Time News tracked the United States’ past population estimates of illegal immigrants and published the results on Sept. 23 in their article, “Study: Illegal Immigration May be on the Rise Again.”

As of March 2012, 11.7 million people were thought to be living without legal authorization in the United States, according to the Pew study based on U.S. government data. That figure is lower than the estimated 12.2 million level at which the unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S. peaked in 2007, after decades of trending upward. But it is greater than the 11.3 million undocumented immigrants estimated to be living in the U.S. in 2009.

Do not be unauthorized and undocumented

Any reputable Sacramento immigration lawyer will tell you that legal immigration allows a person to reap benefits illegal immigrants could never enjoy. Legal immigrants are protected against deportation, can apply for any job they qualify for, and have an established legal status in American society. This status may be expensive and difficult to obtain, but if you want to enjoy the good quality of life offered by your new country, it is important to realize that the benefits of legal immigration far outweigh the risks of an illegal one.

If you entered the country illegally or if you came in legally but overstayed it is important that you speak to an immigration attorney about your options.  There are programs that may help you obtain legal status.  However, if you delay to take action you may lose your ability to use these programs and become a legal resident.

Established status

Legal immigrants are given legal status. Even if their visas expire, they maintain this legal status while they wait for their Green Card. In the meantime, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will send out a welcome letter that serves as protection against authorities while the Green Card application is being processed.

Talk to an immigration lawyer

An immigration lawyer in Sacramento, like those from the Law Offices of Lawrence Gruner, Inc., Inc., Inc., Inc., can answer all your questions about the immigration process. Your eligibility for various visa categories can be evaluated, and help will be provided to assist you with achieving your immigration goals. Home is where your heart is, so speak to an immigration lawyer today to make Sacramento your permanent home.

The Department of Justice announced the sentencing of three Missourians on Aug. 28 for their role in defrauding legal immigrants to the US. The first was sentenced to 130 months in prison; the second to 82 months; and the third received a sentence of 366 days. All three pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud charges.

The three in this particular case created a company—Immigration Forms and Publications (IFP)—and made it appear affiliated with the federal government; its employees were immigration agents who took advantage of unsuspecting immigrants seeking to file documents with the federal government.
Together, they schemed to charge immigrants for government paperwork that is already free and available to the public and for made up fees and services.

“Immigrants who come to this country and try to play by the rules deserve fair treatment under the law – not to be bilked out of their hard-earned savings by those looking for a quick buck,” said Stuart F. Delery, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We are pleased to have worked with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice the leaders of this fraudulent operation.”

Tammy Dickinson, a U.S. attorney in Missouri, said the company ‘exploited’ thousands of law-abiding immigrants and ‘preyed’ on them. “[They] are being held accountable for their fraud and deceit,” said Dickinson,

This case serves as a warning for immigrants to ensure the trustworthiness of the person handling their immigration status: only ask certified professionals like a licensed immigration attorney in Sacramento to advise you on the process. Since immigration proceedings are highly complicated, the advice you get from a good immigration lawyer like those from the Law Offices Of Lawrence Gruner, Inc. could mean the difference between living in the U.S. or not.

When you speak with a reputable Sacramento immigration attorney, you can expect to have your needs addressed with a strategy specific to your case. Immigration rules and restrictions play a huge role in an immigrant’s life; good attorneys recognize how important your immigration goals are to you — that’s why they’ll do their best to spare you from the lies and deceit to help you out in any way they can.