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.
Sikeston is a city located mostly in southern Scott County but also extends into parts of northern New Madrid County in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is situated just above the Bootheel although many locals consider it to be an actual part of the region. By way of Interstate 55, Sikeston is close to the halfway point between St. Louis and Memphis. The city is named after John Sikes who founded it in 1860. It is the principal city of the Sikeston Micropolitan Stastistical Area, which consists of all of Scott County and has a total population of 41,143. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 16,992, making it the second most populous city in Missouri's 8th Congressional district behind Cape Girardeau (population 35,349).