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.
Southport is a city in Brunswick County, North Carolina, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Its population was listed as 2,351 for the 2000 census. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area. A popular filming location for television and movies, the small town can be seen in the television shows "Dawson's Creek" and "Spies" and the movies "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "Summer Catch," "Crimes of the Heart", and "A Walk to Remember," among others. It is the site of the proposed North Carolina International Port, and its marina has been the subject of media attention surrounding its possible sale.