A.G. Rules in Favor of Victims of Domestic and Gang Violence

On Wednesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland rescinded a Trump-era decision that had made it much more difficult for victims of domestic abuse and gang violence to apply for asylum in the United States. » Read More

In March of this year, the U.S. saw a record high of 8.1 million job openings. Many businesses are now struggling to find workers as they reopen and return to their normal operations. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has openly called out to Washington to make way for more foreign workers to enter the country. » Read More

On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that after investigation, it had reached a settlement with LNK International, Inc. (LNK), a New York-based company that manufactures over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, regarding discriminatory hiring practices. This settlement was reached to resolve the DOJ’s claim that LNK violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by discriminating against work-authorized non-U.S. » Read More

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced that Alvarado Landscaping of Lorain, Ohio, violated a federal requirement of paying their H-2B temporary workers for their international transportation and meal expenses. The DOL said the landscaping company must pay $36,000 in back wages and $40,000 in H-2B penalties. » Read More

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced an extension of its interim policy that allows employers to inspect the Form I-9 requirement virtually through August 31, 2021. This flexibility was first issued by ICE in March 2020, due to the pandemic, and has been extended multiple times since. » Read More

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has formally removed the rule that would have redefined the H-1B specialty occupations. The rule was also set to restrict the off-site replacement of H-1B employees and increase employer compliance requirements.

On May 20, 2021, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), issued a statement confirming that the DHS has removed the Interim Final Rule issued in October 2020, which has since been vacated by a federal district court. » Read More

Lawsuit Filed to Block H-1B Visa Wage Priority Rule

On Monday, multiple organizations filed an action in a Washington, D.C., federal court to block the implementation of a wage-based rule that would replace the H-1B visa lottery system – designated for high-skilled foreign workers – with a program that favored higher-paid positions. » Read More

New Bill Proposed to Make Health Care Coverage More Accessible to Immigrants

Several House Democrats have introduced a new bill aimed at making health care benefits more accessible to immigrants in the United States. One of the bill’s main sponsors, Washington Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, stated that “we must finally guarantee health care to everyone as a human right – regardless of immigration status, income, employment, or anything else.” » Read More

Make the Road Pennsylvania’s Allentown chapter organized the May Day rally advocating immigrant workers’ rights – emphasizing undocumented workers. Along with demanding minimum pay and labor rights for undocumented workers, advocates urged the Biden administration to grant citizenship to the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. » Read More

Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams has announced the arrest and indictment of Pennsylvania residents Miguel Morales, 48, of Quarryville; Jose Morales, 39, of Quarryville; Oscar Carrillo-Perez, 35, of West Grove; and Santiago Garcia-Ramirez, 44, of Landenberg. Morales was indicted for conspiring to transport and transporting undocumented workers and making false statements. » Read More