Blog

District Court Vacates Third-Country Transit Ban

From our friends at AILA: AILA Doc. No. 20070104 | Dated June 30, 2020 A U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia judge found that the government unlawfully promulgated the 2019 interim final rule that categorically disqualified individuals arriving at the southern border from receiving asylum unless they have already unsuccessfully sought similar protection…
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DACA and the Supreme Court – What happens now?

On June 18, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that DHS’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedures Act. The agency failed to consider “important aspects of the problem before the agency.” Specifically, the Court concluded that DHS failed to consider whether to…
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COVID-19 and the Public Charge Rule

From our friends at AILA: AILA Doc. No. 20040231 | Dated April 7, 2020 1. Will getting tested, treatment or preventative care for COVID-19 impact my client’s immigration application under the public charge rule? On March 13, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the agency will not consider “testing, treatment, nor preventative care…
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USCIS Waiving In-Person Interviews

From our friends at AILA: USCIS Waiving In-Person Interview Requirement in Some Instances During COVID-19 Pandemic AILA Doc. No. 20042061 | Dated April 20, 2020 Based on a limited number of responses to AILA’s Call for Examples, it appears as though USCIS is, in some instances, waiving the in-person interview requirement for some applicants and…
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H-1B Workers During COVID-19

From our friends at AILA: Changes in Work Conditions Impacting H-1B Workers During the COVID-19 Outbreak AILA Doc. No. 20032631 | Dated March 26, 2020 AILA’s Department of Labor (DOL) Liaison Committee offers the following quick reference with common scenarios and tips to evaluate and consult on the matters discussed below during this unique period in…
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USCIS Proposed Rule with Adjustments to Fee Schedule and Other Changes

From our friends at AILA: USCIS Proposed Rule with Adjustments to Fee Schedule and Other Changes AILA Doc. No. 19110834 | Dated November 14, 2019 DHS proposed rule which would make changes to the USCIS fee schedule. DHS proposes to adjust USCIS fees by a weighted average increase of 21 percent, add new fees, and…
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Termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduras

WASHINGTON — The Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen has determined that termination of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Honduras is required pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act. To allow for an orderly transition, she has determined to delay the effective date of the termination for 18 months. The designation will…
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The “Secret Language” contained in your Receipt Number

What do those letters and numbers mean in your receipt number? Let’s use the following example: WAC-15-123-12345. The first three letters (WAC) reference which USCIS Service Center was initially assigned to process your petition. I say “initially assigned” because sometimes, due to processing backlogs, etc., USCIS can “transfer” your case to a different location. If…
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Talking Points on the Supreme Court Declining to Hear DACA Case Before Lower Court Reviews

As we continue to monitor the situation regarding the future of the DACA program, below are some key talking points about the Supreme Court’s recent decision to decline to hear the DACA case without first being heard by the lower courts. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear the Trump administration’s appeal of…
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Rescission Of Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

From the U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Release Date: September 5, 2017 For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary Contact: 202-282-8010 En español WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiated the orderly wind down of the program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). “This Administration’s decision to terminate DACA…
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