Legal Dictionary: Immigration & Naturalization Law

DEFINITION

• Immigration is the act of entering a country with the intention of permanent settlement.

• A person who lives in a country, but is not a citizen, is an alien.

• Immigration law is governed by federal law. Immigration issues are covered under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

• The Immigration and Nationality Act is administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a federal agency under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Justice.

• Violation of legal immigration status can lead to government proceedings to remove the violator from the country. This is called deportation.

FIND A IMMIGRATION & NATURALIZATION ATTORNEY IN YOUR AREA.

Get more information on Immigration & Citizenship

OTHER BUZZWORDS

• Asylum
• Green Card
• Naturalization
• Refugee
• Visas

For more definitions, visit the FindLaw Legal Dictionary.

PRACTICE AREA NOTES

• An immigration attorney is compensated by either fixed fee or hourly rate. This is usually based on the complexity of the case.

RELATED PRACTICE AREAS

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