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.
Cougar is a former town, and now unincorporated community, in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. The population was 122 at the 1990 census; it was not measured in 2000. The town is located on the Lewis River, 24 miles northeast of Woodland. Because it is situated only 11 miles south-southwest of Mount St. Helens, in 1980 the entire town was evacuated because of the danger of volcanic eruption. Cougar’s geographic location is 46.051N, -122.298W. The town’s ZIP code is 98616 and its telephone area code is 360.