Whether you’re new to Los Angeles or have lived here your entire life, there are some important things you should know about immigration. As you’ll see, there are a number of resources available for you to learn more about what you need to know.
Observing Immigration Court Proceedings
Observing immigration court proceedings in Los Angeles is a good way to learn more about the immigration process. You’ll see how the immigration court handles administrative issues and how to file your own paperwork. You’ll also see how the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attorney handles your case.
You’ll also see the immigration court’s use of videoconferencing. This technology allows for faster hearings. It also saves immigration judges from traveling, which is important when their caseloads are unusually high.
The presiding judge may ask you to wear a face mask. Make sure you’ve got one on hand. Also, be sure to dress appropriately. This includes wearing something you’re comfortable in.
The presiding immigration judge may also ask you to wear something else. He or she may want you to wear a hat, and may even ask you to change into a different outfit. This may be required, depending on the size of the courtroom.
The immigration court has two types of court dates. These are the Master Calendar Hearing (MCH) and the Individual Hearing (IH). The latter is usually two hours long and has about 20 to 30 cases.
The immigration court has a lot of pressure to keep its calendars moving. In particular, the Trump administration has been busy hiring more judges. They’ve also been focusing on reducing the backlog of cases.
The EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) has a zero tolerance for false information. It also encourages immigrants’ lawyers to file paperwork.
There’s also a nifty little gadget called a videoconferencing system that can help you and your attorney get the most out of an unusually heavy caseload.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attorney in charge of your case may ask you questions about your ties to the LGBTQ/H community. You should also be prepared to answer questions about your credentials.
Appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals
Appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals in Los Angeles can be an important part of your immigration law process. They are the highest administrative body in immigration law. The BIA reviews immigration judge decisions and can affirm or reverse the immigration judge’s decision.
Most appeals are based on errors in law or fact. Your attorney must be knowledgeable in the appellate procedures and ensure that your brief is properly filed.
To appeal an immigration court decision, you must file a Notice of Appeal within 30 days of the decision. You must also specify the reasons for your appeal. The notice must include your case number and a statement of why your case should be reviewed by a three-member panel.
An attorney can represent you in an appeal to the BIA. Your attorney should identify errors in law, facts, or interpretations of the law. Your attorney must also find support for your case in the case law. Your attorney will file a written brief to the BIA.
The immigration appeal process can be confusing and complicated. However, it can help you win your case and remain in the United States. If you lose the appeal, you may have to leave the country. Depending on the complexity of the issues in your case, it can take months or years to resolve.
You can find a Los Angeles immigration attorney who can represent you in a BIA appeal through your local bar association. Some lawyers are also pro bono. Lawyers who are pro bono agree to provide 50 hours of free legal services a year in immigration courts.
If you lose your immigration appeal, you will have to leave the country. However, the decision may be reversed or you may be remanded back to an immigration judge.
L.A. Justice Fund
During the first year of LAJF, the Fund’s grantees provided legal representation to 742 people who were facing deportation. This reflects an increase in demand for the nonprofits’ client services. Immigrants are a large part of Los Angeles County’s labor force, paying billions in county taxes. And they represent huge purchasing power. In many cases, they have been in the United States for more than 10 years.
The Justice Fund is a public-private partnership with Los Angeles County and the Weingart Foundation. It is also supported by private donations. During its first year, LAJF has hired 34 lawyers. The lawyers have closed 94 cases.
The Los Angeles Justice Fund prioritizes immigrants facing deportation who are victims of violence, human trafficking, fraud, or domestic violence. It also prioritizes immigrants with Temporary Protected Status and unaccompanied children.
The fund has received more than $16 million in combined funding from Los Angeles County and the city. The city has also approved a new framework for free legal representation for immigrants. The guidelines include the right for an attorney to decide whether or not to file a deportation claim.
According to the California Community Foundation, 70 percent of the people in the immigration court system do not have attorneys. The LAJF grant makers have provided $260,000 to the Los Angeles Immigrant Justice Center (LIJC). This funding will provide attorneys to bolster training for volunteer immigration relief services.
The LAJF is a public-private partnership that will serve immigrant Angelenos facing deportation proceedings. The money will come from county and city funds, as well as private donations.
Immigrants have been facing additional challenges during the Trump administration. They represent billions of dollars in county taxes, and they represent 44 percent of the labor force.
Catholic Charities
Founded in 1938, Catholic Charities is a nonprofit organization that provides support and services to the poor and needy. They offer several services to the homeless, senior citizens, and immigrants in Los Angeles. They also operate community centers across the city. These centers provide food, clothing, and shelter for the poor. They also offer transportation assistance, utility bill assistance, and referrals to other assistance programs.
Some of the services provided by Catholic Charities of Los Angeles are:
The Undocumented Minors Program provides legal services to unaccompanied minors who are eligible for the Unaccompanied Immigrant Children Program (UIC). This program offers assistance in immigration status, naturalization, and other legal matters. The organization also provides legal representation to immigrants facing deportation.
In addition, the organization offers assistance to immigrants who are seeking work authorization. Its legal services programs are recognized by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). The programs help immigrants file family and work visas and apply for naturalization. The programs are also funded by the California Department of Social Services.
Another service provided by Catholic Charities of Los Angeles is the Older Adult Services and Intervention System (OASIS). This program provides financial support and education to help low-income elderly stay in their homes. It also helps them obtain employment and train for jobs that pay at least a living wage.
The organization also provides case management services. These services are free to most clients. The organization can also refer clients to other assistance programs, including social services, energy bill programs, and rent assistance.
Catholic Charities also operates food pantries in Ventura, Saticoy, and Cabrillo Village. Food pantries also provide free emergency food and shelter to the homeless.
Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project
Founded in 2002, the Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project is a public interest legal organization that provides legal assistance to the most vulnerable immigrants in the Los Angeles area. While there are many legal organizations devoted to providing legal services to the immigrant population, Esperanza focuses on providing legal education and a plethora of other services that go well beyond the usual legal recitation.
The Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project offers a myriad of ways for volunteers to lend a hand. This includes providing pro bono legal services to detained immigrants and other types of low income clients. Aside from providing legal assistance to immigrants, Esperanza also works with detained immigrants in federal immigration detention centers. Its main focus is to advocate for the rights of immigrants in detention while at the same time ensuring that these same immigrants are treated fairly and given the respect they deserve. Among other things, Esperanza’s mission is to provide education and orientation to immigrants in detention who are not eligible for legal services.
Esperanza offers a number of nifty things to do for volunteers, from providing free legal orientation to a myriad of volunteer opportunities in all sorts of fields, from interpreting documents for detainees to assisting in the filing of documents. Among other things, Esperanza also offers a plethora of free legal orientations to detainees in federal immigration detention centers. The Espera is also home to the largest number of volunteers in the Los Angeles area, with the organization claiming that there are between a few hundred and a few thousand volunteers serving the immigrant community in the Los Angeles area. With such a large volunteer population, it is likely that Esperanza will be able to keep its doors open for some time to come.