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How can the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) help an abused spouse obtain lawful permanent residence (green card)?
Under VAWA, noncitizen victims of domestic violence may “self-petition” for U.S. residence without the cooperation of an abusive spouse. Victims may also self-petition if they are divorced as long as the marriage to the abusive spouse was terminated within two years of filing the petition. An approved VAWA self-petition provides the applicant with work authorization, […]
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5 Common Myths about the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions
The abuse must be physical. One requirement to qualify under VAWA is that the petitioner has been subjected to battery or extreme cruelty. Domestic violence may be physical, but verbal abuse or emotional abuse are also forms of domestic violence and depending on the specific circumstances, may amount to extreme cruelty. Only women qualify for […]
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What is the Current Status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)?
The fate of over 650,000 young immigrants, who are American in every way except for being undocumented, rests in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. Although the DACA program is flawed in that it does not offer a pathway to permanent status in the U.S., it is critical as it protects its recipients from […]
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Frequently Asked Questions about President Trump’s April 22nd Presidential Proclamation on Immigration
When does the order go into effect? The order goes into effect April 23, 2020 at 11:59 pm and is effective for 60 days, although it may be modified at any time. What does the order do? Temporarily suspends new immigration into the U.S. for certain categories of people who are not already in the […]
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NOTARIOS ARE NOT LAWYERS
What is the Difference Between an Immigration Attorney and a Notario/Notary Public? A notario (notario publico) translates to “notary public” in English. In the U.S., a notary public is a person who is authorized to witness the signing of documents. They may not give legal advice or provide immigration legal services. Florida law requires notaries […]
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What is an Immigration hold
What is an ICE Hold? In Jacksonville, Florida, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) has an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), allowing JSO officers to collaborate with ICE by performing certain tasks usually reserved only for federal agents. Jacksonville has a jail based 287(g) […]
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