Immigration

Twice each year, the federal government publishes a “regulatory agenda,” a preview of all the proposals that are in the pipeline to become federal regulations. Last week, the Biden administration used the 2021 Spring Regulatory Agenda to indicate the many ways that it intends to move away from the Trump era, in everything from legal immigration to […]

On Thursday, the New American Economy (NAE) released a report documenting that the U.S. does not have enough high-skilled workers to meet demand for computer-related jobs, and employers are seeking immigrant talent to help fill that gap. A bipartisan immigration research group found that for every unemployed computer or math worker in the country in 2020, there […]

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued new policy updates in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the criteria and circumstances for expedited processing; improve request for evidence (RFE) and notice of intent to deny (NOID) guidance; and increase the validity period for initial and renewal employment authorization documents (EADs) for certain noncitizens with pending adjustment of […]

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued three new policy updates in the USCIS Policy Manual. These updates: Clarify the criteria and circumstances for expedited processing; Address the circumstances in which officers should issue Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs); and Extend the validity period for initial and renewal employment […]

 On Wednesday, the Fourth Circuit ruled that immigration judges have a legal duty to fully develop the record in cases before them, adding that this mandate is particularly important for immigrants appearing in their court without an attorney. The court noted that the INA’s mandate that immigration judges “administer oaths, receive evidence, interrogate, examine and cross-examine” […]

When President Biden took office, he inherited a legal immigration system that was teetering on the brink of collapse. Delays within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have reached historic levels and some work permit applications are taking so long to process that thousands are losing their jobs. A new report from the American Immigration Council reveals how the Biden administration […]

On Thursday, the Supreme Court found that in order for an immigrant to be deported, the government must properly notify the individual on one document, rather than across several. While a technical issue, the ruling could affect hundreds of thousands of immigration cases. In a nutshell, a notice to appear (NTA) will be considered deficient […]

The Biden administration will begin issuing a policy that limits who ICE and CBP can arrest in courthouses. DHS Secretary Mayorkas said the new policy is because “[E]nsuring that individuals have access to the court advances the fair administration of justice, promotes safety for crime victims and helps to guarantee equal protection under the law.” […]

 On Monday, two federal government memos were issued stating that U.S. immigration enforcement agencies will no longer use the term “illegal alien” in official communications to refer to immigrants in the country. Specifically, ICE and CBP will discontinue the use of words “alien,” “illegal alien,” and “assimilation” from internal policy documents and communications with the public. Immigrant […]

 On Wednesday, the House passed legislation that would limit executive authority to issue future travel bans like the one imposed by former President Trump against several Muslim-majority countries. The legislation, abbreviated to the NO BAN Act, would explicitly prohibit religious discrimination in immigration-related decisions. Any immigration restrictions could only be issued by the executive branch if there […]