The Immigration Court System is heavily backlogged with 1.3 million asylum cases. With the historic increase in the influx of immigrants entering the United States, immigration judges fear the system will experience a further slowdown.
Customs and Border Protection reported that agents encountered more than 180,000 migrants at the southern border in May alone, the largest number in the last two decades. » Read More
On March 18, 2021, the House passed two bills designed to create paths to legalization for certain groups of immigrants. Both the Dream and Promise Act of 2021 and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act have been sent to the Senate. » Read More
Border Crossings on Pace to Reach Highest Level in Twenty Years
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced on Tuesday, March 16, that the number of border crossings at the southern border of the United States is expected to reach its highest level in the past twenty years, raising concerns about safety as both the Biden administration and Congress debate more long-term changes to U.S. » Read More
End of the 2019 Public Charge Rule
On Tuesday, March 9, 2021, the Biden administration asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the government’s appeals of court decisions against the “public charge” rule, which had expanded the ability of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to deny green cards to lower-income immigrants. » Read More
U.S. Consulates to Prioritize Immigrant Visa Backlog
The Biden administration announced this week that it was directing U.S. embassies and consulates a priority on the processing of fiancé(e) visas and permanent residence visas (better known as “green cards”). The announcement reverses course from the previous administration, which had halted most green card applications filed abroad. » Read More
Since the Biden administration took office, Executive Orders (EO) on immigration have been rolling out, reviewing and undoing some of the previous administration’s policies. Each of these EOs has widespread repercussions on different immigrant communities and families living inside and outside the United States. » Read More
President, Democrats Present Immigration Reform Bill
On Thursday, President Biden and Congressional Democrats released a long-awaited, sweeping bill to provide immigration reform in the United States. New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez will introduce the bill to the U.S. Senate.
The bill will affect millions of individuals, both those currently in the United States and those looking to immigrate to the United States in the future. » Read More
Several Immigrant, Including Children, Deported to Haiti
Despite the Biden administration’s announcement of a policy that would focus its deportation efforts on terrorists, violent criminals, and other high-priority cases, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) recently deported many immigrants, including several children and infants, to Haiti. » Read More
James McHenry, Director of the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR), who took office during the Trump administration, has stepped down from his role effective January 31, 2021. This move comes as the Biden administration replaces top government officials. The EOIR, a sub-agency of the United States Department of Justice, primarily conducts removal proceedings of noncitizens and adjudicates appeals arising from such removal proceedings. » Read More
The coveted EB-5 program is reaching its time of testing when Congress will decide whether to renew it or not. The EB-5 investor immigration program, created in 1990, has a sunset provision that could lead to its expiration by June 30, 2021. » Read More
