The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created an immigration nightmare with changes announced with each passing minute and a level of uncertainty that has only compounded the uncertainty in an already confused and complicated immigration system. Borders across the world have closed to non-citizens. International students at colleges and universities, visitors staying at America’s hotels and resorts, and foreign employees on non-immigrant work visas sponsored by now-closed American READ MORE READ MORE

On March 2, a federal officer, who was not in uniform, conducted a warrantless arrest of an undocumented immigrant inside the Courthouse. The undocumented immigrant was a spouse of a U.S. citizen, was very close to becoming a lawful permanent resident in the United States, is gainfully employed in the U.S., and has paid his federal taxes regularly for the past ten years. The immigrant was arrested, READ MORE READ MORE

On February 22, the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule, effective as of February 24. This announcement came after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the nationwide injunctions against the new public charge rule on January 27. The New Public Charge Rule Anyone who received one or more public benefits for more than twelve months in aggregate within READ MORE READ MORE

Employers who have employed F-1 students in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) category of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program can expect site visits by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The March 2016 STEM OPT rule allows the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct site visits of employers that train STEM OPT students. Conducting Site Visits The site visits are READ MORE READ MORE

As an aftereffect of the Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act that went into effect on December 14, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has now suspended Trusted Traveler Programs such as Global Entry (for entry from abroad), NEXUS (for entry from Canada), SENTRI (for entry from Canada and Mexico), and FAST (for truck drivers entering the U.S. from Mexico) for the state of New York. READ MORE READ MORE