Immigration Law

Introduction

Immigration law is a complex and ever-changing area of law. This pathfinder attempts to present sources that will be helpful in understanding and finding immigration laws. It is highly recommended that you begin with a broad overview of immigration law in a secondary source to understand the framework of immigration lawmaking.

I. Reporters and Digests

Since Congress has the power to regulate immigration, court cases on the subject will be found in the Federal Reporters and Digests. Sources reporting administrative decisions and rulings are addressed below in “Government Sources.”

II. Treatises, Hornbooks and Looseleafs

It is highly advised that you begin your research of immigration law with a secondary source such as one listed below.

Bender’s Immigration Bulletin / Matthew Bender (1998 to present) – KF 4802 .B465

Bender’s Immigration Regulations Service / Matthew Bender, 2 v. (current) - KF4815 .B46

Immigration and Citizenship: Process and Policy / Thomas Alexander Aleinikoff, et. al., 5th ed. (2003) – KF 4818 .A43 2003.

Immigration Fundamentals: A Guide to Law and Practice / Austin T. Fragomen, Jr., Steven C. Bell, 3d ed. (1994) KF 4819 .F72 1994.

Immigration Law and Procedure / Charles Gordon & Stanley Mailman (1988-) – KF 4819 .G6 1988.

Immigration Law and Procedure in a Nutshell / David Weissbrodt & Laura Danielson, 5th ed. (2005) – Law Reserves KF 4819.3 .W4 2005.

Immigration Practice / Robert C. Divine (1994) – KF 4819 .D58 1994.

Immigration Procedures Handbook / Austin T. Fragomen, et. al., 2 v. (current) – Law Reference KF 4819 .I484

Interpreter Releases (Report and Analysis of Immigration and Nationality Law) / (1980 to present) - KF4800.A15 I57X

Specialized Legal Research / Penny Hazelton, ed. (current) – Ch. 8 deals with Immigration Law – Law Reference KF 240 .S69 1987

Steel on Immigration Law / Richard D. Steel, 2d ed. (1992) – KF 4819 .S74 1992.

III. Law Reviews/Periodicals

Immigration law articles can be found scattered throughout many of the general Law Reviews and Periodicals, as well as in journals dealing exclusively with immigration law. Subject access to these articles is available through Periodical Indexes.

A. Periodical Indexes

Infotrac/Legaltrac (1980-present) available on-line through the ORR.

Index to Legal Periodicals (1770-1994) and Index to Legal Periodical & Books (1994- present – Law Reference K9.N32 through K9.N321

LexisNexis, Westlaw and Hein On-line

B. Journals dealing exclusively with Immigration Law

Georgetown Immigration Law Journal (1985 to present) K7 .E38
Also available on LexisNexis (Fall 1997 to present) and Westlaw

Immigration and Nationality Law Review (1976 to present) K9 .M54
Also available on Hein Online

IV. Government Sources

United States Code (USC) - KF 62 1994.A2
United States Code Service (USCS) - KF 62 1972.L38
United States Code Annotated (USCA) - KF 62.W4x.T25
- Many of the immigration-related statutes are codified in Title 8 (Aliens and Nationality) of the United States Code

Code of Federal Regulations - KF 70.A2
- Many of the immigration-related regulations are found in Title 8 (Aliens and Nationality)
- Executive Actions are found in Title 3 (The President)

Federal Register – Doc.AE2.106:

Laws, Regulations and Guides, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, http://uscis.gov/graphics/lawsregs/index.htm

Administrative Rulings

Immigration law has a complex administrative structure. This pathfinder presents some of the major players and the resources that contain many of their rulings/opinions. See Hazelton’s Specialized Legal Research (II above) for more information on these bodies and for additional resources containing rulings and opinions.

  • Immigration Law Judges
  • Administrative Decisions Under Immigration and Nationality Laws, v. 1 (1940) - v. 22 (2000) - KF4812.A2 I56
  • Also available through Westlaw and LexisNexis (selected opinions)
  • Board of Immigration Appeals
  • Administrative Decisions Under Immigration and Nationality Laws, v. 1 (1940) - v. 22 (2000) - KF4812.A2 I56
  • Also available through Westlaw (FIM-BIA) and LexisNexis (BIA)
  • Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals
  • Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals Decisions
  • Available on Lexis (BALCA) and Westlaw (FIM-BALCA) (1987 to present)
  • Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer
    • Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer Decisions
    • Available on Lexis (OCAHO) and Westlaw (FIM-OCAHO) (1988 to present)
  • INS General Counsel
    • INS General Counsel Opinions
    • Available on Lexis (IMMGCO) and Westlaw (FIM-GCO) (1991 to present)
  • Administrative Appeals Office
    • Administrative Appeals Office Decisions
    • Available on Lexis (IMMAGN and BIAAAU) and Westlaw (FIM-AAU) (1989 to present)