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DACA Ruled Unlawful but Continues for Now
On October 5, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Fifth Circuit issued a decision on DACA. The court partially agreed with the district court’s ruling that DACA is unlawful. The three-judge panel stated that the Obama administration did not have the legal authority to implement the program. The case will now go back to the district court for further proceedings. It is expected that the Biden administration will file an appeal paving the way for the issue to go all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which would allow them to issue a final decision on the legality of DACA next year. Although the appeals court…
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Ukraine Designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 Months
On March 3, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it was designating Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status due to the war between Russia and Ukraine for 18 months. However, this period can be extended if necessary. A country is given TPS status when certain events have happened in that country, making it unsafe for citizens of that country to return safely. This would include events such as an ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters (i.e., earthquakes), or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. During the period that a country is designated for TPS, eligible individuals from that country who are in the U.S. are eligible to apply for a work…
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What President Biden Said About Immigration In His State of the Union Speech
On March 1, 2022, President Biden delivered his State of the Union speech. He spoke on several topics, including the war between Russia and Ukraine, inflation, prescription drug prices, the COVID-19 pandemic, and bringing industry and manufacturing back to America, among other topics. He did speak about immigration, but he didn’t spend much time on the subject. Here’s what he said about immigration: -More technology has been added at the border to detect drug smuggling; -Joint patrols have been set up in Guatemala and Mexico to catch more human trafickers; -They’re working with partners in Central and South America to host more refugees and helping with securing their borders; -Give…
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The First 100 Days of the Biden Administration – Immigration Edition
In President Biden’s first 100 days in office, he will be proposing many immigration-related policy changes and executive orders, as well as an immigration bill. Click here to read more about those plans. Here are some of the immigration-related issues that the Biden administration has said it will address: Reverse the Trump Administration’s policies that separate parents from their children at our border, including ending the prosecution of parents for minor immigration violations as an intimidation tactic, and prioritize the reunification of any children still separated from their families. End Trump’s asylum policies. Surge humanitarian resources to the border and foster public-private initiatives, and increase U.S. government resources to support migrants awaiting…
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Most USCIS Field Offices to Resume Services on June 4, 2020
As the USCIS field offices begin to resume services again, they will be reducing the number of appointments and interviews to make sure they are following the proper social distancing guidelines, to allow time for cleaning, and to reduce the number of people in the waiting area. Appointment notices will also have the information that visitors to USCIS must follow. USCIS has stated that if you are feeling sick, you should not go to the appointment. There will be no penalty for rescheduling if the reason is because you are sick. Asylum Offices USCIS asylum offices will automatically reschedule asylum interviews that were canceled during the temporary closures, and new…
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Changes to the U.S. Immigration System During COVID-19 Pandemic
The term “social distance” is a term we are seeing everywhere now. Most of us have never experienced what we are experiencing now in the world and understandably many are scared, anxious, and nervous. I cannot think of one industry that has not been affected by this. Below is a summary of how our U.S. immigration agencies, systems, and procedures have been impacted. This is a rapidly changing situation so I will continue to monitor it. As of March 18, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has put a hold on routine in-person services at least until May 3, 2020, to help slow the spread. These in-person services include…
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The Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the Impact on U.S. Immigration
The coronavirus has been a top news story for the past several weeks, and it has had an impact on many things such as travel, people buying supplies in anticipation of having to be quarantined that would keep them from work and school, shortage of masks, the impact on the economy, and many more things. It has also had an impact on U.S. immigration. This week, the local Seattle USCIS office (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) closed because an employee had visited a family member at the Life Care Facility in Kirkland, WA, where there was a coronavirus outbreak. That closure affects cases that are being processed at that office…
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The Takeover of the House of Representatives by the Democrats: What This Could Mean for U.S. Immigration
The results are in and the Democrats have taken control of the House of Representatives while the Republicans still control the Senate. What does this mean for the President’s immigration plans? The Democrats will likely try to thwart the President’s efforts to enact the immigration changes he has promised. What I see happening is more gridlock and immigration reform will be a battle in Congress. Any real reform is yet to be seen. However, Democrats can try to limit the President’s immigration plans through the budgeting process, such as fighting to fund the controversial border wall and also limiting his other immigration plans. Here is an article from USA Today…
