Like we reported might happen, a federal judge ruled that new applications for the DACA program would be blocked. It threatens the stability and safety of hundreds of thousands of immigrants who arrived as children, including 50,000 new DACA applicants. Now, the Democrats in Congress are under increased pressure to pass a comprehensive immigration reform package like… Read More
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Immigration Courts Prepare for Asylum Seekers Amidst Backlog
A few weeks ago, Attorney General Merrick Garland reversed Trump-era policies that limited protections for migrants seeking asylum. The major decision could positively affect thousands of asylum seekers who are fleeing domestic violence, political or religious violence, or gang violence—all of whom faced shrinking protections due to Trump policies. Immigration lawyers hope the decision could… Read More
New Jersey Extends Driver’s License Eligibility to Undocumented Immigrants
New Jersey is home to about 475,000 undocumented immigrants. Immigrants comprise about one-fourth of the state’s workforce, and one-fifth of these workers are undocumented. Thus far, they have been unable to apply for driver’s licenses that would help them get to work and school. They are valuable members of the community and yet have been prohibited… Read More
Biden Administration Announces New Limits on ICE Courthouse Arrests
In accordance with a policy change announced on Tuesday by the Biden administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will no longer be allowed to make routine arrests at courthouses. As KTLA 5 reported, the previous practice of civil immigration arrests at courthouses under President Trump had “…a chilling effect on individuals’ willingness to come to… Read More
100-Day Review Deadline on DHS Enforcement Policies Is Imminent
Part of the Biden administration’s changes to enforcement policies came with a commitment to a 100-day review of DHS enforcement policies. Biden has already changed DHS policy to focus immigration enforcement on threats to national security or public safety, but thousands of people who were detained under Trump policies remain captive. That deadline will arrive… Read More
Immigrant Visa Backlog Continues to Cause Problems
The state of the immigrant visa backlog is becoming clearer as the Biden administration attempts to undo the damage committed by the Trump administration. There is currently a backlog of 2.6 million visa applications, with nearly a fifth of them “documentarily qualified,” i.e. ready for an interview. The backlog for some immigrant visa types is… Read More
Receipt Notice Delays & Related Intake Issues
USCIS Receipt Notice Not Received in 2021 If you filed a concurrent or stand-alone Form I-485 for adjustment of status (AOS) in September, October, or November 2020, you may be experiencing severe delays in receiving a receipt notice. Other receipt notices that may be delayed are for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers; and Form I-765, Application for… Read More
700 AILA Lawyers to Lobby Congress for Immigrant Communities
On Thursday, April 22, Lloyd Bennett, Esq, and over 700 hundred AILA members will join together virtually from their home states and advocate our representatives in Washington for smart, fair, and just immigration law reforms. We are asking Congress to step up and effect change through legislation and hold agencies accountable. You can read our program here…. Read More
Consular Processing Delays Persist
On March 31, 2021, Presidential Proclamation 10052 (PP 10052), which suspended entry of certain nonimmigrants, is expected to end. While this is welcome news and an important step towards creating a welcoming America, this will not result in immediate processing of nonimmigrant visa applications. In addition, it will not speed up the processing of immigrant visa… Read More
House Passes Dream Act & Path for Farmworkers
Last week, the House of Representatives passed two immigration bills that would grant legal status and a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, including both Dreamers and agricultural workers. The two bills are titled the American Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, respectively. Both bills passed largely without Republican… Read More
