Immigration Updates

AILA Doc. No. 20071435 | Dated April 30, 2021 April 30, 2021 DOS announced U.S. embassies and consulates are using a tiered approach to triage immigrant visa applications and to address the backlog in the processing of immigrant visas. DOS identified four priority tiers listing the main categories of immigrant visas in each: Per DOS,…

BRIEFING ROOM A Proclamation on Revoking Proclamation 10014 FEBRUARY 24, 2021 • PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS The suspension of entry imposed in Proclamation 10014 of April 22, 2020 (Suspension of Entry of Immigrants Who Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak), as extended by section…

U.S. Supreme Court hands victory to immigrants facing deportation By: Andrew Chung The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday offered new hope to thousands of long-term immigrants seeking to avoid deportation in a ruling that faulted the federal government for improperly notifying a man who came to the United States illegally from Guatemala to appear for…

March 12, 2021 The Biden administration rescinded a 2018 agreement between the Department of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services that encouraged child welfare officers to share sensitive personal information about potential sponsors for unaccompanied children with immigration enforcement agents. The move is part of a larger effort to reduce the number of children…

USCIS is no longer applying the August 2019 Public Charge Final Rule. As a consequence, among other changes, USCIS will apply the public charge inadmissibility statute consistent with the 1999 Interim Field Guidance. In other words, USCIS is not considering an applicant’s receipt of Medicaid (except for long-term institutionalization at the government’s expense), public housing,…

PRESS STATEMENT BY: ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE FEBRUARY 6, 2021 The United States has suspended and initiated the process to terminate the Asylum Cooperative Agreements with the Governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras as the first concrete steps on the path to greater partnership and collaboration in the region laid out by…

President Joe Biden will review the deportations of veterans and military family members that occurred under the stricter immigration enforcement policies of former President Donald Trump, a White House official told McClatchy. The review is part of Biden’s broader effort to undo some of Trump’s immigration policies. “The administration’s immigration enforcement will focus on those…

Effective immediately, USCIS rescinds PM-602-0142 “Rescission of the December 22, 2000 ‘Guidance memo on H1B computer related positions.’” USCIS officers should not apply PM-602-0142 to any pending or new requests for H-1B classification, including motions on and appeals of revocations and denials of H-1Bclassification. Further guidance will be forthcoming. PM-602-0142.1_RescissionOfPM-602-0142.pdf (uscis.gov)

It’s been a busy year for lawmakers dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Legislation was passed that prevents evictions, provides testing, treatment, and vaccination against COVID-19. It may be easy to forget heading into the new year there are other laws that will be taking effect. Below is a recap of laws that will be taking…