General information

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DHS Extends Temporary Protected Status for Somalia

The Department of Homeland Security announced this week that it would extend Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals for an additional eighteen months. During this period, approved Somali nationals in the U.S. cannot be detained by DHS solely on the basis of their immigration status. They are also eligible to receive work authorization during this time.

The extension will be effective from September 18, 2015 through March 17, 2017. Current Somali TPS beneficiaries who wish to extend their TPS and receive a new Employment Authorization Document must re-register with USCIS between June 1, 2015 and July 31, 2015. The new employment documents will expire on the final day of the extension, March 17, 2017.

Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, is a DHS designation that prohibits immigration detention and grants work authorization when conditions in a country temporarily prevent nationals from returning safely, or when the country is unable to adequately handle their return. TPS may be granted due to armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions.

by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 80 Comments

Premium Processing for H-1B Extension of Stay Petitions To Be Suspended Beginning May 26, 2015

USCIS announced that it will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B Extension petitions from May 26, 2015 until July 27, 2015. This suspension will enable USCIS to implement employment authorization to eligible H-4 spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants.

During this time, USCIS will continue to premium process Extension of Stay petitions filed prior to May 26, 2015, and will continue to refund the premium processing fee if USCIS does not act on the case within the guaranteed 15-calender-day period. This suspension only affects premium processing requests for Extension of Stay petitions; all other Form I-129 H-1B petitions will remain eligible for premium processing during this time.

by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin No Comments

Reminder: TPS Registration Deadline for Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone is May 20, 2015

Reminder to all potential applicants that Wednesday May 20, 2015 is the registration deadline for nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone who believe they are eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to apply.

To demonstrate eligibility, applicants must show that they have been residing continuously in the U.S. since November 20, 2014, have been continuously physical present in the U.S. since November 21, 2014, and must pass a background security check.  If granted, TPS will be awarded from November 21, 2014 until May 21, 2016.

TPS may be granted to foreign nationals who are present in the United States when disaster hits their home country or when conditions in their home country prevent safe return.  TPS is granted for temporary conditions such as civil war and/or armed conflict and environmental disasters.  TPS is a temporary grant of lawful immigration status in the United States that does not lead to citizenship, permanent residence, or any other immigration status.

While a foreign national holds TPS, he or she:

  • may not be removed from the United States;
  • may apply for employment authorization; and
  • may be granted travel authorization.

Call to schedule a consultation with a Stern & Curray attorney if you believe you may qualify for TPS.

 

 

by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 95 Comments

Federal Judge Strikes a Blow to the Family Detention Program

A United States District Court Federal Judge issued a tentative ruling which finds that the Department of Homeland Security’s policy of housing mothers and children in family detention is in violation of an 18 year-old court settlement.  Specifically, the settlement in question pertains to the detention of migrant children and mandates that minor children should be placed in the custody of a family member or legal guardian when at all possible.  The settlement also dictates that if a minor child is held in detention, they should be housed in the least restrictive conditions possible.

The federal judge ruled that mothers and children cannot be detained in unlicensed detention facilities such as the Karnes Family Detention Facility and the Dilley Facility in Texas – two of four large family detention facilities in the United States.  The judge commented that it is inappropriate to detain mothers and children without extenuating circumstances such as an existing safety concern or a flight risk.  At this point the tentative ruling has just been released to attorneys who are party to the case who will begin to negotiate a settlement.  If a settlement cannot be reached, the Department of Homeland Security may be forced to restructure or even abandon their family detention policy.

 

 

by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 94 Comments

California U Visa Bill Moves Forward

A bill introduced in California to help U Visa applicants gets one step closer to becoming law.  The U is a visa for victims of certain crimes who help in the prosecution of those crimes.  The first step in being awarded a U Visa is getting law enforcement to certify that the applicant was a victim and was helpful in the prosecution of the crime.  Problems arise, however, in that law enforcement is not mandated to sign the certification form and has no time frame requirements for doing so.  Various district attorneys, police departments, and judicial officials all have their own ever-changing policies for U Visas — meaning that a U Visa case in one county can have a drastically different outlook than a U Visa case in the neighboring county.

To remedy this problem, California became the first state in the nation to take steps to implement a time limit of 90 days for the U Visa to be certified by law enforcement.  This time frame shrinks even further to 14 days for victims who are in removal proceedings.  This specific bill, part of a package of bills titled “Immigrants Shape California,” next moves to the California Senate Appropriations Committee in the coming weeks.

 

 

by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 587 Comments

Denver Immigration Court Judges to Return to Regular Docket and Procedure

For the past six months the Denver Immigration Court has been operating out of the ordinary.  Specifically, two immigration judges at the Denver Immigration Court have been assigned to hear cases originating at the Artesia, New Mexico detention facility via video teleconference.   Because two judges were assigned full-time to preside over the Artesia docket, any non-Artesia cases previously scheduled to be heard by these judges were being cancelled and rescheduled.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review announced this week that the Denver Immigration Court will soon return to normal.  A few months ago the Artesia, New Mexico detention facility was closed and all detainees were transferred to the Dilley, Texas Residential Detention Facility.  This facility, which was recently expanded to host 2,400 beds, will now have detainees’ removal cases reassigned to immigration judges at the Miami Immigration Court.  This transition is set to begin May 1, 2015.  All cases in which a Denver immigration judge has already begun to hear contested evidence will remain with that judge.

Respondents with cases at the Denver Immigration Court can expect their cases to begin going forward as scheduled.

by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 80 Comments

USCIS Reaches the H-1B Cap for Fiscal Year 2016

The H-1B lottery cap and the advanced degree Master’s cap have been reached for fiscal year 2016.  USCIS will now apply a random, lottery process to select the 65,000 H-1B cap-subject petitions that will be issued H-1B visas.  First, USCIS will randomly choose petitions for the advanced degree Master’s cap exemption to the H-1B cap.  Once these 20,000 petitions are selected, all unselected advanced degree Master’s cap petitions will be added to the general lottery and 65,000 petitions will be selected.  USCIS has not announced when it will perform the lottery process.  H-1B petitions that are cap-exempt may still be submitted to USCIS for consideration.

 

 

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Army to Expand Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest Program for LPRs

The Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest Program, or “MAVNI,” is a program that authorizes various branches of the military to recruit individuals with legal immigration status.  Such individuals must possess skills considered to be “vital to the national interest” or otherwise critical to the military.  MAVNI expressly provides eligibility for certain health care professionals in areas where the military has a need for more recruits and individuals with special language and cultural backgrounds.

The MAVNI program was initially created in 2008 and could accept a maximum of 1,000 recruits.  In 2012 the program was revised and the cap was raised to 1,500 recruits.  Now, the program will be increased to accommodate 3,000 recruits in 2015 and 5,000 recruits in 2016.  DACA recipients are explicitly deemed eligible to apply.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, non-citizens who serve honorably in the United States military on or after September 11, 2001 during periods of hostilities are eligible to immediately file for citizenship.  Non-citizens who serve honorably in the U.S. military in times of peace may qualify for United States citizenship after serving honorably in the armed forces for at least one year while having lawful permanent resident status.

 

by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 344 Comments

Challenge to President Obama’s Immigration Reform Moves to 5th Circuit

The lawsuit filed by 26 states against President Obama’s Expanded DACA and DAPA immigration reform programs has been officially scheduled before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, Louisiana.  The 5th Circuit will hear arguments from both sides on April 17, 2015 to decide whether the temporary hold on President Barack Obama’s immigration executive action should be lifted.  The Department of Justice, who is defending the President’s Immigration programs, argues that the hold on Expanded DACA and DAPA interferes with the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to keep our borders secure.  In contrast, the 26 states, led by Texas, argue that the President’s implementation of executive action was unconstitutional.

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