March 31, 2025 FY 2026 H-1B Selection Process Complete
March 26, 2025 Some Green Card Applications Placed on Hold
March 25, 2025 ICE Reinstates No Release Policy Amid Federal Judge Order
March 25, 2025 Elimination of Deference Policy for Nonimmigrant Visa Waivers
March 25, 2025 Potential Impacts on U.S. Employers of a Possible New Travel Ban
March 25, 2025 Stricter Enforcement of Evidentiary Standards: What You Need to Know
March 20, 2025 Stricter Immigration Enforcement Could Affect Visa and Green Card Holders
March 31, 2025
FY 2026 H-1B Selection Process Complete
The USCIS has announced the FY 2026 H-1B visa selection process has ended. Selected beneficiaries will receive notice of their acceptance online. Businesses sponsoring beneficiaries must submit an H-1B cap-subject petition to advance to the next round of selection.
March 26, 2025
Some Green Card Applications Placed on Hold
As part of a broader effort to more aggressively vet immigrants and documented migrants, the Trump administration has placed some green card applications on hold. The DHS clarified that this pause is temporary, and will be lifted once satisfactory vetting procedures are in place.
March 25, 2025
ICE Reinstates No Release Policy Amid Federal Judge Order
A group of New York attorneys claims ICE has resumed its' no release policy amidst a decrease in inmates being released. Critics claim the agency is holding people for as long as possible to inflate detention rates.
March 25, 2025
Elimination of Deference Policy for Nonimmigrant Visa Waivers
The state department announced the elimination of deference policy for nonimmigrant visas. Now consular officials must consider each waiver appeal independently, even if previous approvals have been made.
March 25, 2025
Potential Impacts on U.S. Employers of a Possible New Travel Ban
The Trump administration's potential new travel ban could restrict visa access to several countries, U.S. companies are encouraged to plan ahead to best prepare for this more restrictive environment. Companies can best prepare by assessing the visa statuses of several employees, complying with immigration audits, and working with immigration attorneys to navigate potential visa issues.
March 25, 2025
Stricter Enforcement of Evidentiary Standards: What You Need to Know
A recent presidential memorandum signed by President Trump calls for stricter enforcement of attorney conduct and evidentiary standards within the immigration system, with stricter initial documentation requirements.
March 20, 2025
Stricter Immigration Enforcement Affects Visa and Green Card Holders
Multiple high-profile arrests and deportations have sparked fear among visa and green-card holders that they could be targeted by the Trump administration. It's therefore important for visa and green card holders to know their rights, especially when trying to reenter the country or when approached by law enforcement.
March 20, 2025
Immigration Judges Terminated by Biden Invited to Reapply
Following the termination of several immigration judges, the acting director of the EOIR invited more than a dozen of them to reapply. The director questioned the validity of their removal due to the attorney general not approving the decision. The invitation could alleviate the backlog in the immigration system.
March 19, 2025
Trump Invokes Alien Enemies Act and Defies Court Orders as Basis of Challenged Removal
The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 on March 15, 2025. When a court blocked the deportation of individuals under the act, the Trump administration did not recall a flight deporting over two hundred individuals to El Salvador, sparking debate over whether the White House defied the court.
March 19, 2025
Rights of Green Card Holders
The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder from New York City, over his involvement in protests the year prior have raised questions about the rights of green card holders. If successfully deported without due process, the Khalil case could have a tremendous impact on the free speech of non-citizens.
March 18, 2025
Trump Proclamation Criticized as Immigrant Population Grows
A proclamation by president Trump calling undocumented migrants an invasion has received backlash from immigrant rights advocacy groups and opposing politicians. The Trump administration's hard line stance on immigration enforcement comes after a historic peak in 2023.
March 18, 2025
Non-citizen Registration Requirement Announced
The DHS announced a non-citizen registration requirement. All immigrants and foreign residents living in the United States over the age of fourteen are required to be registered. All non-citizens over eighteen are required to carry proof of registration with them at all times.
March 13, 2025
April 2025 Visa Bulletin: Modest Movement in Employment Based Categories, China and India EB-5 Retrogression, Annual EB-4 Limit Reached
The Department of State released the April 2025 visa bulletin. The visa bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant visas both for consular processing and adjustment of status applications to be filed in April 2025. The State Department releases both the Final Action Dates and Application Filing Dates for Employment-Based and Family-Based immigrant visas.
March 11, 2025
Immigration Form Grace Period Announced
The USCIS announced a grace period to the twelve immigration forms affected by their recent unannounced update This move comes after a group of immigration lawyers filed a lawsuit challenging the unannounced change.
March 10, 2025
Undocumented Individuals Can Announce Voluntary Departure
Undocumented individuals can now announce their voluntary departure through the Intent to Depart feature on the CBP Home app. It's hoped providing the option of voluntary removal will alleviate the stress on the immigration system in the U.S.
March 7, 2025
Undocumented Immigrant Family Detention Center to Reopen
The Trump administration intends to reopen an undocumented immigrant family detention center in southern Texas. The decision has been criticized by immigrant advocacy groups who argue the detention of minors is inhumane.
March 7, 2025
TPS Holders Suing Trump Administration Can Remain Anonymous
A federal judge ruled TPS holders suing the Trump administration can remain anonymous. The judge explained that given the extraordinary circumstances, a legal pseudonym for the plaintiffs is warranted.
March 6, 2025
Sanctuary City Mayors Testify Regarding City Policies
March 5th saw multiple sanctuary city mayors testify before a congressional committee on whether sanctuary city policies were ultimately harmful. Republican committee members argued sanctuary city policies did more harm than good, while democratic committee members blasted the hearing as a performative exercise.
March 5, 2025
Unannounced Update to Multiple Immigration Forms
The USCIS made unannounced update to multiple immigration forms, specifically the I-485, I-131, and N-400 forms. The main change is that the forms now mention “sex” instead of “gender.” There hasn’t been any clarification on whether prior editions won’t be accepted.
March 5, 2025
Immigration Authorities to Monitor Non-citizens’ Social Media
The USCIS announced it will begin monitoring non-citizen's social media in order to identify national security threats trying to enter and already in the country. The policy gives the DHS the power to deny entry or deport individuals granted that there's evidence of them posing a threat to the United States. Those associated with individuals deemed a threat will also be subject to this policy.