Immigration Laws Specialist (LSICC)

Location(s): Online

Award: Career Certificate

Pathway to Associate Degree: Legal Studies - Paralegal (LSPAR)
Academic Focus Area: Community and Human Services

This career certificate prepares students for legal careers related to immigration law. Students pursuing the MCC Immigration Laws Specialist Career Certificate learn about the roles and functions of immigration law professionals who aid attorneys with work visas, family-based residency, Homeland Security policies and issues, citizenship and naturalization, employer verification and law enforcement, as well as specific client considerations. Possible career locations include work in nongovernmental organizations, local and federal government agencies, private and public institutions, and businesses. Federal regulations at 8 C.F.R. § 1292.1(a)(4) allow non-attorney “Accredited Representatives” to represent aliens before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which includes the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). This career certificate does not qualify any person to engage in the practice of immigration law.

Graduation Requirement

To earn this degree, a student must complete all required courses.

Total credit hours required to complete this career certificate: 27.0

Links to Additional Resources

Tuition Information

Financial Aid

Scholarships

Major Requirements - 27.0 credits

LAWS 1501 - Immigration Regulatory Agencies 4.5 Credits
LAWS 1505 - Inadmissibility, Removal and Immigration Advocacy 4.5 Credits
LAWS 1509 - Ethics and Immigration Advocacy and Compliance 4.5 Credits
LAWS 2324 - Criminal Law and Procedures 4.5 Credits
LAWS 2327 - Immigration Law 4.5 Credits
LAWS 1503 - Immigration and Families 4.5 Credits
OR
LAWS 1504 - Immigration and Employment 4.5 Credits
Note: Students may take either LAWS 1503 or 1504. This certificate may be pursued by both paralegal students and non-paralegal students, such as current legal professionals interested in pursuing or currently a part of an immigration practice.

Program Level Student Learning Outcomes

Identify and apply core concepts of U.S. immigration law, policy, and procedure.
Resource and utilize U.S. immigration regulatory agencies.
Analyze the role and functions of U.S. immigration law and regulatory agencies as they apply:

to family members seeking lawful permanent residence;
to the process of non-citizen removal from the U.S. and advocacy in immigration court; and/or
to the sponsorship of non-citizen employees for immigrant visas and for nonimmigrant working visas.

4. Explore the role of and apply the core concepts of ethics to immigration advocacy and compliance, including employer verification, law enforcement, immigration fraud, and immigration reform.

5. Gain practical experience providing immigration support services to learn about immigration law, policy, and procedure.