COVID-19 continues to worsen the increasingly large visa backlog in the United States, increasing wait times for individuals trying to enter the United States, and recent reports have noted the significant and often detrimental economic impact of those long wait times. In response, employers have started to seek alternatives, including relying on remote work performed overseas. The United States Visa Backlog The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected READ MORE READ MORE

Designation of Ukraine to Temporary Protected Status On March 3, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced that in light of “Russia’s premeditated and unprovoked attack on Ukraine has resulted in an ongoing war, senseless violence,” Ukraine would be added to the list of countries for which citizens may be granted Temporary Protected Status in the United States. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that “Ukrainians [have READ MORE READ MORE

New Jersey Immigrant Relief Fund Ending The Excluded New Jerseyans fund, which maintains funds for undocumented immigrants who were initially excluded from receiving unemployment or stimulus checks during the COVID-19 pandemic, has finally started methodically distributing relief to thousands of people. The state has received almost 22,000 applications and has approved payment of over $9 million in federal money to over 4,000 households.  However, just as the READ MORE READ MORE

United States Continues Controversial Border Policy The Biden Administration decided this week to continue a policy implemented by the Trump administration that authorized the rapid deportation of noncitizens stopped at the U.S./Mexico, citing safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 1.5 million people have been expelled under this program without the opportunity to apply for any form of relief. This measure permits U.S. border officials to READ MORE READ MORE

New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy to Restore Immigrant Worker Pandemic Fund Last week, the Immigration Weekly Round-Up posted about New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s decision to reallocate federal funds from the state’s Immigrant Worker Fund that was designated as pandemic assistance for undocumented immigrants throughout New Jersey. This caused outrage, sparking a protest and hunger strikes.  Following up on that story, Governor Murphy stated Thursday on WNYC radio READ MORE READ MORE