Immigration Law and Policy Web Sites


The Web abounds with sites on immigration law and policy. Here are some of the best. This list is only a beginning. Good surfing!

POLICY RESEARCH SITES


Information on the economics and politics of U.S. immigration policy.

Atlantic Monthly Immigration Resources
Interesting articles on policy, politics, current events surrounding immigration. Includes online discussion.

Center for Immigration Studies
A restrictionist research organization. (Wants to tightly restrict immigration.) Discusses immigration from this viewpoint: strategies, President Bush, labor, economics, overpopulation, etc. Find out what the other side thinks. I don't agree with their views, but they provide one of the best e-mail information services on current immigration news.

International Center for Migration, Ethnicity and Citizenship (ICMEC)
The center promotes scholarly research and public policy analysis bearing on international migration and refugees. The site is primarily for scholars and is a good research resource. It also includes an e-mail discussion list and event list, along with many relevant links.

Policy.Com Issue Analysis
(search words: immigration or immigration policy)
This is an activist site with interesting articles on many topics, including immigration. It is also an online opinion research company. According to their promo, by connecting people who want to be heard with their political and business leaders, we promote important dialogue, and create a more informed, better organized public. The insight we gain from those collective opinions allows us to provide our leaders with a better understanding of the will of the people.

RAND
(search word: immigration)
The RAND corporation is a largely government-funded think tank, and the site is a bit dry. Still, I've always found them useful in providing data and analysis about immigration to the United States. Our job is to help improve policy and decision making through research and analysis.

The Urban Institute
This site is full of information but is not user-friendly. Even a search was not very helpful. Go to Research by Topic, look under Social Welfare, and click on Immigration. You will find high-quality social science research that often influences governmental actions. The Urban Institute investigates social and economic problems confronting the nation and analyzes efforts to solve these problems. The Institute seeks to increase Americans awareness of important public choices and improve the formulation and implementation of government decisions.

University of California Migration Dialogue
One of the best and most comprehensive online journals on immigration in the United States and migration around the world. The site provides two online journals, useful articles, an event list, and research. Articles are listed by region.

U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform
Created by the Immigration Act of 1990; dissolved in December 31, 1997. Includes research, reports to Congress, and congressional testimony. Of important historical significance. The mandate of the commission was to review and evaluate the implementation and impact of U.S. immigration policy and to transmit to the Congress reports on its findings and recommendations. Scholarly site, with some emphasis on Mexico.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S SITES


Executive Office for Immigration Appeals
This agency includes the Board of Immigration Appeals and immigration judges. Look here for information on how the board works, including questions and answers on motion and appeal practice.

Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)
The BIA decides appeals from certain USCIS and immigration judge decisions. This site links you to recent BIA decisions. Includes free legal service providers, forms, and an immigration court directory.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
Very useful! Free forms to download and order. Information on eligibility for immigration benefits from the USCIS point of view. New regulations plus questions and answers on current USCIS practices and policies. Employer information, immigration-related news, and the USCIS Guide to Naturalization.

Office of Special Counsel for Unfair Immigration Related Employment Practices (Civil Rights Division)
These people are responsible for investigating and countering immigration-related discrimination. Here you?ll find a downloadable I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form, brochures on immigration-related employment discrimination, and a list of organizations providing help to discrimination victims. Includes related news. Tambien en espaZol.

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
(search words: labor certification or alien)
The DOL makes decisions on applications for permanent and temporary labor certifications. At their site, you'll find a national job bank, statistical data on U.S. employment, and regulations on labor certifications

DOL Law Library Immigration Collection
This is the site of the U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of Administrative Law Judges. It has the purpose of assisting judges in keeping abreast of developments in the law and providing information to the public. The DOL is responsible for issuing labor certification applications in permanent and temporary visa cases. Includes the DOL's newsletter on immigration matters, case decisions, and immigration-related regulations and statutes.

U.S. Department of State (DOS)
Be patient, this site contains a lot of information, but you have to look for it. The Department of State grants nonimmigrant visas and, in some cases, immigrant visas. At the site you'll find information on nonimmigrant visa eligibility (search word: visa) and information on U.S. consulates and embassies abroad. You'll also find the nonimmigrant visa application (search word: forms). You can also look up information about other countries from the State Department point of view. Interesting.

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL)

Archive of information released prior to January 20, 2001:
The DRL's responsibilities include promoting democracy and worker's rights worldwide, formulating U.S. human rights policies, and coordinating policy in human rights-related labor issues. Among the items you'll find here are the DRL's Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. These reports are used by advocates, USCIS asylum officers, and immigration judges to help them analyze human rights conditions around the world.

Visa Bulletin
Check here to find out if your priority date under the preference system is current. The bulletin is usually posted on the 11th or 12th of the month with the cutoff numbers for the following month.

Library of Congress
Library of Congress resource page with extensive list of links.

Freedom of Information Act (Department of Justice)

Minority Business Development Agency
Practical articles to help minorities start and manage businesses. Includes news and links. Interesting and informative.

Office of Refugee Resettlement
Links to services and public and private support agencies.

Poverty Guidelines
Guidelines and related information. These guidelines determine eligibility for many kinds of public aid.

FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE BRANCH


THOMAS Legislative Information on the Internet
Service of the U.S. Congressional Library. See bills that are in Congress and may become law. Provides congressional and related links.

House of Representatives
Includes directories of members and committee offices.

Senate
Hearing schedules, senator directory, and related information.

FEDERAL JUDICIAL BRANCH


U.S. Judicial Branch Resources: A Library of Congress Internet Resource
This page contains links to U.S. Judicial Branch resources as well as other Web sites specializing in legal information. Features law journals, law sites, court rules, and historic Supreme Court decisions. Good starting point for research.

Fedworld Information Network
Hosted by the National Technical Information Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It does not have information on all government offices, but it does have extensive searchable databases including available information on tax forms, government job announcements, and U.S. customs.

U.S. Bureau of the Census
Click on immigration. This site directs you to important data on immigration and population growth. Particularly useful is their breakdown of immigration to the United States by country of citizenship and nationality.

GOVERNMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL LEGAL SEARCH SITES AND RESOURCES
Comprehensive legal directory and search engine. Broad starting point for just about any kind of legal research.

American Law Sources On-line (ALSO)
Provides a comprehensive, uniform, and useful compilation of links to freely accessible online sources of law for the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Divided into the areas of law, commentary, and practice. Introductions to legal systems, resources for research. Hay mucha informacion en Español. Il a beaucoup d'information juridique en Français.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
NARA enables people to inspect for themselves the record of what government has done. It ensures continuing access to essential evidence that documents the rights of American citizens, the actions of federal officials, and the national experience. Offers research directions, archive contacts, and branch publications. Includes publicly available government records, such as genealogy, federal laws, and presidential documents.

FindLaw Internet Legal Resources
Searchable directory of all things law. Includes specialized community boards.

Government Printing Office Access
Specialized search pages for databases of U.S. government documents, including congressional records, bills, Supreme Court decisions, and Senate manual.

Law Reviews
Law Reviews On-line (Library of Congress)

Cornell University Legal Information Institute

IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, IMMIGRATION LAW ADVOCACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND REFUGEE RIGHTS


American Civil Liberties Union Immigration Page
Very useful for those who need information on immigrants' rights. Covers news, relevant laws, court decisions, asylum, welfare, current legislation, and what you can do to help. Searchable archive. Algunos articulos en espaçol.

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
AILA is the main organization of immigration lawyers. Their Web site provides limited information for nonmembers. For lawyers practicing immigration law, AILA is a great source of up-to-date information, and AILA's new Web site for members is a terrific addition to the many resources they provide.

Azteca Web Page Immigration Section
Essays, articles, and links on immigration and immigrant rights, with a focus on Mexicans, Chicanos, and/or Mexican Americans. Algunos articulos en Español. The Azteca home page contains other interesting information on Mexico and Mexican Americans.

Forced Migration Projects of the Open Society Institute
Though this project closed in 1999, it was once the leading funder of immigrant rights initiatives. The site is still up and includes an archive of reports and articles, along with a discussion forum that is still somewhat active. Worth checking out even though the project has ended.

National Immigration Forum
The National Immigration Forum is the best-staffed and -funded pro-immigrant organization in the United States. Their site provides both broad policy analysis and up-to-date information on legislation and regulations. If you want to keep up with what's happening in Washington, DC, on immigration issues, this site is for you. The purpose of the National Immigration Forum is to embrace and uphold America's tradition as a nation of immigrants. The Forum advocates and builds public support for public policies that welcome immigrants and refugees and that are fair and supportive to newcomers in our country.

Lawyer's Committee for Human Rights
The Lawyer's Committee is one of the leading defenders of the rights of asylees and refugees. In addition to policy advocacy, they help find lawyers to represent U.S. asylum applicants. The site contains relevant and inspiring articles.

Micasa-Sucasa
A forum for advocacy against the restrictive immigration legislation signed by President Clinton in 1996 known as IIRAIRA. Stories, Internet discussion, and links.

NAFSA: Association of International Educators
Tons of excellent information on and for international students in the United States.

National Council of La Raza
One of the largest organizations promoting Latino empowerment. Key advocates for immigrants? rights in Washington, DC. Lots of relevant information on topics like civil rights, foreign policy, education, and housing. News, events, and publications.

National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR)
The most unwavering defenders of the rights of immigrants. This site provides high-quality analyses of U.S. immigration law and policy. They are one of the few groups concerned with how immigrants are treated at the border and at work.
The National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR) is composed of local coalitions and immigrant, community, religious, civil rights, and labor organizations and activists. It serves as a forum to share information and analyses, to educate communities and the general public, and to develop and coordinate plans of action on important immigrant and refugee issues. The organization works to promote a just immigration and refugee policy in the U.S. and to defend and expand the rights of all immigrants and refugees regardless of immigration status. Includes selected articles from their magazine, Network News.

Commercial Legal Sites

The following commercial legal sites will lead you to the wide world of Web legal information. Check them out for links to state laws and international laws and for lists of lawyers. More information about the law than you ever wanted to know.

LawInfo

LawCrawler

FindLaw

WebLaw

Legal Research Sites


CataLaw.com

Hieros Gamos
Extensive legal research center. Deutsch, Español, Français, Italiano.

Internet Legal Resource Guide
Comprehensive guide to the most substantive legal resources on-line.