From the monthly archives:

March 2010

Supreme Court says defendants entitled to immigration advice

March 31, 2010

Source: The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Immigrants to the United States have a constitutional right to be told by their lawyers whether pleading guilty to a crime could lead to their deportation, the U.S. Supreme Court said today.
The high court’s ruling extends the Constitution’s Sixth Amendment guarantee of “effective assistance of counsel” in criminal cases to [...]

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The Song of Annie Moore: A Story of Immigrant Strength

March 31, 2010

By Nancy Power
New York Immigration Attorney, The Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein
On Sunday, I was sitting in the car with my two sleeping sons while my husband and daughter were in the store.
I turned on the radio to listen to an Irish music program and heard this familiar song.
I recalled [...]

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Do I have to allow the police officer’s search?

March 31, 2010

By Michael Biniakewitz and Laura McLean
Criminal Defense Attorneys, The Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein
Question: A police officer knocks on my door and asks to search my home or any other property I own, do I have to allow the officer to conduct the search?
Answer: No. You never have to consent to a search. If [...]

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Personal Injury Atty. Adam Handler: I fight for maximum $$$

March 31, 2010

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NYT: How One Marijuana Cigarette May Lead to Deportation

March 31, 2010

Source: New York Times
By Nina Bernstein
ELMONT, N.Y. — When a police officer in this Long Island suburb found a marijuana cigarette in Jerry Lemaine’s pocket one night in January 2007, a Legal Aid lawyer counseled him to plead guilty. Under state statutes, the penalty was only a $100 fine, and though Mr. Lemaine had been [...]

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The Tortoise and the Hare: A Fable for Immigration Clients

March 31, 2010

By Stella Templo
Immigration Attorney, The Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein
In Aesop’s fable “The Tortoise and the Hare,” the swift hare mocks the slow-moving tortoise but eventually loses to the responsible and plodding tortoise. Believe it or not, this story contains valuable lessons not just for children but for immigrants looking to obtain permanent residency [...]

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Immigration Law Advice: Brad on Naturalization + More!

March 30, 2010

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Immigration Law – Frequently Asked Questions Answered!

March 30, 2010

Please find below another installment in our popular regular series of frequently asked questions about immigration law. Although most of these questions have come from real clients of Spar & Bernstein, we have also included questions from other resources for your benefit. Please note that the answers here are to be used for guideline purposes [...]

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Geraldo to Sheriff Joe: Immigration bill is unconstitutional

March 30, 2010

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Spar & Bernstein’s Fave Quotes on Social Justice

March 30, 2010

“The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you can alter, even by a millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you can change the world.”
- James Baldwin
*****
“I wish to do something Great and Wonderful, but I must start by doing the little things like they were Great and Wonderful.”
- [...]

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The Folly of Repealing Birthright Citizenship

March 29, 2010

Source: Immigration Policy Center
Washington, D.C. – This Sunday, the editorial pages of the Washington Post included a piece penned by journalist George Will on the topic of birthright citizenship. Will highlights a scholar who argues against giving those born in the United States birthright citizenship and characterizes the repeal of a 150 year old constitutional [...]

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AILA Blog: Immigration Enforcement By The Numbers

March 29, 2010

Source: AILA Leadership Blog
http://ailaleadership.blogspot.com
I’m going to stop using the word “shocked” to describe my reaction to ICE’s dirty secrets. Frankly, it is tough to be surprised by the antics of an agency which administers a draconian a detention system in which 107 immigrant detainees have perished since 2003. But I must admit I am taken [...]

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Meet the Press: Sen. Schumer & Graham on Immigration Reform

March 29, 2010

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What’s the difference between probation and parole?

March 29, 2010

By Michael Biniakewitz & Laura McLean
Criminal Defense Attorneys, The Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein
What’s the difference between probation and parole?
A. Probation is a sentence where a person remains at liberty, where as parole is not a sentence. Rather, parole is an early release from incarceration. While on parole and at liberty if one violates [...]

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Immigration Expert Brad:Naturalized Citizenship via Marriage

March 29, 2010

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5 Inspiring Quotes to Start the Week

March 29, 2010

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”
- Walt Disney
*****
“It’s never too late to become the person you might have been.”
- George Elliot
*****
“You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves you too full to embrace the present.”
- Jan Glidewell
*****
“For every failure, there’s an alternative course of action. [...]

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200K Push for Immigration Change

March 29, 2010

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College Class on Immigration May Breed Needed Understanding

March 26, 2010

By Mariana Vazquez Garcia
New York Immigration Attorney, The Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein
Just four years after the town of Hazelton, Pa., became ground zero in the national debate on immigration and undocumented immigrants, a class about it is being held 80 miles away at Temple University.
It’s called the “War in Hazleton: Main Street Meets [...]

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