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Recent U.S. Immigration News
Unaccompanied Children and the U.S. Immigration System
Contributor: Van T. Doan
For many months, the evening news has shown stories and images of unaccompanied alien children (UAC) arriving in the United States in increasing, and increasingly alarming, numbers. Who are these children? Why are they making this perilous journey? W…
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Categories: Immigration Law
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Prenuptial Agreements and I-864 Affidavits of Support
Contributor: Van T. Doan
Any alien who seeks to become a legal permanent resident (LPR) of the United States as an immediate relative or family preference immigrant is inadmissible if he or she is likely to become a public charge. To prevent the likelihood that an LPR would…
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International Child Custody, Jurisdiction, and UCCJEA
Contributor: Van T. Doan
The Uniform Child Custody, Jurisdiction, and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) is a uniform state law approved in 1997 to govern state courts’ jurisdiction to make and modify child custody determinations. Such determinations include custody and visitati…
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Deferred Action for Parents of U.S. Citizen Children or Lawful Permanent Residents
On November 20, 2014, President Obama announced a series of executive actions intended to decrease illegal immigration at the U.S. border, and to prioritize the deportation of felons rather than families. One initiative announced was deferred action…
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Categories: Immigration Law
Refugee / Parole Program for Minors in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras
Contributor: Van T. Doan
In recent years, children in Latin America seeking to escape dire conditions in their home countries have undertaken a difficult and dangerous journey to the United States. In order to create a safer option, in December of 2014, the United States is…
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Categories: Immigration Law
Domestic Violence and the Immigrant: Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and U Visa
Contributor: Van T. Doan
Domestic violence encompasses much more than physical abuse. One common component of domestic violence is the abuser’s attempt to exert control over the victim. When an abused immigrant is dependent on the sponsorship of his or her abuser, the…
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Categories: Immigration Law
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status: A Change in Maryland Law
Contributor: Van T. Doan
Recent changes to Maryland law that take effect on October 1, 2014, bring state law into alignment with existing federal law, and benefit a population that has often fallen through the cracks: abandoned, neglected, or abused young immigrants between…
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The DACA Renewal Request Process: What You Need to Know and Do
Contributor: Van T. Doan
On June 15, 2012, The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and who meet particular guidelines may request consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Read furt…
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Categories: Immigration Law
The Adam Walsh Act and Immigration: What You Need to Know Now
Background of the Adam Walsh Act On July 27, 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, also known as AWA. Named for a child who was abducted and murdered, the AWA was intended to protect ch…
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Categories: Immigration Law
The Child Status Protection Act: What happens to "Aged-Out" Beneficiaries Now?
The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) Before the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), children who were beneficiaries or derivative beneficiaries of family sponsored visa applications often “aged out” and were unable to immigrate as a …
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Categories: Immigration Law