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.
Germantown is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 37,348 at the 2000 census. Germantown is a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee. Bordering Memphis to the east, Germantown's economy is dominated by the retail and commercial service sectors. There is no heavy industry in Germantown. In the city center is the "Old Germantown" neighborhood, anchored by a railroad depot (a 1948 reproduction of the 1868 original) and railroad tracks that recall the community's earliest days of development as an outpost along the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. Germantown, and areas around it, are dotted with larger horse farms, and smaller barns housing just a few horses. The City hosts many horse shows and competitions annually, most notably the Germantown Charity Horse Show in June. Other major annual events include the Germantown Festival, an arts and crafts fair, in early September. Germantown is known for having some of the most restrictive sign ordinances in the country as well as excellent police and fire services. On November 27, 1994 a strong F3 tornado tore through eastern portions of Germantown resulting in three fatalities in one home where several families had gathered for a reunion.