Immigrants & Immigration

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Immigrants & Immigration

Immigration arrests and detention
(12 resources)
Immigration arrests and workplace raids basics
Learn about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and what to expect if ICE is present in the community.
Guide
Immigration detention basics
Learn more about what happens when someone is detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Guide
Immigration resource guide for advocates in 2025
List of current resources for advocates helping detained and non-detained immigrants.
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Encountering immigration enforcement (ICE)
Learn about ICE, what happens when they arrest people, and what rights people have during an arrest.
FAQ
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Deportation and Removal Proceedings
(14 resources)
Removal proceedings and deportation basics
Learn more about what removal proceedings are, who can be deported, what to expect in immigration court, and possible legal options.
Guide
Getting relief in immigration court
Learn about legal remedies that a person might be able to argue in immigration court to defend themselves from deportation.
FAQ
Going to immigration court
Explore frequently asked questions about what to expect when going to the Chicago immigration court, what to bring, the people at court like interpreters, and what help is available at the court.
FAQ
After a removal (deportation) order
Learn what happens after someone receives a removal order from an immigration judge, and what to expect while waiting for deportation.
FAQ
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Lawful permanent residency (LPR or green card holder)
(17 resources)
Green card: supporting document checklist
Find out which supporting documents you need to file for a green card based on employment or a family relationship with a U.S. citizen.
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A child turns 21 before receiving their green card
Discusses if your child is still eligible for a green card once they turn 21 depending on their immigration status.
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Applying for a waiver of inadmissibility
Steps to consider a waiver of inadmissibility if your background check is not approved by Immigration.
How-To
Getting a replacement green card
Get the facts on how to request a replacement green card if yours is lost, destroyed, or expiring.
How-To
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Asylum and refuge
(7 resources)
Asylum and refugee basics
This guide explains asylum and refugee status with lists of protections US provides for immigrants persecuted in their home country.
Guide
Asylum
Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about asylum in the US.
FAQ
Applying for asylum
Learn about the ways a person can apply for asylum, associated fees, and what happens after someone files.
FAQ
Immigration resource guide for advocates in 2025
List of current resources for advocates helping detained and non-detained immigrants.
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Deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA)
(3 resources)
Immigration resource guide for advocates in 2025
List of current resources for advocates helping detained and non-detained immigrants.
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Traveling outside of the US for non-citizens
This FAQ discusses what certain non-US citizens should consider when traveling outside of the US.
FAQ
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Learn what Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is, including how it was created, what the requirements are, how to apply, what forms you need to submit, and what the benefits are.
FAQ
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Temporary protected status (TPS)
(7 resources)
Immigration resource guide for advocates in 2025
List of current resources for advocates helping detained and non-detained immigrants.
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Temporary protected status basics
Explains what temporary protected status is, including who qualifies and how to apply.
Guide
Filing documents with immigration for free
Explains how to pay fees and ask for a fee waiver when filing cases with USCIS, which forms qualify, and how to request a waiver.
Guide
Traveling outside of the US for non-citizens
This FAQ discusses what certain non-US citizens should consider when traveling outside of the US.
FAQ
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Immigrant victims of abuse, crime, and trafficking
(7 resources)
U visa basics
Explore what a U visa is, who is eligible for a U visa, and how to apply for one.
Guide
Protections for victims of crime with a U visa
This article discusses the most frequently asked questions about U visas.
FAQ
How to file a U visa application
Learn how to submit an application for a U visa, including how to get a law enforcement certification, and where to mail the application.
How-To
Rights of crime victims and witnesses
Explains the rights people in Illinois have when they are a victim or witness of a crime.
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Applying for work authorization
(3 resources)
Immigration resource guide for advocates in 2025
List of current resources for advocates helping detained and non-detained immigrants.
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Applying for work authorization
Explore frequently asked questions about work authorization for noncitizens in the United States. Learn if you qualify for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), how to apply for an EAD, and more.
FAQ
Filing documents with immigration for free
Explains how to pay fees and ask for a fee waiver when filing cases with USCIS, which forms qualify, and how to request a waiver.
Guide
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US citizenship
(9 resources)
Good moral character and naturalization
Learn more about activities that count and do not count as evidence of good moral character in immigration.
FAQ
Applying for a waiver of inadmissibility
Steps to consider a waiver of inadmissibility if your background check is not approved by Immigration.
How-To
Applying for a passport for your US citizen child
Learn how to apply for a US passport for your child, including what documents you need, how immigration status affects the process, and what to do if both parents can’t be present.
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Green card: deportation and inadmissibility
Learn the main reasons non-citizens may be ineligible for a green card, including health issues, crimes, security risks, fraud, illegal entry, or deportation history.
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Criminal issues and immigration
(3 resources)
Traffic violations and your immigration status
​Discover how traffic violations can impact your immigration status. Understand how ICE handles different offenses and what may lead to detainment.
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Should I clear my criminal record for immigration purposes?
This article explains how hiding or erasing your criminal or juvenile record might affect your immigration status.
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How does being charged with a crime affect immigration?
This article explains how being charged with a crime, being found guilty of a crime, and juvenile offenses can influence an immigration case.
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Other citizen or immigration issues
(35 resources)
Getting married in the US if I am an undocumented immigrant
Learn about obtaining a marriage license and getting married as an undocumented person to a US citizen.
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Driver’s license for immigrants
Explains the Temporary Visitors Driver's License (TVDL) and who may qualify, including undocumented immigrants
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Government benefits for immigrants
Discover different government assistance programs available for immigrants and the qualifications for those programs.
FAQ
Food stamps or SNAP benefits for immigrants
Learn about qualifying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or food stamps as an immigrant.
FAQ
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