Olinger Law

Lawsuit Challenges Sheriff (and his Posse).

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A class action lawsuit against Maricopa County, Arizona, and its notorious Sheriff Joe Arpaio, begins today in federal court. According to the complaint, the sheriff’s office even enlists, directs and controls large numbers of volunteer “posse” members (like motorcycle clubs) to “enforce” Federal immigration laws. Unfortunately, as outlined in the lawsuit, the result (with no sign of let-up) is systematic, widespread racial and ethnic profiling and discrimination against Latinos, regardless of those persons’ citizenship or lawful immigration status.

Got Rights. Get Educated. Immigration Forms

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Fact:  A law or regulation is behind every question on every immigration form.  Immigration history,  jobs, travel, family, and  arrests can all affect whether you can enter the U.S. or remain here. Myth:  An old criminal conviction, or one that got “dismissed” after probation, doesn’t count. DHS access to current and past criminal arrests is… Read More »

Civics for aliens…and citizens.

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Immigration’s new Naturalization Self Test for U.S. citizenship preparation is so good we hope that native-born Americans check it out! Designed by the Smithsonian to learn and self test U.S. history and civics, it is unlike any of the other, typical, USCIS bureaucracy-feel webpages.

Restored Deportation Relief

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For certain green card holders with criminal convictions, deportation relief that previously was wrongly withheld is now available, as intended by Congress. On May 2, 2012 the Matter of E.W. Rodriguez decision by the immigration appeals court ruled that persons who became permanent residents through “adjustment” (meaning “fixing” ones papers in the U.S.) are eligible for a certain waiver. This is true whether the person initially entered the U.S. lawfully or not.

“My Consuela”

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Perspective matters. It changes viewpoints, often by rendering the abstract concrete. The immigration perspective-shift also happens this way.

In our business we hear a version like this: A U.S. citizen comes in for a consultation and says, “I’m not in favor of illegal immigration, but…. I want to know what I can do to help my Consuela.” Then we hear about the trusted nanny / housekeeper / ranch-worker, etc. who’s “like a member of the family. We want to get her legal. What do we do to help?”

DOMA Immigration Obstacles

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3 Ways DOMA Hinders Immigration Benefits
4 Steps To Start Making Things Better

DOMA, the Defense Of Marriage Act, treats a U.S. citizen’s same-sex spouse as a legal stranger. DOMA ‘s Section 3 defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Many immigration benefits available to married heterosexual couples are denied to same-sex married couples.