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.
Alanson is a village in Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 785. Alanson is in Littlefield Township on U.S. Highway 31 at the junction with M-68. Petoskey is about 12 miles southwest on US 31 and Mackinaw City and the Mackinac Bridge are about 25 miles north. Interstate 75 is about 11 miles to the east on M-68 at Indian River. The Alanson post office opened with the name Hinman on January 17, 1877 and changed to Alanson on June 22, 1882.