Trump Administration Extends Restrictions on Visa Applications for Foreign Workers The White House has extended through March 31, 2021, restrictions on visa applications and entry into the United States for certain foreign national workers. The restrictions had been set to expire on December 31, 2020. On June 22, 2020, the White House issued presidential proclamation 10052, which ordered that no new visas would be issued in the READ MORE READ MORE

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) published its year-end report, stating that the illegal immigrants arrested by ICE during fiscal year (FY) 2020 had an average of four criminal convictions or pending criminal charges each. The United States is home to about 10.5 million undocumented immigrants. ICE made this announcement highlighting the commendable work the agency has achieved in cracking down on criminal illegal immigrants. Average of Four READ MORE READ MORE

Last week, Congress passed the $900 billion coronavirus relief package that was signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 27, 2020. In this package, the U.S. government will allow mixed-status households to receive stimulus checks. In mixed-status families, at least one member of the household must have a Social Security number (SSN). These families were denied stimulus checks in the first round of payments offered READ MORE READ MORE

Immigration & Customs Enforcement Extends I-9 Flexibility Rules U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) has announced that it will extend its flexibilities for compliance with I-9 regulations until at least January 31, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The flexibilities in I-9 compliance were set to expire on December 31, 2020. On March 19, 2020, ICE issued guidance permitting flexibility in several verification rules in order to READ MORE READ MORE

On December 23, 2020, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension to its remote Form I-9 verification policy through January 31, 2021. The policy had been set to expire on December 31, 2020. This extension helps employers who are working remotely due to the COVID-19 emergency to verify their new hires. Remote I-9 Verification Policy This policy is available only to employers who are READ MORE READ MORE