UC Immigrant Legal Services Center

02/27/2025

February 26, 2025: We join the Home is Here Coalition in welcoming the reintroduction of the Dream and Promise Act. This legislation would create a pathway to citizenship for certain DACA recipients, immigrant youth, and some individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).

The Dream and Promise Act is widely supported and has passed in the House of Representatives two times in the last six years.

The legislation would potentially protect over five million people across the United States.

02/27/2025

Yesterday, the Trump Administration announced that it intends to set up an online process for some non-U.S. citizens, including some undocumented immigrants, to “register” their presence in the U.S. with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).       
      
This registration requirement comes from old law that imposed a requirement on noncitizens to register with the U.S. government or face certain penalties (criminal and civil).      
      
At this point, it is only an announcement. There is currently no way for most undocumented people to register with the U.S. government, and not everyone will be required to do so, including because they may have already “registered” if they entered with a visa or submitted certain qualifying applications to an immigration agency.     
      
The registry requirement is based on a Act passed by Congress in 1940 enacted to identify possible national security threats NOT people present in the country who are now undocumented. Most recently, in 2001, a registry targeted people from 24 Muslim-majority countries and North Korea which had devastating consequences for communities, including heightened racial profiling, separation of families, and deportations.      
      
What can people do now?      
      
At this time, there is no new process for undocumented immigrants to register. We are awaiting more information.      
      
Speak with a trusted legal services provider about whether this may apply to you.       
      
Community members may want to consider carrying at least copies of any immigration documents listed in the registration regulations that they may have, in order to show compliance should they be stopped or questioned by law enforcement.      
      
Examples of such documents showing registration include:      
I-94 Arrival-Departure Record      
I-551 Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”)      
I-766 Employment Authorization Document (EAD)      
I-862 Notice to Appear.      
      
Follow us for updates on the registry requirement. To learn more, please visit this NILC resource: https://www.nilc.org/resources/faq-non-citizen-registration-requirement-in-trump-day-1-executive-order/

01/31/2025

CONOZCA SUS DERECHOS
En casa:
Un oficial de inmigración no puede entrar a su casa a menos que tenga una orden judicial o que alguien en su casa le dé permiso para entrar.
Si inmigración está en su puerta, recuerde que usted tiene el derecho a: Mantener la puerta cerrada. Preguntar a los agentes por qué están allí. Pedir un intérprete. Si los agentes quieren entrar a su casa, pídales que le muestre una orden judicial firmada por un juez.
Si los agentes dicen que tienen una orden judicial, pídales que deslicen el documento debajo de la puerta o que lo sostengan frente a una ventana.
Revise cuidadosamente el documento para asegurarse que sea una orden judicial.
Solo las órdenes judiciales permiten a los oficiales a entrar a la residencia descrita en la orden.
Una orden de expulsión/deportación (“orden administrativa”) NO permite que los agentes de inmigración entren sin permiso.

Cómo diferenciar entre una orden judicial y una orden “administrativa” de inmigración:
Una orden judicial (“valida”) debe: nombrar a una persona de su residencia y/o áreas para ser registradas en su dirección, y debe estar firmada por un juez. Si el orden no cumple con los requisitos, usted NO esta obligado a abrir la puerta.
Si inmigración entra en su casa:
NO intente resistirse ni correr. NO mienta ni muestre documentos falsos. Usted y todos en su hogar tiene derecho a guardar silencio. NO firme ningún documento sin hablar con un abogado. Al firmar, es posible que usted esté renunciando a su derecho a permanecer en los EEUU.
Recursos a considerar
Tarjeta Know Your rights (Conozca sus Derechos o “KYR”) u otro recurso KYR que le ayudarán a recordar sus derechos en caso de que necesite usarlos. Aplicación móvil “Know Your Rights” disponible para descarga. Vídeos de Conozca sus derechos. Líneas locales directas que ayudan a responder a arrestos y detenciones de inmigrantes. Enlaces en la biografía.

01/30/2025

⁣KNOW YOUR RIGHTS⠀
At Home and How to Put them Into Practice⠀
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An immigration officer cannot enter your home unless they have a judicial warrant or someone in your house gives them permission to enter.⠀
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If Immigration is at your door, remember that you have the right to: Keep your door closed. Ask the agents why they are there. Ask for an interpreter, if the agents speak a language that you do not understand. ⠀
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If the agents want to enter your house, ask them if they have a warrant signed by a judge.⠀
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If the agents say that they have a warrant, ask them to slip the document under the door or hold it up to a window for you to review it. Carefully review the document to make sure it is a judicial warrant. Only judicial warrants give officers permission to enter the residence described in the warrant.⠀
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A warrant for removal/deportation (“administrative warrant”) does NOT allow immigration officers to enter a home without your permission.⠀
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A judicial (“valid”) warrant must: name a person in your house and/or areas to be searched at your address, and it must be signed by a judge. If the document the officer shows you does not meet the requirements listed above, you are not required to open the door.⠀
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If immigration enters your house you still have rights: Do not attempt to resist or run. Do not lie or show false documents. You and everyone in your home have the right to remain silent. Do not sign any papers without speaking to a lawyer. By signing, you may be giving up your right to stay in the United States.⠀
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Resources to Consider: All links in bio.⠀
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Know Your Rights (KYR) card or other KYR resource that will help remind you of your rights in case you need use them. ⠀
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Wallet-sized Know Your Rights red cards available to print. Know Your Rights Mobile Application available to download. ⠀
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Know Your Rights Videos in multiple languages. ⠀
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Local Hotlines that Help Respond to Immigration Arrests and Detentions Many counties in California have a local “rapid response” hotline that you can call. Trained volunteers are available to help respond to immigration arrests and detentions in the community.

01/18/2025

Update on the DACA decision: After analyzing the decision, our Center has determined that the Fifth Circuit has allowed existing DACA recipients outside of Texas to continue renewing their DACA status. We will provide updates here including the impact on new DACA applicants as soon as we hear from trusted partners.

01/17/2025

We are here to support all of our students, including those that have DACA. We will have more information soon and are working to develop resources so that you can understand what the decision means for you and how we can help.

11/08/2024

Thurs., Nov. 7, 2024: The District Court of Appeals issued a final judgment that there was no authority to issue President Biden’s “Keeping Families Together” initiative, and it constitutes a final ruling unless there is an appeal to a higher court.

We do not currently know if USCIS can continue accepting online applications for the program.

We encourage those that are possibly eligible for the new PIP program to reach out to an attorney and discuss the best approach for you as we gather more information.

We will provide additional updates as we learn of them. You can make appointments at UCIMM through our link in bio.

10/28/2024

Election Webinars!

UCIMM Is Hosting the Following Election Webinars:
All Times at 12-1:15 PM PST
Registration Links in Bio

Friday, November 1, 2024: Know Your Rights as a Non Citizen Protestor.

Friday, November 22, 2024: Traveling While Undocumented.

Friday, December 13, 2024: Safety Planning for Immigrants.

10/09/2024

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals was set to hear oral arguments tomorrow (Oct. 10) on a motion filed by community organizations to intervene on behalf of individuals directly impacted by the Keeping Families Together Parole policy.

However, on 10/4/2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an Order denying mixed status families the ability to join the case and present their perspective as intervenors.

What this means:
The case involving KFT parole (Texas v. DHS) is now before the District Court which extended the stay to prevent USCIS from processing KFT PIP cases until 11/8/2024, and has scheduled trial on 11/5/2024.

USCIS can continue to accept online applications for the program, but cannot approve applications. We encourage those that are possibly eligible for the new PIP program to reach out to an attorney and discuss the best approach for you.

The Fifth Circuit is still set to hear oral arguments about DACA tomorrow, 10/10/24.

Follow us for updates!

09/17/2024

08/23/2024

Today, August 23, 2024, Texas and several other states filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Texas challenging the legality of the Parole in Place Program for Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens, aka “Keeping Families Together.”

The states are challenging the policy on the basis that PIP should only be “used on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit” and that the PIP policy is not implemented in this manner.

However, at this time, the Court HAS NOT ruled on the case, and PIP applications continue to be accepted and processed by USCIS. The Court can issue an order at any time halting PIP. We do urge those that are possibly eligible to reach out to an attorney and try to get your PIP application in as soon as you can.

We will provide additional updates as we learn of them. You can make appointments at UCIMM through our Link in Bio, or here at https://ucimm.law.ucdavis.edu/book-appointment.

05/16/2024

Our Center’s mission is to provide immigration support to UC students, staff, and faculty as well as their family members.  We are available to provide free immigration consults to non-citizens affiliated with UC for those that have been arrested and/or are facing disciplinary charges by the UC related to protests and/or encampments to assess the impact on their immigration cases.  For the inquiry form, click the first link in bio.  For all other inquiries that are less time sensitive, please click the second link in bio for a general consultation.