test standards, denials, and denaturalization.
REPORT 3 - WORK WITHOUT JUSTICE: Highlights the plight of low-income immigrant laborers in the United States. Follows immigrant laborers from their countries of origin on their often perilous journeys to the United States, documents the harsh reality they find upon arrival, and describes the horrors faced by migrants smuggled into the United States by organized crime syndicates. The report contains more than 25 case studies with a particular focus on day laborers, service sector employees, migrant farmworkers, and immigrants in the meatpacking and poultry industries.
REPORT 4 - THE NEEDLESS DETENTION OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES: Addresses the growing population of immigrant detainnes, including asylum seekers, children, indefinite and mandatory detainees, and those subject to removal from the United States based on secret evidence.
REPORT 5 - CHAOS ON THE US-MEXICO BORDER: A Report on Migrant Crosing Deaths, Immigrant Families and Subsistence-Level Laborers. Like past reports, this one attempts to put a human face on immigration and labor problems through dozens of case studies. The report covers border crosing deaths, human rights abuses against migrants in Mexico and the United States, the inundation of border communities with Border Patrol agents, ranchers, Indian nations, the expansion of U.S. enforcement activities outside the U.S. territorial limits (and the consequences for the international regime of refugee protection) labor abuses, farm workers, NAFTA displaced workers, the unincorporated communities known as colonias, foreign-owned assembly plants (maquiladoras) in Northern Mexico, the impact of U.S. immigration laws on border families, etc. It ends with a series of recommended changes to U.S. immigration and labor laws and policies.
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You can also order hardcopies of the report, by completing this form and mail it with a $10 check or money order to:
CLINIC
415 Michigan Ave. NE, Suite 200
Washington DC 20017