IMMIGRATION LAW GUIDE
This guide was prepared for students working in the Suffolk University Law School Pro Bono Program. Some of the resources may be useful to others doing immigration law research.
Outline
Introduction
The federal government has the sole power to regulate the admission, removal and naturalization of immigrant non-citizens. States cannot override the federal government's plenary power in this area. The main federal departments involved are the Homeland Security, State, Justice and Labor. There are some others.
This guide introduces some important immigration resources on how to find additional materials. Where appropriate, this guide links to other guides prepared for the Suffolk University Law School Pro Bono Program or by the Moakley Law Library.
Secondary Materials
- Essentials of Immigration Law (index; 8 U.S.C. to INA conversion table; treatise; dictionary of abbreviations) [Reserve KF 4819.B67]
- Immigration Law and Procedure, Nutshell Series (short, handy treatise) [Reserve KF 4819.3.W4]
- Immigration Law and Procedure, Revised Edition, Gordon et al (in-depth treatise; INS forms; selected statutory and regulatory materials; deskbooks; manuals; tables; 20 volumes) [KF 4819.G7]
- Immigration Law and Defense, 2 Volumes (in-depth treatise; index) [KF 8925.E4.I46]
- Immigration Law Service, Anna Gallagher (in-depth treatise; INA; relevant U.S.C. & CFE sections; deskbooks; instructions; manuals; other documents; 8 volumes) [KF 4815.I33.L425]
- Immigration & Nationality Law Handbook (in-depth articles on most immigration topics) [KF 4819.A2.A415]
- Immigration Practice Manual, Two Volumes, MCLE (treatise) [Reserve KF 4819.I483; available on WL & LX]
- Immigration Procedure Handbook, 2 volumes (forms; in-depth treatise) [KF 4819.I484]
- Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook : Comprehensive Outline and Reference Tool (treatise; table of abbreviations; subject matter index) [Reserve KF 4819.3.K87]
- Litigating Immigration Cases in Federal Court (treatise) [KF 8925.E4 P38]
- Steel on Immigration Law (treatise; forms; tables; indexes) [KF 4819.S73]
Government Websites
United States Citizenship & Immigration Services [USCIS] (immigration petitions; status adjustments; naturalization; asylum; refugee). The USCIS is part of the Department of Homeland Security.
- Legal Resources (incl. INA; 8 CFR; BIA decisions; Interpretations; Manuals; and plenty of other material)
- Forms (list UCIS forms; listed by area, e.g. employment; where to file addresses; fee schedules)
- Resources (provides excellent resources for all aspects of immigration and international movement, i.e. international adoption)
- Topics (provides a great central location for the major immigration topics, i.e. green card applications, and what you have to do) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) [juducial immigration arm; includes immigration courts; Board of Immigration Appeals]
Board of Immigration Appeals & Immigration Courts. The Courts are part of the Department of Justice.
Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer [OCAHO](dealing with cases before Administrative Law Judgeson employment issues under the INA). The OCAHO is part of the Department of Justice.
Primary Sources of Law
Where available printed and electronic immigration primary materials have links to Suffolk Law Library sources and free online unannotated sites.
Statutes and Regulations
Statutes
- The main statute is the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (INA). It is codified in Title 8 of the United States Code [KF 62.A4 or here unannotated]
Regulations
- Regulations appear in the C.F.R. Immigration agency regulations appear in 8 C.F.R. The State Department in 22 C.F.R. and 20 C.F.R. for the Labor Deparment [KF 70.A3 or here unannotated]
Most, if not all, of these sources are printed in -
- Immigration & Nationality Act (INA; other 8 U.S.C. sections; other immigration acts) [Reserve KF 48193.A556]
- Immigration and Nationality Laws of the United States (selected statutes, regulations and forms; topical index) [Reserve KF 4805.99.U55]
- Immigration Law Service, Anna Gallagher (in-depth treatise; INA; relevant U.S.C. & CFE sections; deskbooks; instructions; manuals; other documents; 8volumes) [KF 4815.I33.L425]
- Immigration Law and Procedure, Revised Edition, Gordon et al (in-depth treatise; INS forms; selected statutory and regulatory materials; deskbooks; manuals; tables; 20 volumes) [KF 4819.G7]
- Bender's Immigration Regulations Service (complete 8 C.F.R.; D. State, Justice, Labour, Health Immigration Regulations; up to date) [KF 4819.B39]
- See also government websites
Case Law (BIA; federal courts - immigration court is an administrative body of EOIR)
- Bender's Immigration Reporter and Bulletin (federal and administrative case law; up to date) [KF 4815.I46] (see Immigration law and Procedure Reporterfor older cases - KF 4815.I33.B458)
- See also government websites (BIA; OCAHO)
Westlaw/Lexis/Others
Westlaw and Lexis have most immigration primary and secondary law in their databases. As subscription databases, availability is limited to what access you have as a student or private plan.
In Lexis, go to Area of Law By Topic/Immigration.
In Westlaw, go to Directory/Topical Practice Areas/Immigration.
HeinOnline (contains law journals/reviews, more extensive than WL/LX; immigration legslislative history)
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If you have questions or comments, please email lawref@suffolk.edu.
Created: November 19, 2009.
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