Legal Services

Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) [VAWA, U-Visa] – A service that is working to fight against injustice towards immigrants, provide them with resources to deal with current immigration laws, and advocate for issues regarding education, workers’ and immigrants’ rights, as well as economic justice and community building.

Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Human Trafficking | Services & Programs – Cast LA [T-Visa] – CAST attorneys empower survivors to assert their legal rights and choose appropriate remedies to rebuild their lives. The legal services program works collaboratively with survivors, community-based organizations, public-interest attorneys and numerous government agencies to ensure survivors of human trafficking are provided culturally-sensitive, victim-centered legal representation.

ICWC Law | A California Non-Profit Immigration Service Group The Immigration Center for Women and Children (ICWC) is a non-profit legal organization providing free and affordable immigration services to underrepresented immigrants in California and Nevada.

Know Your Rights | Immigrants’ Rights

Your rights:

• You have the right to remain silent and do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration agents, or other officials. Anything you tell an officer can later be used against you in immigration court.
• If you are not a U.S. citizen and an immigration agent requests your immigration papers, you must show them if you have them with you.
• If an immigration agent asks if they can search you, you have the right to say no. Agents do not have the right to search you or your belongings without your consent or probable cause.
• If you’re over 18, carry your papers with you at all times. If you don’t have them, tell the officer that you want to remain silent, or that you want to consult a lawyer before answering any questions.

How to defend your own case/Como defender su propio caso

These self-help materials are designed for detainees to use in representing themselves when applying for some common forms of legal relief from removal. Please note they are written for detainees in Arizona and most were last updated in 2013, with support from the American College of Trial Lawyers Emil Gumpert Award.

For People Working with Immigrant Families:

The Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) Campaign is dedicated to providing community-facing materials on public charge to better equip immigrants with what they need to know to make the best decision for themselves and for their families. More materials for service providers and advocates can be found at our Special Resources Page. 

Hotline | Office of Inspector General

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline is a resource for Federal employees and the public to report allegations of employee corruption, civil rights and civil liberties abuses, program fraud and financial crimes, and miscellaneous criminal and non-criminal activity associated with waste, abuse or fraud affecting the programs and operations of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal. They are also eligible for work authorization. Deferred action is a use of prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against an individual for a certain period of time. Deferred action does not provide lawful status.

You may request DACA if you:

1. Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
2. Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;
3. Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
4. Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
5. Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012;
6. Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and
7. Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor,or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

USCIS [United States Citizenship and Immigration Services] is currently not accepting or reviewing first-time DACA applications. Only renewals are being reviewed at this time.

Legal Orientation Program for Custodians of Unaccompanied Alien Children

• Legal orientation presentations to the adult caregivers (custodians) of unaccompanied children in EOIR removal proceedings.
• The purpose of this program is to inform the children’s custodians of their responsibilities in ensuring the child’s appearance at all immigration proceedings, as well as protecting the child from mistreatment, exploitation, and trafficking, as provided under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008.
• LOPC educates custodians on:
  • The immigration court process and how it works
  • The importance of the children’s attendance at removal hearings and consequences of failure to appear
  • The forms of immigration relief available to children in removal proceedings
  • The custodians’ responsibility to protect the children from mistreatment, exploitation, and human trafficking
• LOPC assists interested custodians in locating pro bono counsel for the children in their care. 
• To a limited extent, the LOPC also addresses other non-legal social service needs of custodians caring for immigrant minors.

How do I apply for US citizenship?

Naturalization Process

Generally, to be eligible for naturalization you must:

• Be age 18 or older; and
• Be a permanent resident for a certain amount of time (usually 5 years or 3 years, depending on how you obtained status); and
• Be a person of good moral character; and 
• Have a basic knowledge of U.S. government (this, too, can be excepted due to permanent physical or mental impairment); and 
• Have a period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States; and
• Be able to read, write, and speak basic English. An English proficiency test will be conducted during the interview portion.
• There are certain exceptions for someone who at the time of filing:
  • Is 55 years old and has been a permanent resident for at least 15 years; or 
  • Is 50 years old and has been a permanent resident for at least 20 years; or 
  • Has a permanent physical or mental impairment that makes the individual unable to fulfill these requirements. 

In order to become a citizen, you must:

1. Submit a N-400 form;
2. Go to a biometrics (fingerprinting) appointment;
3. Complete an interview;
   1. Speaking test
   2. Reading test
   3. Writing test
   4. Civics test
4. Be approved for citizenship;
5. Receive a notice to take an Oath of Citizenship; and
6. Take the Oath of Citizenship.

Currently, the fee for submitting Form N-400 is $725 (form and biometrics).

Special Immigrant Juveniles

Chapter 2 – Eligibility Requirements

Congress initially created the special immigrant juvenile (SIJ) classification to provide humanitarian protection for abused, neglected, or abandoned child immigrants eligible for long-term foster care. This protection evolved to include children who cannot reunify with one or both parents because of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a similar basis under state law. 

Juveniles in the United States and in the need of protection of a juvenile court because of abuse, abandonment, or neglect by a parent, may be eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification. 

If SIJ classification is granted, juveniles may qualify for lawful permanent residency (Green Card).

General Qualifications for SIJS:

• Physically present in the United States
• Unmarried
• Under the age of 21 on the date of filing the Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360)
• Juvenile Court Order in the United States that meets the specific requirements
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security consent
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) consent, if applicable

Green Card for VAWA Self-Petitioner

Battered Spouse, Children and Parents

Under the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), you may be eligible to become a lawful permanent resident (get a Green Card) if you are the victim of battery or extreme cruelty committed by:

• A U.S. citizen spouse or former spouse;
• A U.S. citizen parent;
• A U.S. citizen son or daughter;
• A lawful permanent resident (LPR) spouse or former spouse; or
• An LPR parent.

You must first submit a I-130 and personal declaration, and be approved under VAWA before you are able to apply for a green card. A person can petition on their own under VAWA without the knowledge of their abuser. If the I-130 is approved, they will be able to apply to work in the US.

Form I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status

Victims of Human Trafficking: T Nonimmigrant Status

The T nonimmigrant visa is a temporary visa that allows victims or family members of victims of human trafficking (sex trafficking and labor trafficking) to stay in the US for up to 4 years if they have assisted law enforcement in an investigation or prosecution of human trafficking. In order to be eligible, the applicant must demonstrate “unusual or severe harm” if they were to leave the US. A T visa recipient may be eligible to adjust their status for green card status.

You must first submit a I-914 and personal declaration, and be approved before you are able to apply for a green card. 

If you do not feel safe receiving mail from USCIS at your current address, you may include a safe address on your application. You do not have to be living at the safe address.

Victims of Criminal Activity: U Nonimmigrant Status

Green Card for a Victim of a Crime (U Nonimmigrant)

U Visa Immigration Relief for Victims of Certain Crimes

The U nonimmigrant visa is set up for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. In order to be eligible, the applicant must demonstrate “substantial physical or mental abuse” as a result of having been a victim of criminal activity. Certain qualifying family members may also apply for derivative U visas.

You must first submit a I-918 and personal declaration, and be approved before you are able to apply for a green card. The U visa is valid for 4 years, although extensions are possible.

There is a limit of 10,000 U visas approved per year.