Immigration Law Blog

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced the arrests of 15 nonimmigrant students through Operation OPTical Illusion. The students, who claimed to be employed by companies that don’t exist, who were found to have allegedly participated in work visa fraud to extend their stay in the United States. » Read More

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and United States Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) have conducted a week-long, targeted enforcement operation, which resulted in 170+ at-large illegal immigrants arrested throughout the United States, in states with sanctuary policies. » Read More

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has launched a billboard campaign in Pennsylvania, with billboards featuring the images of immigration violators who are either charged or convicted of crimes in the United States. This campaign is also aimed at educating the public about the dangers of non-cooperation with immigration policies. » Read More

Announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced major changes that will make it significantly tougher for employers to sponsor H-1B visas for qualified aliens. The changes require employers to pay significantly higher wages, narrow the types of degrees that can qualify an applicant, and shorten the length of visas for certain workers. » Read More

On September 14, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed a decision of a federal judge that had preserved Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for citizens of El Salvador, Haiti, Sudan, and Nicaragua. The Circuit Court ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) had acted within the limits of its authority to end TPS. » Read More

The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) has proposed a new rule that would significantly change immigration rules for international students in the United States. The proposed rule, detailed in a 256-page document, has drawn hundreds of public comments and could draw many more by the time the comment period ends on October 26. » Read More

On September 29, 2020, a federal judge for the Northern District of California issued a nationwide injunction blocking the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from implementing their fee increase rule that had been set to take effect on October 2, 2020. » Read More

Driving PA Forward, along with the students and faculty of Villanova University’s Framework Legal Advocacy Clinic, has released a report that found Pennsylvania shares drivers’ personal information without being able to determine how the details revealed are going to be used. » Read More

On September 11, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) extended the flexibilities in responding to various requests raised by the agency. The flexibility was originally announced on March 30 in response measure to the coronavirus pandemic. This measure will help applicants, petitioners, and requestors who must respond to the following: » Read More

Legislation to grant a driver’s license to undocumented immigrants has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Reps. Danilo Burgos, D-Philadelphia; Joseph C. Hohenstein, D-Philadelphia; Sara Innamorato, D-Allegheny; and Christopher M. Rabb, D-Philadelphia were among the few who sponsored House Bill 2835. » Read More