Since its initial publication in 1992, the book has been adopted at 183 U.S. law schools. It mixes theory, policy, and politics with practice-oriented materials that deal in doctrine, planning, and problem-solving. Legomsky and Rodrguez make heavy use of policy analysis, fact problems, and simulation exercises.
The new edition incorporates the sweeping changes of the past five years. Highlights include:
- Discussion of DACA and the dramatic November 2014 executive actions
- Analysis of the legal limits and policy implications of prosecutorial discretion and other Obama Administration executive actions
- Discussion of comprehensive legislative immigration reform efforts, including S.744
- A new section on vulnerable children, addressing UAC, special immigrant juveniles, child asylum issues, and childrens use of T and U visas, with specific discussion of the current Central American UAC issues and 2014 opinion of the Inter-American Court
- A completely re-written section on same-sex marriages, to reflect Windsor, Zeleniak, and Administration implementation initiatives
- Entirely rewritten section on asylum claims based on particular social group, to reflect the recent BIA decisions in M-E-V-G- and W-G-R- (concerning the social distinction and particularity requirements), the BIAs 2014 landmark domestic violence decision in A-R-C-G-, and related developments on gender-based asylum claims
- A completely rewritten section on crimmigration generally, the crime-related deportability grounds, and the categorical and modified categorical approaches, to reflect the Supreme Courts recent decisions in Moncrieffe and Descamps, lower court decisions such as Silva-Trevino, and the 2014 BIA decision in Dominguez-Rodriguez
- The addition of an extended section on federalism and Arizona v. United States in chapter 2 (constitutional foundations), the creation of a new chapter on enforcement that includes discussion of Secure Communities (now PEP), 287(g), non-cooperation laws, and detention, and a reorganization and streamlining of chapter 12 (undocumented immigrants), to accommodate these changes
- New developments on in-state tuition for undocumented students
- New developments on drivers licenses for undocumented residents
- New material on advance parole, Arrabally, 601A provisional unlawful presence waivers, and parole in place
- MAVNI renewal and extension to DACA recipients
- New developments on Padilla
- New avenues for representation for low-income immigrants and refugees
- The Supreme Courts Cuellar de Osorio decision on the Child Status Protection Act
- New developments on EB-5, particularly with respect to regional centers
- Material concerning work permits for H-4 nonimmigrants
- New material on the Adam Walsh Act
- Discussion of dramatic increases in credible fear interviews and Administration responses
- Discussion of the asylum clock litigation and its effect on work authorization
- Material on FOIA litigation involving asylum officer interview notes
- Important recent court decisions on temporary protected status
- New developments on in-country renunciation of U.S. citizenship
- Discussion of assisted reproductive technology (ART) and its effects on both immigration and citizenship law
