Immigration law determines whether a person is an alien, the rights, duties, and obligations associated with being an alien in the United States, and how aliens gain residence or citizenship within the United States. It also provides the means by which certain aliens can become legally naturalized citizens with full rights of citizenship. Immigration law serves as a gatekeeper for the border of the nation, determining who may enter, how long they may stay, and when they must leave. Immigration lawyers represent persons seeking temporary and permanent residency (green cards) status in the U.S., those interested in obtaining U.S. citizenship through a process called naturalization, and clients facing deportation and removal. Immigration attorneys may also represent businesses seeking to secure temporary visa status for foreign employees.
Riverside is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area of Southern California, and is approximately 60 miles (97 km) east of Los Angeles. With a population of 293,201 people in 2000, it is the 61st largest city in the United States and 12th largest city in the U.S. State of California, however as of 2008, Riverside had an estimated population of 311,575. Additionally, Riverside is the county seat of Riverside County, and is so named for its location beside the Santa Ana River. The city spans 98.4 sq mi (255.0 km2) in Southern California and is anchor to the America's 25th largest metropolitan area with 4.1 million people spread out over 27,298 sq. mi. (70,669 km²) in Southern California. Riverside was founded in the early 1870s and is the birthplace of the California citrus industry as well as home of the Mission Inn Hotel, the largest Mission Revival Style building in the United States. It is also home of the Riverside National Cemetery. Many attractions known by people of the Inland Empire are located near or in the city such as the University of California, Riverside, the Riverside Metropolitan Museum, which houses exhibits and artifacts of local history, the California Museum of Photography, the California Citrus State Historic Park as well as the Parent Washington Navel Orange Tree, planted in 1873 and one of two original orange trees in California.