Naturalization

Cannabis and Immigration Law

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Cannabis and Immigration Law (June 5, 2023)

Marijuana has become a confusing legal field throughout the United States. While marijuana is still illegal at the federal level under the Controlled Substances Act, a majority of states have legalized marijuana in some form, whether just for medical use or also for recreational use. The discrepancies in marijuana law may be even more confusing for immigrants. Immigration law is governed under federal law and is tied to other federal laws and regulations, including the Controlled Substances Act. This means that even if immigrants live in states where marijuana is legalized, they are still prohibited from possession and involvement with marijuana under federal law. The consequences for immigrants who are involved with marijuana in any way can be grave: immigrants may be deported, may be found inadmissible when re-entering the country, and lawful permanent residents may be temporarily barred from establishing good moral character for naturalization.

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Making a False Claim to U.S. Citizenship

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Making a False Claim to U.S. Citizenship (May 15, 2020)

Individuals who are not U.S. citizens but who hold themselves out to be U.S. citizens may be subject to severe legal consequences, such as being placed into removal proceedings with little prospect of being eligible for relief or waiver.  Falsely claiming to be a US citizen has been a grave offense under U.S. immigration law and even more so since September 30, 1996 with the passage of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRAIRA).  Under this law, any foreign national who falsely represents, or has falsely represented, himself or herself to be a citizen of the United States for any purpose is inadmissible. Foreign nationals in this situation will be subject to removal and discretionary waivers will generally be unavailable, unless the foreign nationals are able to qualify for asylum or some other relief, such as cancellation of removal.

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MAVNI Program – Citizenship Through the Military

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MAVNI Program – Citizenship Through the Military (August 18, 2017)

The Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) is a small, exclusive program that allows foreign nationals to gain expedited citizenship in exchange for military service. Typically, all of the United States military branches require enlistees to be permanent residents of the United States, green card holders, but the MAVNI program allows certain non-immigrants with special health care and language skills to join the military and be eligible for U.S. citizenship without first obtaining a green card.

The program began as a pilot in 2009 and was amended in September of 2016 with additional security reviews and screenings. The additional security measures have effectively placed the MAVNI program on hold and have created uncertainty among future and current MAVNI enlistees about the program’s future.

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Path to U.S. Citizenship

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Path to U.S. Citizenship (March 27, 2017)

For foreign national who wishes to gain legal status and eventually citizenship in the United States, this may be achieved in a number of ways. Among the most common methods for a foreign national to achieve citizenship are either through employment or through family, including by marriage. Depending on the foreign national’s circumstances, other methods are also available.

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Naturalization 101

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Naturalization 101 (September 23, 2012)

When a non-citizen wants to become a United States citizen, that person must undergo a process known as naturalization. There are many benefits in becoming a U.S. citizen. A U.S. citizen can travel more freely; he can vote; and he can apply for more jobs, including government positions. Citizens are more eligible to apply for public benefits such as full Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, food stamps, and have access to certain loans, mortgages and scholarships. Finally, U.S. citizens would not be subject to deportation or removal proceedings.

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