CLASS SYLLABUS
I. PROFESSOR CONTACT INFORMATION
Email address: [email protected]
Office Telephone: (909) 235-7830
Office Fax: (909) 614-7743
II. CLASS TIME AND PLACE
Meeting Days: Wednesday
Meeting Time: 6:30PM-9:30PM
Location/Room:
III. OFFICE HOURS
Please e-mail me as far in advance as possible, so I can arrange for space to meet.
IV. COURSE DESCRIPTION
A survey of immigration law and procedure, with emphasis on exclusion and deportation
proceedings, judicial review, nationality, and citizenship.
This course will provide a brief basic history and development of immigration law in the
United States, as well as more technical information about our current immigration
system. We will examine some of the following issues:
• The source of federal power to regulate immigration;
• Family-based immigration;
• Employment-based immigration;
• Immigrant visas v. non-immigrant visas;
• Exclusion v. deportation;
• Removal proceedings;
• Relief from removal;
• Humanitarian relief (asylum, VAWA, SIJS, and U visas);
• Citizenship and naturalization
V. GRADING
Midterm Exam
You will also have one midterm exam consisting of all multiple-choice questions. See Calendar
Below for Date of Exam.
IMMIGRATION LAW
Professor Cinthia I. Rivera
University of La Verne College of Law
Fall 2018
3 Units
Final Exam
You will also have one final exam. The final exam is a closed book examination. Everything
covered in class and all readings, whether or not discussed in class, may be tested on the exams.
You will be provided with any statutes/regulations necessary for your exam. You may NOT use
your outline. You may NOT use your textbooks.
Class Participation
5% of your grade will be based on your class participation. I expect all students to be prepared to
discuss the material.
Your grade will be calculated based on the following:
Midterm: 15%
Class Participation: 5%
Final Exam: 80%
Your grade in this class will be calculated according to the law school’s grading policies in MAPP.
Part III.B.5. I will strictly adhere to the Law School’s policy for blind-grading. That means that I
do not have a way of knowing whose exam I’m grading. This is to ensure fairness.
The College of Law’s plagiarism policy will be strictly enforced in this class. If a student
commits plagiarism, he or she will be subject to sanctions pursuant to Part IV.B. of the
MAPP. Part IV.B. of the MAPP prohibits:
6. Plagiarizing by submitting the work of another as one’s own, submitting work
prepared in collaboration with another without express permission, or failing to
properly provide attribution of source materials.
Plagiarism includes paraphrasing the words of another without proper attribution and using
the ideas of another without proper attribution. Lack of knowledge of what constitutes
plagiarism shall not be a defense to a charge of plagiarism.
VI. REQUIRED AND SUGGESTED MATERIALS
TWEN: Please make sure that you register on the Immigration Law TWEN page with an e-mail
address that you check regularly. I will communicate primarily through TWEN. It is your
responsibility to ensure that you use a reliable email so that you can remain up to date.
Required texts (bring both to class):
1. Casebook: Legomsky, Immigration and Refugee Law and Policy (Foundation Press, 6th
ed. 2015); and
2. A paperback statutory supplement: Aleinkoff, Martin & Motomura, Immigration and
Nationality Laws of the United States (Thompson West, 2016).
Recommended Text
Immigration Law and Procedure in a Nutshell
David Weissbrodt, Laura Danielson & Howard S. Myers
West Academic Publishing 7th Edition
Supplemental Handouts (Required)
I will make various supplemental handouts available to you on TWEN. These are required readings.
VII. COURSE OBJECTIVES AND COURSE-SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES
ABA Standard 310
This course is designed to satisfy the requirements of ABA Standard 310. Standard 310 requires that for
each hour of in-class time, students spend two hours preparing for class (reading or completing class
assignments or assessments).
Course Objectives
This course will cover a summary of current immigration law and procedure. The objective is to
provide the student with a solid understanding of immigration law basics. This includes: history
and development of immigration law; immigrant priorities; nonimmigrant visas; enforcement;
removal procedure in immigration court; grounds of inadmissibility and deportability; admission
procedure; relief from removal; asylum law; and citizenship.
Course Specific Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to achieve the following
objectives:
1. Analyze factual scenarios to identify immediate immigration issues; evaluate the factual
scenarios and analyze them to determine the applicable immigration laws; be able to
identify any forms of relief; be able to identify when a person is eligible for admission.
Students should be able to conduct a step-by-step analysis and reach a conclusion or
possible alternative conclusions.
2. Statutory and Policy Analysis: Read and analyze statutes and regulations to break them
down into elements. Identify and understand the purpose(s)/goals of each statute and
regulation.
VIII. DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT
Students with disabilities should refer to the policies described at the University of La Verne Disabled
Student Services Handbook [as of September 13, 2017 located at https://sites.laverne.edu/disabled-
student-services/disabled-student-services-handbook/, which can be found on the website of the
University of La Verne Disabled Student Services website (https://sites.laverne.edu/disabled-student-
services/disabled-student-services-handbook/) or at their office. Temporary accommodations are offered
on a case by case basis. All required documentation must be submitted by the student before any formal
accommodations and should be made directly to the Director of Student Affairs.
Any student eligible for and requesting academic accommodations due to a documented disability (or a
suspected disability) is asked to contact the College of Law Director of Student Affairs and Americans
with Disability Act Compliance Officer, Akita Mungaray by email at [email protected] or by phone
at (909) 460-2017. Her office is located on the first floor of the College of Law, Office # 107. You can
also contact Cynthia Denne at the University of La Verne Disabled Student Services office at (909) 448-
4441. The office is located at the La Verne campus Health Center. In order to be considered for
accommodations, disabilities must be documented, and the proper medical evaluations must be submitted.
The office is here to help you succeed in law school. Visit it online at https://sites.laverne.edu/disabled-
student-services/.
IX. COURSE-SPECIFIC POLICIES
Laptops -Laptops are allowed for this course. However, do not use your computer for non-class related
purposes. Note taking on your computer is fine. Checking your email, surfing the Internet, Facebook,
and/or playing computer games are NOT acceptable.
Cell Phone Use - During class time turn off cell phones, end conversations with your neighbors
Tape Recording - You may not tape record classes unless exigent circumstances exist, and you
receive permission before each class.
Talking/Distractions - Please be respectful towards your professor and classmates. This means NO
TALKING during lecture. This also means avoiding making noise when going to the restroom, or
going through your bag, etc. Please do not let the door slam on your way out.
In-Class Decorum - Immigration is a hot topic. Not everyone will share the same opinions, and
that is perfectly fine. This class is not about agreeing with my views, or anyone else’s. Please be
respectful towards your professor, and your classmates. No rude conduct, offensive comments, or
aggressive behavior will be tolerated. Let’s maintain a peaceful, and productive learning
environment.
Participation - Class participation is required. Class participation includes completion of reading
assignments, on-time class attendance, and thoughtful contributions to classroom discussions. I
expect active participation from the entire class. To facilitate a vibrant class discussion, I will
utilize a mix of random cold calling and calling on volunteers. Remember that 5% of your grade
is based on your in-class participation. Don’t be shy or intimidated, just go ahead and participate.
I will keep track of your participation in class.
PowerPoint – I will use PowerPoint to guide us through the lecture. However, I will NOT make
the PowerPoint presentations available to students. Students are responsible for taking notes and
developing their own outline for the course.
X. ATTENDANCE, CANCELLED CLASSES/MAKE-UP CLASSES
Attendance is mandatory. There are no “excused” absences. Any problems or issues that a student
has regarding missed classes are to be handled through either the Registrar’s office or by the
Associate Dean’s Office.
This course is scheduled for 14 class sessions, not including your final examination. Therefore, if
you miss more than 20% of your classes, you will be administratively dropped from the class.
If you arrive late or leave early I’m required to mark you as absent. Therefore, punctual attendance
is crucial and mandatory.
Cancelled Class – I will make every effort not to cancel a class session. However, the lecture may
be recorded and made available to you in lieu of cancelling the session. If this occurs I will make
an announcement in advance. If a class is cancelled, you are still responsible for completing the
assigned reading due for that day.
XI. READING ASSIGNMENTS: Some adjustments to assignments may be made in light of
recent changes in case law or to fully cover the material assigned for each chapter.
Date Topic/Chapter Casebook
Reading
Statutes To Be
Covered
Handouts (TWEN)
08/22 Overview &
Intro
Chapter. 1
Chapter. 2
Pgs. 1-21
Pgs. 77-82
Pgs. 97-106
(excluding Notes
& Questions)
Pgs. 109-117
(excluding
Questions)
08/29 Chapter. 2
(Continued)
Pgs. 118-122
Fong Yue Ting .
U.S. (excluding
dissenting
opinion)
Pgs. 136-137
Modern Developments
Pgs. 186-192
Zadvydas v. Davis (excluding
dissenting opinions)
Jennings v. Sessions
09/05 Chapter 3.
Family
Pgs. 257-262
(excluding
Problem 1)
Pgs. 263-265
(excluding
Problem 2)
Pgs. 269-275
Pgs. 286-288
Matter of
Zeleniak
(excluding Notes
and Questions)
Pgs. 291-295
(exclude
Problems)
Pg. 300 Other
Family Members
INA §§ 101(b)(1)(A)-(D);
INA § 201(b)(2)(A)(i) –
“Immediate Relatives”
INA § 201(f)(1)-(2)
INA §203(a)(1)-
(4) - “Preference
Categories”
Go to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-
visas/immigrate/family-immigration/family-based-immigrant-
visas.html This will summarize a lot of important
information for you. You can print this and use this to help you understand this
Chapter.
09/12 Chapter 3.
Employment-
Based
Chapter 4.
Pgs. 411-413
Pgs. 414-415
(exclude Moss v.
INS)
Pgs. 419-421
(Top)
INA § 203(b)(1)-
(4)
09/19 Chapter 5. Pgs. 435-437
Immigration
& Nationality
Act of June
27, 1952
Pgs. 444-445
(excluding
Matter of
Arrabally)
Pgs. 472-474
(excluding
Problems)
INA §
212(a)(2)(A)-
(B)
INA §
212(a)(6)(A)(i)
INA §
212(a)(9)(A)(i)-
(iii)
INA §
212(a)(9)(B)(i)-
(v)
INA §
212(a)(9)(C)(i)-
(iii)
-Grounds of Inadmissibility Summary
-Unlawful Presence Chart
09/26 Chapter 6. Pgs. 487-489
Pgs. 490
(bottom) -493
Pgs. 498-502
Visa
Applications
Pgs. 525-528
Adjustment of
Status
Pg. 528 Note
1
INA § 245(a)
INA § 245(i)
-Application Process for Permanent
Residence
10/03 Chapter 7. Pgs. 538-542
(excluding Notes
and Questions)
Pgs. 545-550
Pg. 555-556
Note 11-12
Pg. 557- Note 15
Pgs. 559-560
INA §101(a)(13)
INA §275
INA§237(a)(1)(A)
10/10 Chapter 8. Pgs. 625-631
Pgs. 633-636
(top)
Pgs. 636-643
(begin at ii
Hardship)
Pgs. 662-665
Pgs. 672-673
Stays of Removal
INA §240A
INA §240B
-Cancellation and Suspension
10/17 Chapter 9. Pgs. 677-685
Pgs. 715-717
(excluding Notes
and Questions)
INA §239 -Pereira v. Sessions
10/24 Chapter 9.
(Continued)
Pgs. 719-720
Pgs. 739-742
(exclude dissent)
Pgs. 745-746
Note 8-9 (do not
answer the
questions)
Pgs. 747-748
Notes 10-11
Pgs. 814-815 In
Absentia
Removal
Hearings
INA
§240(c)(3)(A)
INA §291
-Basic Flow of Court Removal
Proceedings
10/26 ONLINE
MIDTERM
EXAM
10/31 Chapter 11. Pgs. 943-945-
(exclude dissent)
Pgs. 957-960
Notes 1, 2, 4, 6
Pgs. 961-971
Pgs. 1032-1033
Well-Founded
fear
INA § 101(a)(42)
INA § 208
-Matter of Acosta
11/07 Chapter 11.
(continued)
Pgs. 1071-1072
Filing Deadlines
INA §101(a)(U)
INA
§204(a)(1)(A)-(B)
INA §
101(a)(27)(J)
- Immigration Relief for Vulnerable
Populations
11/14 Chapter 13. Pgs. 1261-1267
Pgs. 1270-
1272
Pgs. 1290-1291
Pgs. 1292-
1295 (3. Dual
nationality NOT 4.
Statelessnes
s)
Pgs. 1311 (B.
Losing
Citizenship only)
INA § 301; INA § 308;
INA §309; INA § 312;
INA § 316; INA § 320;
INA § 322
-Citizenship for Children (clinic.org webinar slides)
-Sessions v. Morales-Santana -Sessions v. Morales-Santana Article
11/28 FINAL EXAM
REVIEW
FINAL
EXAM
DATE
TBD
University of La Verne Mission and Values
It is the mission of the University of La Verne to provide opportunities for students to achieve their
educational goals and become contributing citizens to the global community.
The University of La Verne shares four core values that promote a positive and rewarding life for its
students through fostering a genuine appreciation and respect for:
1. Values Orientation. The University affirms a philosophy of life that actively supports peace
with justice, the health of the planet and its people. Therefore, in light of this affirmation, it
encourages students to become reflective about personal, professional, and societal values. It
also encourages values-based ethical behavior.
2. Community and Diversity. The University promotes the goal of community within a context
of diversity. Therefore, it encourages students to understand and appreciate the diversity of
cultures that exists locally, nationally, and internationally. It also seeks to promote
appreciation and preservation of biodiversity by helping students understand the
impact/dependence of human beings on their environment.
3. Lifelong Learning. The University commits itself to promoting education that facilitates
lifelong learning. Therefore, it teaches students how to learn, to think critically, to do
constructive research, and to access and integrate information in order to prepare them for
continued personal and career growth.
4. Community Service. The University believes that personal service is a primary goal of the
educated person. Therefore, it encourages students to experience the responsibilities and
rewards of serving the human and ecological community.
University of La Verne College of Law Vision, Mission, and Values
VISION
La Verne Law is an incubator for innovation in legal education, thought, and advocacy for individuals
passionate about serving their communities and promoting access and justice.
MISSION
The mission of La Verne Law is to guide our students in the discovery of law and self as they prepare for
the practice of law or other professional careers. Our faculty of scholars and teachers is committed to
creating an innovative, collaborative learning environment designed to develop the knowledge and skills
relevant to achieving individual and professional success.
Our mission encompasses educating, as well as enhancing the professional lives of, the members of the
local, regional, national, and international communities we encounter – students, faculty, staff,
administrators, alumni, members of the bench and bar, and others who pursue social justice.
Our mission is grounded in the core values of the University of La Verne – life-long learning, ethical
reasoning and decision-making, diversity & inclusivity, and community & civic engagement.
Difference-making is our legacy.
CORE VALUES
University Values: As a College within the University of La Verne we adopt and endorse the University
core values of Lifelong Learning, Diversity and Inclusivity, Community Engagement, and Ethical
Reasoning.
College of Law Core Principles and Values: As an institution dedicated to teaching and training the
next generation of lawyers and leaders, we operate institutionally and individually on the principles of
professionalism, innovation, ethics, student centeredness and community enhancement. In our actions
and interactions, we are and seek to be affirming, respectful, humble, accountable, committed, inclusive,
empathetic, responsive, passionate, and positive.
University of La Verne College of Law Program Objectives
A. Upon completion of the program of legal education, students will possess the skills and
knowledge to enable them to pass any bar examination of their choosing.
B. Upon completion of the program of legal education, students will possess those skills to
participate as respected members of the legal profession.
C. Upon completion of the program of legal education, students will model ethical, responsible, and
professional behavior.
D. Upon completion of the program of legal education, students will embrace cultural differences
and civic and community engagement.
American Bar Association Standard 302: LEARNING OUTCOMES
A law school shall establish learning outcomes that shall, at a minimum, include competency in the
following:
(a) Knowledge and understanding of substantive and procedural law;
(b) Legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, problem-solving, and written and oral communication in
the legal context;
(c) Exercise of proper professional and ethical responsibilities to clients and the legal system; and
(d) Other professional skills needed for competent and ethical participation as a member of the legal
profession.
In compliance with ABA Standard 302, the University of La Verne College of Law has established the
following.
University of La Verne College of Law Program Learning Outcomes
1. Students shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding of substantive and procedural law.
2. Students shall demonstrate competence in legal analysis and reasoning.
3. Students shall demonstrate competence in conducting legal research.
4. Students shall demonstrate competence in problem-solving.
5. Students shall demonstrate competence in written and oral communication.
6. Students shall be able and motivated to exercise proper professional and ethical responsibilities to
clients, the legal system, and the wider community.
7. Students shall demonstrate competent litigation skills.
8. Students shall demonstrate competent transactional skills.
9. Students shall apply cultural competency while exercising their legal skills.
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