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.
East Meadow is a hamlet (and census-designated place or CDP) in Nassau County, New York, United States. East Meadow is an unincorporated area of the Town of Hempstead. Its name is derived from being the meadow of Hempstead Plains east of the Meadow Brook (originally a brook, now replaced by a parkway of the same name). Located just 30 miles (48 km) from downtown Manhattan and with approximately 86% of residents commuting to work, East Meadow is a thriving suburb of New York. The population was 37,461 at the 2000 census. East Meadow's postal ZIP code is 11554, and its telephone area code is 516.