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.
Mereta (also Fisherville or Lipan) is an unincorporated community in eastern Tom Green County, Texas, United States. It lies along local roads east of the city of San Angelo, the county seat of Tom Green County. Its elevation is 1,755 feet (535 m). Although Mereta is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 76940; the ZCTA for ZIP Code 76940 had a population of 138 at the 2000 census. Mereta was named by the local postmaster in honor of twin sisters, named Meta and Reta, who lived in the area in 1902. The community itself was platted in 1904.