Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has increased its enforcement actions related to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Occupational Practical Training (STEM OPT) Program.  Specifically, ICE’s random site inspections at STEM OPT program sponsor sites, have become increasingly intrusive and investigatory in nature.  » Read More

Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the end of a month-long operation across 14 New Jersey counties, which led to the arrest of 128 immigrants.  The operation focused “on the arrest of individuals convicted of serious crimes and are a threat to public safety,” noted John Tsoukaris, Newark’s Enforcement & Removal Operations (ERO) Field Office Director. » Read More

On Wednesday, nearly 300 people were arrested at a worksite raid in what Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has called the “biggest workplace immigration raid in a decade.”  The raid at a Dallas-area receiving warehouse owned and operated by New Jersey based CVE Group Inc., a technology products company, was led by DHS’ Homeland Security Investigations (“HIS”) unit, with a team of over 200 federal agents. » Read More

On Friday, the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Directive went into effect—essentially ending any cooperation between the State and Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) on immigration enforcement matters.  Announced in December of 2018 by New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal, the Immigrant Trust Directive effectively declared New Jersey a “sanctuary state.”

Effective last Friday, the directive prohibits state, county, and local law enforcement agencies, including police, prosecutors, county detectives, sheriff’s officers, and correction officers from doing the following:

• Stop, question, arrest, search, or detain any individual based solely on actual or suspected immigration status;
• Ask the immigration status of any individual, unless doing so is necessary to the ongoing investigation of a serious offense and relevant to the offense under investigation;
• Participate in civil immigration enforcement operations conducted by ICE.

Norris McLaughlin’s Immigration Group notes the impact of the partial government shutdown on the U.S. Immigration System as follows:

Form I-9 and E-Verify

E-Verify expired as a result of the government shutdown.  Employers will not have access to E-Verify to initiate new employee verifications, resolve non-confirmations, and verify employment authorization.  » Read More

Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the end of a five-day sweep across New Jersey, netting the arrest of immigrants in 16 counties.  The operation targeted a broad range of individuals, including lawful permanent residents and other immigrants with criminal convictions as well as individuals present in the United States who have reentered after deportation or have pending criminal charges. » Read More

On Friday, the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Blog reported that New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that New Jersey would become a “sanctuary state” in implementing the “Immigrant Trust Directive.”  In response, NBC Philadelphia reported that Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) has threatened to increase immigration raids throughout New Jersey. » Read More

Yesterday, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced a directive limiting the assistance state, county, and local law enforcement agencies can give to federal immigration officials.  According to the Attorney General’s Office, the “Immigrant Trust Directive,” which applies “to all state, county and local law enforcement agencies, including police, prosecutors, county detectives, sheriff’s officers, and correction officers,” states they cannot:

• Stop, question, arrest, search, or detain any individual based solely on actual or suspected immigration status
• Ask the immigration status of any individual, unless doing so is necessary to the ongoing investigation of a serious offense and relevant to the offense under investigation
• Participate in civil immigration enforcement operations conducted by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)
• Provide ICE with access to state or local law enforcement resources, including equipment, office space, databases, or property, unless those resources are readily available to the public
• Allow ICE to interview an individual arrested on a criminal charge unless that person is advised of his or her right to a lawyer

The directive does not prohibit county and state correctional facilities from entering into contracts with ICE to hold immigrant detainees (often indefinitely) in New Jersey prisons—a practice that generates tens of millions in revenue annually. » Read More

It was an honor to be interviewed by Anthony Ewing for Edible Jersey magazine.

New Jersey’s food industry – restaurants, farmers, wholesalers, distributors – have long held a close relationship with New Jersey’s immigrant communities, as both employers and employees.  » Read More

With President Trump threatening a Constitutional showdown over the question of “birthright citizenship,” many New Jersey immigrants are concerned about their children—those already born and deemed US Citizens, and those who are to be born. “Birthright citizenship” is the automatic granting of US Citizenship to any child born on US soil, without regard to the citizenship or resident status of the parent. » Read More