Refugee Ceiling is Set at 18,000 for FY2020

President Trump announced that the US is authorized to admit a maximum of 18,000 refugees in FY2020, citing “ongoing security and humanitarian crisis on our border and the massive asylum backlog, which now includes nearly one million individuals.… Read More
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Afghans and Iraqis File Law Suit Alleging Long Processing Delays of Special IV Applications

A district court issued a memo stating that the government’s delays in the processing and adjudication of the SIV applications and members of the class are unreasonable and ordered that the government submit a plan for promptly processing and adjud… Read More
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Attempts to Limit Minor “UAC” Asylum Seekers

On May 31, 2019, USCIS announced a policy limiting USCIS asylum jurisdiction over applicants previously determined to be “unaccompanied alien children” (UAC). The memo reversed a 2013 policy, often referred to as the “Kim memo,” that specifie… Read More
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Employers Beware: SSA Resumes Issuance of “No-Match” Letters

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has resumed issuing no-match letters. No-match letters state that a certain number of wage reports for name and SSN combinations do not match SSA records. Employers should be mindful that SSA no-match letters… Read More
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Trump Expands Executive Order on Venezuela

An August 5th Executive Order (EO) further extends the scope of a 2015 and subsequent EOs impacting Venezuelans. The latest EO directs that all property and interests in property of the Government of Venezuela that are in the U.S. are blocked and may… Read More
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New Public Charge Rule, Effective October 15, 2019

DHS published a new public charge rule that dramatically changes the standard of whether an applicant for admission to the U.S. or for adjustment of status is likely to become a “public charge.” “Public charge” is not defined in the immigrati… Read More
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Immigrant Youth File Class Action Lawsuit Challenging USCIS Denial of SIJ Applications

A district court granted a preliminary injunction in a class action lawsuit filed by immigrants in Washington state challenging USCIS’s policy to deny Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) for youth who filed their applications after turning 18… Read More
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Visa Bulletin for September: Many Categories Now “Unavailable” through September 30, 2019

At an August 16 liaison meeting with the State Department, the American Immigration Lawyers Association was made aware that following a review of the dates listed in the September 2019 Visa Bulletin, the entire EB-3 category has immediately been made… Read More
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Know Your Rights If ICE Comes Knocking at Your Door!

Immigration enforcement raids dominated the news in July and August. While new ICE raids in 10 cities in July did not materialize, a raid in Mississippi on August 7 resulted in the detention of some 680 undocumented immigrants in what a federal prose… Read More
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TPS Extended to 3/31/2021 for Syrians

DHS announced the extension of Syria’s TPS designation for 18 months. The extension permits current Syrian TPS beneficiaries to re-register for TPS and remain in the U.S. with work authorization through March 31, 2021. Read More
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