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.
Drayton Plains is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan. It was first settled in 1823. A dam and gristmill was built in 1837 and the Drayton Plains Hotel was built in 1839. It was platted in 1860, but never incorporated as a municipality and its identity has been largely subsumed within that of Waterford Charter Township. It is located on Dixie Highway around the west end of Loon Lake at 42°41'03" N, 83°22'38" W. Brookfield Academy, originally founded as the Laurel Montessori School in 1964 in Drayton Plains, was the first Montessori school in Michigan. An old fish hatchery is now the Drayton Plains Nature Center. Drayton Plains was informally referred to as a village and maintained its own identity and post office until the early 1990s when the post office was closed and functions transferred to the Waterford Post Office. The current ZIP code for the community is 48330.