Landlord Sues New Jersey ICE Detention Facility
Portview Properties, which owns a property in Elizabeth, New Jersey, that is currently being used to detain immigrants, has filed a lawsuit in New Jersey state court against CoreCivic, the operator of the prison, alleging that the company has failed to implement safety guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) on COVID-19, posing a threat to the health of the detainees. » Read More
Biden Administration Announces Planned Changes to H-1B Employment Visas
Earlier this last week, the Biden Administration released a set of policy goals for employment-based immigration that include plans for changes to the H-1B, the visa that permits highly skilled workers to work in the United States for a period of up to six years. » Read More
On July 20, the D.C. Circuit Court joined nine others to rule that visa revocations by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) cannot be further reviewed by the courts.
The three-judge panel joined the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Tenth, and Eleventh circuits in issuing this decision. » Read More
Scranton, Pennsylvania, Mayor Paige Cognetti, along with 83 other mayors from across the nation, sent a letter to President Joe Biden; Vice President Kamala Harris; U.S. Senate Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-NY; and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA. The letter urges Congress to make swift immigration reforms, considering the economic benefits of legalizing immigrants and the acute labor shortage. » Read More
The United States is facing severe labor shortages in its agriculture, meatpacking, and poultry industries. In response to the problem, Iowa State Farms, one of the state’s largest pork producers, is pressuring U.S. Senators to allow for a year-round flow of immigrant workers. » Read More
Federal Court Upholds New Jersey Attorney General’s Ban on Providing Information to Federal Agencies
On Monday, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals – which retains jurisdiction over New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware – upheld the 2018 directive of former New Jersey Attorney General Gubrir Grewal to limit local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration agencies. » Read More
On July 15, New York legalized the use of recreational marijuana for adults 21 years and older. The bill allows possession of up to three ounces of cannabis for recreational use, or 24 grams of concentrated cannabis from plants. New Jersey legalized recreational marijuana use in December 2020, authorizing the use of six ounces of cannabis. » Read More
New research conducted by Progressive Think Tank Keystone Research Center, announced in May, revealed that naturalizing undocumented immigrants in Pennsylvania would substantially benefit the state’s budget. Pennsylvania is home to 900,000 individuals who have an immigrant background, accounting for 7% of Pennsylvania’s population. » Read More
On November 17, 2019, Carlos Rios was arrested by the Washington State Patrol in Pierce County, Washington, allegedly for driving his motorcycle under the influence. Rios was imprisoned in Pierce County Jail, and his belongings were confiscated. Upon his release two days later, he was taken into custody by two U.S. » Read More
