"United We Dream"

"United We Dream"

United We Dream (unitedwedream.org) held its annual congress to celebrate its recent gains in helping young people who live in the United States without documentation.  The group cited the recent Obama administration program of deferred action for young educated immigrants to remain in the United States without fear of deportation and recent laws in California and Maryland expanding access to state colleges and universities.   United We Dream will be very active in supporting comprehensive immigration reform promised by the President and members of Congress.

For representation on immigration matters, please contact Glickman Turley LLP at 617-399-7770.

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.

The Potential for Post-Election Immigration Reform

An editorial published today by Bloomberg  highlighted that support for immigration reform is inevitable now that President Obama has been re-elected. The editorial stated that Latinos, known to be a socially conservative demographic, comprised 10 percent of the total vote, giving "Obama almost three votes for every one earned by Romney." 

President Obama campaigned on immigration reform that would address the nearly 11 million illegal immigrants in the US. Republican Speaker John Boehner has stated that he is "confident that the president, myself, other can find the common ground to take care of this issue once and for all." 

The editorial further noted that: "Standard & Poor’s has found that cities with high immigration levels show improvements in credit ratings, tax bases and per-capita incomes. High-skills immigrants, meanwhile, not only increase productivity but also generate jobs."

For representation on immigration issues, please contact Glickman Turley LLP at 617-399-7770.

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.

Children Crossing Mexican Border Up 50% in 2011

The Los Angeles Times reported that there was an increase of unaccompanied children from Central American countries who attempted to cross the Mexican border into the U.S. illegally in hopes of qualifying for asylum. There are significant pockets of growth from three countries: "El Salvador, with 68% more unaccompanied minors; Guatamala, with 72% more; and Honduras, with the number more than doubling, from 1,201 to 2,477." These 2011 statistics were cited in a reported called "Forced From Home: The Lost Boys and Girls of Central America" and the number is expected to rise in 2012. 

Click here to read more on this story. 

For representation, please contact Glickman Turley LLP at 617-399-7770. 

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.    

Youth Deferred Action Applications Being Accepted by USCIS Effective Today

Today, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will accept applications in consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals. The applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis for individuals who came to the United States as children and meet other guidelines as directed by USCIS.  

The USCIS press release stated: "Deferred action is a discretionary determination to defer removal action of an individual as an act of prosecutorial discretion...While it does not provide lawful states or a pathway to permanent residence or citizenship, individuals whose cases are deferred as part of this process will not be removed from the United States for a two-year period, subject to renewal, and may also apply for employment authorization."

See "Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Process" at http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD.     

For representation, please contact Glickman Turley LLP at 617-399-7770. 

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.   

Breaking News (UPDATE) - DHS: Deferred Action Will be Offered to DREAMers

The White House will announce today that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will stop deporting and start granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children and have led otherwise law-abiding lives. The new policy will impact approximately 800,000 undocumented immigrants, according to The Huffington Post. The policy change partially implements one of the objectives of the DREAM Act, "a long-sought but never enacted plan to establish a path toward citizenship for young people who came to the United States without documents but who have attended college or served in the military."

American Immigration Lawyers Association released the following preliminary information in a news alert this morning. Eligible applicants must:

- Be 15-30 years old, and have entered before age 16

- Have been present in the U.S. for 5 years as of June 15, 2012

- Have maintained continuous residence

- Have not been convicted of one serious crime or multiple minor crimes

- Be currently enrolled in high school, graduated or have a GED, or have enlisted in the military

- The deferred action offer will be available to those in proceedings as well as to those who apply affirmatively.

UPDATE: Here is the link to DHS's official memo. 

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.  

Can Illegal Immigrants Practice Law in the United States?

The highest state courts in California and Florida will rule on cases considering whether illegal immigrants are eligible to practice law in the United States, according to the WSJ Blog. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners granted Jose Manuel Godinez-Samperio a waiver to take the bar exam when he was unable to provide proof of immigration status. Godinez-Samperio passed the bar exam and now the Florida Board of Bar Examiners awaits an advisory opinion from the Florida Supreme Court before formally allowing him to practice law.

In California, Sergio C. Garcia was sworn in as a lawyer but the California bar is taking a second look at Garcia's case because of his immigration status.

Illegal immigrants are "barred from receiving federal grants, loans and professional licenses, unless the benefits are approved by individual states" and it is against the law for an employer to hire knowingly an illegal immigrant. Click here for more on this story.

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.  

Valentine's Day Action to Celebrate Immigrants Event in Boston

On Tuesday, February 14, 2012, there will be a celebration at Boston City Hall honoring the positive contributions that immigrants offer in Massachusetts. For more information, see the press release below:

When: Tue, February 14, 11am – 12pm

Where: Boston City Hall (1 City Hall Ave., Boston MA 02201) (map)

This Valentine's Day, celebrate all the positive contributions that immigrants offer to Massachusetts! Immigrants represent progress and the future wellbeing of American society. Come and support our Just Communities campaign in front of Boston City Hall! Supporters: AFSC Project VOICE, Boston New Sanctuary Movement, Brazilian Immigrant Center, Cambridge United for Justice With Peace, Centro Presente, CISPES, Immigrant Workers Center Collaborative (IWCC), Jobs With Justice - MA, Justice at Work, Neighbors United for a Better East Boston (NUBE), and Student Immigrant Movement.

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.

72 Indonesians in New Jersey Fear Deportation

The New York Times reported yesterday that a community of 72 Indonesians living in central New Jersey for the past two years have been ordered to leave the United States by the Department of Homeland Security. Many of the Indonesians had escaped their homeland because of religious persecution. 


The order comes as a surprise to immigration advocates. Earlier this year, the Obama administration shifted its immigration enforcement plan to focus on deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records. The Department of Homeland Security issued a directive in June, 2011, that urged immigration agents and lawyers to use prosecutorial discretion in handling deportation cases. The report explained that prosecutorial discretion includes consideration of a variety of factors, such as the duration of time an undocumented immigrant has lived in the United States and whether the undocumented immigrant was brought here as a child. 


Most of the Indonesians that are seeking help from supporters have been living in the United States for about 10 years, have American-born children, are employed, and have no criminal records - meeting many of the criteria necessary for relief provided by the new prosecutorial discretion directive. 


Two members of the House of Representatives have plans to submit a bill to provide relief for the Indonesians who are facing deportation by "allow[ing] certain Indonesians who fled persecution in their homeland between 1997 and 2002 to resubmit asylum claims that had been denied because they missed a one-year filing deadline." 


Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.

Obama Agrees to Stop Deportation of Many Young Immigrants

The Obama administration announced Thursday that it would suspend deportation proceedings against many illegal immigrants who pose no threat to national security or public safety, according to a recent New York Times article.

The purpose of this policy is to allow the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to devote its resources to deporting high-priority immigrants, such as those with criminal records.

This relief will allow many immigrant children to remain in the United States, especially if they have lived in the U.S. for many years and have gone to school or want to go to school in the U.S.

Glickman Turley attorneys represent immigrants in all immigrantion matters. We represent immigrants in deportation and removal proceedings on applications for cancellation of removal, asylum, withholding of removal, protection under the United Nations Convention Against Torture, adjustment of status, voluntary departure and other matters.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss your immigration status. We will continue to follow this excellent delevelopment for young immigrants and hope for more progress in reforming the immigration system.

Governor Patrick Supports In-State Tuition for All Massachusetts Residents

We are pleased that Governor Patrick recently showed his public support for allowing Massachusetts residents—regardless of their immigration status—to access Massachusetts state colleges and universities at in-state tuition prices.

At a July 20, 2011 State House hearing, Governor Patrick reminded constituents and lawmakers that the immigrants who would benefit from in-state tuition are “real people - individuals, students, and families - whose ambitions are caught up in the only community in most cases that they know.’’

See the full Boston Globe article on Boston.com. Contact Glickman Turley LLP if you would like to discuss your immigration status or other legal issues.