This decision effectively keeps the DACA program in place, and the program’s 700,000+ recipients, who are currently living and working in the United States, will remain protected from deportation. ...
Continue readingReposted from AILA Infonet (Doc. No. 19012237) WASHINGTON, DC - A bill slated for introduction in the Senate contains money to build President Trump's permanent border wall, but according to experts at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), it also includes many extreme provisions that go far beyond what the president laid out in his speech on Saturday. AILA President Anastasia Tonello noted, "Given the importance of border security and the unnecessary strain the shutdown is putting on the United States, we were hopeful an actual good faith proposal to reach a compromise on immigration and border security would be put forward....
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On November 8, 2018, the Ninth Circuit ruled on one of the country’s most contentious issues, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). In its decision in The Regents of the University of California, et. al. v. United States Department of Homeland Security, et.al., the court upheld a lower court’s preliminary injunction against a rollback of DACA. Judge Wardlaw, who wrote the opinion of the court, stated that the plaintiffs in the case were likely to succeed on their claim that the rescission of DACA was “arbitrary and capricious” and based on a "misconceived view of the law." Calling the power of the...
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DHS announced that it will terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Nepal on June 24, 2019. DHS determined that the country conditions in Nepal have improved since the 2015 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. Watch for further details regarding re-registration procedures to be posted in the Federal Register. For more information, read this Immigration Impact blog post from the American Immigration Council. Source: AILA Infonet ↓ Download the press release (pdf)...
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In the case NAACP v. Trump, on April 24, 2018, Judge Bates of the D.C. District Court ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) plan. While the decision means that DACA may be reinstated and will be available to new applicants, Judges Bates stayed his order for ninety days, during which the Department of Homeland Security can regroup and issue a new rescission of DACA with new evidence and reasoning. Right now, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is still accepting DACA renewal applications for individuals with current or expired DACA benefits, but...
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Family-based application filing dates for Mexican citizens (F1, F2A & F3) and Chinese nationals, and final action dates for Indian nationals, Philippine citizens, and Mexican visas, all moved up. Dates for religious workers and EB-5 (I5 and R5) became authorized again....
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[callout] On Monday, February 26, 2018, the Supreme Court rejected the federal government’s proposal to bypass the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to hear a challenge of the legality of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Supreme Court rejected the government’s petition, allowing the case to move through its normal appeals process, which may take several additional months. While the litigation is pending, USCIS will continue accepting and processing DACA renewal applications. As stated on their website, USCIS will adjudicate cases based on the terms in place before DACA was rescinded on September 5, 2017. It...
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On January 13, 2018, USCIS issued guidance governing the continued acceptance of DACA renewal applications, in light of the federal court injunction. Applicants whose DACA expired on or after September 5, 2016 may file their renewal request with USCIS, effective immediately. With a few exceptions, your DACA renewal application will be processed according to the previous protocol. For more information about adjudication, see the guidelines set forth in the June 15, 2012 DACA memo (PDF), and the USCIS DACA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). If your DACA expired prior to September 5, 2016, your renewal application must meet the burden of a first-time application,...
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On January 9th, 2018, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California enacted a nationwide injunction to the current administration’s plans to block DACA. US District Judge Alsup’s order states that while the lawsuit on DACA is pending, DACA grantees may continue to apply for DACA renewals. However, USCIS is not required to process applications for initial DACA applications (applications made by those who have never been granted DACA before). Information about when applications will be accepted by USCIS is still unclear. This post will be updated as information becomes available by the Department of Homeland Security. You...
Continue readingOn Monday, December 4th, the Supreme Court allowed the latest version of President Trump’s travel ban to go into effect. With this decision, travel restrictions from eight designated countries can now be fully enforced. Most citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad, North Korea, and some from Venezuela, will be barred from entering the United States. Restrictions vary by country, but the majority will be prevented from entering the U.S. permanently, working, studying, or in some cases, vacationing. Like the prior versions of the ban, restrictions do not apply to people already holding visas, making it unlikely that said travelers...
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