A new study released by the pro-immigrant reform group, FWD.us, shows that more than two-thirds of undocumented immigrant workers have frontline jobs considered essential to the U.S. fight against COVID-19. According to the 2019 American Community Survey by the Census Bureau, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that 69% of undocumented immigrant workers hold jobs that are deemed essential. » Read More

New Jersey was scheduled to begin issuing driver’s licenses for immigrants without legal documents by the beginning of January 2021, but Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) officials announced there will be a delay due to the COVID pandemic. » Read More

Last week, Congress passed the $900 billion coronavirus relief package that was signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 27, 2020. In this package, the U.S. government will allow mixed-status households to receive stimulus checks. In mixed-status families, at least one member of the household must have a Social Security number (SSN). » Read More

Immigration & Customs Enforcement Extends I-9 Flexibility Rules

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) has announced that it will extend its flexibilities for compliance with I-9 regulations until at least January 31, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The flexibilities in I-9 compliance were set to expire on December 31, 2020. » Read More

On December 23, 2020, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension to its remote Form I-9 verification policy through January 31, 2021. The policy had been set to expire on December 31, 2020. This extension helps employers who are working remotely due to the COVID-19 emergency to verify their new hires. » Read More

On the turnpike near Edison, a newly placed billboard urges the state legislature to pass relief measures to aid working immigrants left out of federal assistance as they struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic. The billboards were placed between exits 9 and 10 of Middlesex County by Grassroots Immigrant Rights Organization and Make the Road New Jersey. » Read More

On November 18, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) extended the flexibility in complying with Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification due to COVID-19 until December 31, 2020. » Read More

America, which has long been considered one of the premier destinations for education, now faces a steep drop in the number of international students enrolling for all education levels. Primary reasons for this are the ongoing pandemic and the recent changes to the U.S. » Read More

On November 4, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Newark arrested 88 inmates who had been released from New Jersey prisons. All the inmates detained by ICE had criminal violations and were either offenders or convicted of serious crimes. » 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