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Trump Ends DACA: What Does That Mean?

, Posted in Immigration Law

Yesterday, the Trump administration formally announced the end to DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), a program that has protected from deportation an estimated 800,000 young documented immigrations brought to the United States as children.  Despite having said that he intended to deal with "heart and compassion" when it came to DACA recipients, Trump's decision to rescind the order, established via Executive Action under President Obama, has left immigrant communities, immigrant advocates, immigration lawyers, democrats, businesses,…

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President Trump Considering New Version Of The Raise Act

, Posted in Immigration Law

Two Republican Senators, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia met with President Trump on Tuesday to discuss a revised and expanded version of their RAISE Act, which they initially presented in March.  RAISE is an acronym for Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment, a bill that reportedly emphasizes a merit-based immigration system that would essentially put limits on legal immigration.  In particular, the bill aims to cut the number of legal immigrants admitted…

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Senators Graham And Durbin Introduce Bi-partisan Dream Act Of 2017

, Posted in Immigration Law

The future of the DACA program hangs in the balance. The Governor of Idaho and ten Attorney Generals, including South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, have issued a deadline calling for President Trump to rescind DACA by September 5th or they will sue to end the program.  Currently, 800,000 immigrant youth are protected from deportation and can work because of the DACA program.  Concerned that these individuals could lose their protected status, Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC)…

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Unlawful Voting Is A Deportable Offense

, Posted in Immigration Law

Only United States Citizens are permitted to vote.  Under the current immigration laws, non-U.S. citizens (lawful permanent residents/green card holders, undocumented immigrants, asylees, and refugees) are not eligible to vote in any federal, state, or local elections.  In fact, it is actually a federal crime to do so and there are extraordinarily harsh consequences for unauthorized voting.  According to the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA): "any alien who has voted in violation of…

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New Video Called “Immigrants” Released For Immigration Heritage Month

, Posted in Immigration Law

June is Immigration Heritage Month so it is only fitting that Lin-Manuel Miranda, multiple award winning playwright and composer, has just released a powerful new video that he executive produced called "Immigrants: We Get the Job Done."  The video which is part of a mix-tape associated with the show Hamilton addresses a range of issues confronting immigrants, ranging from ICE raids to the plight of refugees.  Poignantly, the video highlights the critically important and wide-ranging contributions…

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Supreme Court Grants Second Chance To Immigrant Facing Deportation

, Posted in Immigration Law

On Friday, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of a lawful permanent resident who received faulty immigration advice from an attorney.  Indeed, the Justices, in a 6-2 decision, concluded that it was reasonable to think that a green card holder, named Jae Lee, could have avoided deportation if his attorney had not incorrectly advised him that pleading guilty to a drug charge would not lead to his deportation. The attorney's injudicious guidance regarding the…

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May 1 “Day Without An Immigrant” Planned

, Posted in Immigration Law

Today is International Labor Day, a national public holiday in several European, South American, African, and Asian countries, and a day selected for the second of a series of 2017 scheduled boycotts called "A Day Without Immigrants," or "Un Dia Sin Inmigrantes."  The goals of the national strike are essentially fivefold: 1) to change the conversation on immigration; 2) to increase awareness about the import of immigrant workers; 3) to gain permanent protection for immigrants living in…

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Six Things To Ask Your Prospective Immigration Lawyer

, Posted in Immigration Law

Immigration law is complex, nuanced, and ever changing.  As such, is it critical for you to find the best lawyer possible to obtain a favorable result and to prevent any avoidable problems, processing delays, or denials of your case.  Finding the right lawyer means finding someone who is experienced, skilled, and competent in addition to being organized, running an office in an efficient manner, answering questions clearly, and communicating effectively. In preparing to meet with a…

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Will I Be Arrested At My Green Card Interview?

, Posted in Immigration Law

There are certain circumstances which would increase the possibility of an arrest during a green card interview.  The chances of an arrest depend upon whether the individual is considered a removal priority and, in particular, if there is a criminal history and/or an outstanding order of deportation.  Even if someone is married to a United States Citizen in a bona-fide relationship, there are eight (8) situations in a person’s history that would render him or her…

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Trump’s Pick For Economic Advisor Is Pro-immigration

, Posted in Immigration Law

President Donald Trump has nominated Kevin Hassett to become chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, pending approval by the Senate's banking committee. The position is essentially that of the Chief Economist of the White House.  Although a conservative, Hassett is reportedly well respected by both sides of the D.C. political aisle and has an incredible resume, with noteworthy accomplishments including holding a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania,  having been a Professor of…

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