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.
Lesterville, Missouri is an unincorporated community in southeast Missouri. It is located in Reynolds County on Routes 21, 49, and 72 near the Black River. It is known as a popular tourist destination due to its beautiful river. On December 14, 2005, approximately 1.5 billion gallons of water flowed from a breach of the Upper Taum Sauk Lake Reservoir, north of Lesterville. The reservoir is the source of the Taum Sauk pumped storage plant, a pumped-storage hydroelectric plant owned by AmerenUE. As a result of the breach, Lesterville was voluntarily evacuated. The Lesterville R-IV School District, located on State Highway 21, is located in the area. With an average yearly enrollment of 260 students in grades K-12, it is one of the smallest public school districts in the state. Its school colors are red and black and its mascot is the bearcat. During the 2009-2010 season, the Lesterville Lady Bearcats clinched the Class 1 MSHSAA Volleyball Championship with a 25-23, 25-15 win over the Winona Lady Wildcats. Pulling several upsets along the way, the Lady Bearcats were ranked fourth in the state according to a poll released by the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association. They were seeded second in the Class 1 District 4 Tournament and defeated top-seeded Bismarck for the district championship. Bismarck was ranked third in the same poll. Advancing to sectionals at Bell City, Lesterville defeated perennial powerhouse, and No. 2 in the same poll, Leopold 22-25, 25-20, 25-22 before topping Bell City 20-25, 25-22, 25-22 which guaranteed them a bid to the Final Four in Kansas City. During pool play, Lesterville split sets with Winona and defeated Osceola and Lutheran-Kansas City. A pool-play record of 5-1 gave them the opportunity to play Winona for the state championship and the Lady Bearcats succeeded. It was in many ways a season of upsets for the Lesterville Lady Bearcats, or "the little team that could," finishing with a record of 27-5-2.