News

Federal troops are to be stationed at the southwest border before the end of January 2025. They join existing Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers already present. The role of the active duty military remains unclear.

President Trump's executive action on birthright citizenship is being actively challenged by dozens of entities. In his action, Mr. Trump directs federal agencies to stop issuing U.S. citizenship documents to babies born on U.S. soil to undocumented individuals or those on a temporary visa.

On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump issued a series of sweeping executive orders related to immigration, among them, challenging birthright citizenship, closing the southern U.S. border to refugees and asylum seekers, and many more.

USCIS announced updates to their guidelines when considering an EB-2 petition along with a National Interest Waiver. The update specifies how USCIS evaluates eligibility for the EB-2 visa and how proof of NIW is reviewed.

The U.S. Supreme Court returned a matter to the lower court to reconsider without limitations from the deference standard. The challenge specifically addressed if noncitizens already in the U.S. must meet the same standard as new applicants for a green card as a protection to removal.

USCIS announced updates to their guidance regarding O-1 Nonimmigrant Visa for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement. The update provides several areas of clarification regarding requirements and evidentiary criteria.

USCIS announced efforts to update the U.S. naturalization test have been stopped. Announced in 2022, comments were predominantly negative, stating the updated test created unnecessary hurdle for applicants. The 2008 naturalization test will continue to be used for now.

President-elect Trump promised a mass deportation program during his campaign. Funding and detention space are two roadblocks, as well as the continued high backlog in U.S. immigration cases which will only be made worse with the increase in cases.

President-elect Trump's Border Czar, Tom Homan, stated mass deportation plans are ongoing and will be ready on inauguration day, January 20, 2025. Additional funding from Congress, military members, and ICE officials are needed in order to execute the plan.

The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) issued a formal recommendation addressing areas of improvement for processing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative to address handing of family-based petition submissions.