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.
Westmorland (formerly, Westmoreland) is a city in Imperial County, California, United States. Westmorland is located 8.5 miles (14 km) southwest of Calipatria, The population was 2,131 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 'El Centro Metropolitan Area'. Westmorland is on State Route 86, which was upgraded to a new six-lane highway to reduce its infamous auto accident and fatality risk, while it connects with Brawley, El Centro and Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. The post office, originally called Westmoreland, opened in 1909, closed in 1912, re-opened in 1919, renamed to Westmorland in 1936. Westmorland incorporated in 1934. From the 1920s through the 1950s Westmorland was the site of illegal gaming establishments and many brothels, but these were later destroyed in an attempt to improve the town's image. Westmorland has dealt with the image of high poverty rates and prior to the 1990s North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) economic boom, a nearly dead farm food shipping industry.