Jun
16

Fact or Fiction: Can my U.S. Citizen Son or Daughter Apply for Me to Become a Permanent Resident?

Wilson Law Group is separating fact from fiction in a series of blogs clarifying some common misconceptions in immigration law.  We hope you find our clarifications helpful.  One common misconception is that a parent becomes automatically eligible for permanent residency once his/her child turns 21 and files a petition for the parent.  We wish it were that simple, but it is more complex.  To be clear, having a U.S. citizen son or daughter - even if s/he is 21 years old - does not automatically mean the parent is eligible for permanent residency in the U.S.  A parent certainly may be...

Jun
16

Hennepin and Ramsey Counties and ICE Holds

Hennepin and Ramsey County Sheriffs both announced this week that they are no longer going to honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) requests to hold non-citizens for 48-hours after they are released from criminal custody. Until this week, ICE would place a "hold" on certain non-citizen individuals when local law enforcement arrested them. The hold would give ICE 48 hours to come pick these individuals up after they were released from criminal custody. ICE would then often place them in removal proceedings. The Sheriffs cited cost as one of the main reasons they have decided to...

Jun
5

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson Announces Process for DACA renewal

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson today announced the process for individuals to renew enrollment in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has submitted to the Federal Register an updated form to allow individuals previously enrolled in DACA to renew their deferral for a period of two years.

Read the News Release.

Jun
4

Social Media and Criminal Charges

When you use social media, do you consider the potential legal consequences of your activity? Richard Alan Collier learned the hard way that posting about illegal activity on social media can lead to criminal charges. He voted absentee in both the Minnesota and Texas 2012 general elections and then bragged about it online. On June 3, 2014, Mr. Collier pleaded guilty in Galveston, Texas, to attempting to commit illegal voting. He was fined $4,000. Before your next tweet or post, take a moment to think about any legal ramifications your activity could have.

Jun
3

Seeking an Order for Protection for Domestic Abuse

An Order for Protection (OFP) is a civil order that primarily prohibits a respondent party’s contact with the petitioning party following an incident of domestic abuse and restrains the respondent from committing further domestic abuse.  Under the Domestic Abuse Act found in Minn. Stat. Sec. 518B.01 (2013), domestic abuse means any of the following acts by a family or household member: physical harm, bodily injury or assault; the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm bodily harm, or assault; terroristic threats; criminal sexual conduct; or interference with an emergency call.  A...

Jun
2

Team Bonding Outing

DW Team Bonding

Managing Attorney David Wilson's team of immigration assistants and attorneys enjoyed a team bonding extravaganza together last week.  

Jun
2

Individuals Claiming Fear at the Border Face Tougher Standard

When a person is apprehended by immigration officials at the border, that person may be placed in expedited removal proceedings, meaning that he or she can be deported without a hearing before an immigration judge. However, if the person claims to be afraid to return to his or her home country, that person is entitled to an opportunity to explain his or her fear to an asylum officer in what is known as a “credible fear interview.” The purpose of the credible fear interview is to determine whether there is a “significant possibility” that the person could be granted asylum by an...