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New Family Reunification Pathway for Honduras, Colombia, Guatemala, and El Salvador

, Posted in Immigration Law

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) just announced the implementation of a new Family Reunification Parole (FRP) process for Honduras, Colombia, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The FRP process is for nationals of any of the four aforementioned countries whose family members are either U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, with the goal of seeking to promote family unity.  Likewise, the purpose of FRP is to expand legal, safe, and orderly pathways to reduce dangerous and/or irregular…

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DHS AUTHORIZES TPS FOR UKRAINIANS

, Posted in Immigration Law

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially authorized the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainians. TPS allows nationals of designated countries to legally remain the United States for a specified period of time. This announcement was made due to the extraordinary state of violence amid a full-scale invasion of and armed conflict currently in Ukraine.  Notably, TPS is designated to assist Ukrainian nationals who are currently facing a humanitarian crisis and to protect…

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PROTECTING UKRAINIANS IN THE U.S. FROM DEPORTATION VIA TPS OR DED

, Posted in Immigration Law

Amid the chaos and unrest in Ukraine due to Russia’s invasion and armed conflict, Immigration attorneys, activist groups, and some Democratic Senators are calling for the Biden Administration to give Ukrainians currently in the United States protection from Deportation.  Indeed, the Department of Homeland Security is reportedly considering granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainian nationals. Notably, the National TPS Alliance, more than 500 College and University Presidents, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Catholic Legal…

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IMMIGRATION SUBSECTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE BILL: WHAT IS THE REGISTRY ACT?

, Posted in Immigration Law

Congressional Democrats have been strenuously trying to include an immigration subsection into the currently debated Infrastructure Bill as an effort to forward the President’s agenda to effectuate long-needed immigration reform.  Yesterday, for the second time, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough struck down the Democrats’ plan (Called Plan B) to include an immigration policy change into the infrastructure bill. This plan, if approved, would have helped millions of immigrants to legalize their status and represented a real avenue…

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Vice President Harris visits U.S.-Mexico Border

, Posted in Immigration Law

Last Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris, together with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, and Texas Representative Veronica Escobar, visited the El Paso Border Patrol station and the El Paso del Norte Port of Entry.  This marks their first visit to the border since the Biden Administration commenced.  Inside the border facility, the Vice President met with several immigrant girls who reportedly came to the United States in order to…

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RETURN OF PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION IN IMMIGRATION CASES

, Posted in Immigration Law

Immigration Prosecutors have now been re-granted broad-based discretion and the personal authority to decide cases or drop cases altogether. Under U.S. Immigration Law, Prosecutorial Discretion (PD) refers to the power that ICE has to discontinue working on a specific immigration case which involves the particular potential for deportation.  ICE may exercise its PD in a multitude of ways, including but not limited to asking an Immigration Judge to close a case.  Alternatively, ICE may agree to…

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES BILLS FOR DREAMERS AND FARM WORKERS

, Posted in Immigration Law

Yesterday, the House of Representatives approved two immigration reform bills known as the American Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.  These bills would provide lawful status for individuals known as Dreamers and for Agricultural Laborers, providing more long-term hope for these two categories of intending immigrants.  While many Dreamers are currently protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, they remain at risk of deportation and lack permanent status. Notably,…

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BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GRANTS TPS TO VENEZUELANS

, Posted in Immigration Law

The Biden administration announced yesterday that it will start granting special status to Venezuelans living in the United States due to the well-documented fact that the country is enduring a dire humanitarian crisis. Indeed, the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas designated Venezuela as eligible under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the safety and security of individuals fearing return to a country embroiled in extraordinary socio-political turmoil. Noteworthy is a tyrannical regime, under the toxic dictatorship…

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ICE IMPLEMENTS NEW PRIORITIES TO REDUCE DEPORTATIONS

, Posted in Immigration Law

The Biden administration set forth new instructions to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field officers restricting the causes for initiating deportation.  In accordance with interim guidance measures issued by the President, ICE agents have been explicitly directed to focus only on arresting immigrants who pose a threat to national security due to terrorism or espionage, public safety concerns, or those who illegally crossed a U.S. border after November 1, 2020.  The enforcement priorities signify a pivotal…

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WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION BILL

, Posted in Immigration Law

The White House announced a comprehensive immigration bill yesterday, as President Biden seeks a new approach to helping millions of immigrants. Biden's immigration bill entitled “the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021,” will be introduced by Democrats Bob Menendez of New Jersey in the Senate and Linda Sanchez of California in the House of Representatives. The goal of the bill would be to create an 8-year path to citizenship for millions of immigrants already living in the…

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