Immigration Law News

It has been rather standard procedure for many of the border states to attempt to end-run around the federal immigration laws and deal with localized immigration problems (real or perceived) with state law. Recently, Michigan (not a usual suspect) has taken a hard line against immigrants by using an existing section of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code to deny driver's licenses to non-U.S. Citizens or lawful permanent residents. Utilizing a misguided interpretation of the Michigan Attorney General's published legal opinion regarding the definition of the term "resident" in the motor vehicle code, Land has instructed her office to deny driver's licenses to all Michigan residents who are not U.S. Citizens or lawful permanent residents.

The 3/10 year bar is the greatest paradox of American immigration law. The 3/10 year bar is a immigration law that says that anyone who enters the country illegally and without inspection by a U.S. immigration official and stays for 6 months is banned from returning for 3 years. If the persons who enters illegally and stays for 1 year then the person is barred from returning for 10 years. The law was passed in 1996 with the intent of "deterring" immigrants from entering the U.S. illegally.

Many immigrants have questions about the rules and regulations related to social security cards. This area of law is somewhat complicated by the fact that there are two types of social security cards, and the similar Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or ITIN.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will issue social security cards to U.S. Citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents and other persons who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. otherwise apply for a social security card.

Judge Munley of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania ruled yesterday that a local ordinance, known as the Illegal Immigrant Relief Act Ordinance, regulating the presence and employment of illegal aliens was unconstitutional. The City of Hazelton also passed the Tenant Registration Ordinance which required all persons living in apartments to obtain an occupancy permit. In order to obtain an occupancy permit under the ordinance an applicant had to present proof of U.S. Citizenship or lawful permanent residency.