The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the disease COVID-19, is a pandemic threatening populations in the United States and worldwide. The US economy has virtually shut down. Many employers who have been forced to shut down or modify their businesses have been severely impacted and may no longer be able to afford to pay H-1B […]
Since USCIS still requires paper submissions by mandated deadlines and the immigration courts in detention centers still function, the COVID-19 crisis has compelled immigration attorneys to take more risks than others, and many are performing essential services on behalf of clients like first responders, medical personnel and delivery people. If some people in certain occupations […]
Although the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is mandated by Congress to grant benefits, it has become an enforcement oriented agency under the Trump administration that has displayed remarkable hostility towards immigrants. During the period when people are mandated to stay confined and practice social distancing in order to prevent the spread of the […]
The Board of Immigration Appeals in Matter of W-E-R-B-, 27 I&N Dec. 795 (BIA 2020) recently ruled that an Interpol Red Notice may constitute reliable evidence of criminality that serves as a bar for asylum and withholding of removal. Giving credence to a Red Notice without more undermines the integrity of our asylum system as […]
In a stunning victory for F, J, and M nonimmigrant students battling unlawful presence policy, a federal district court in North Carolina has granted a permanent injunction preventing USCIS from enforcing its problematic August 9, 2018 policy memo. The Trump Administration’s August 2018 policy would have rendered students in F, J and M status unlawfully present for […]
President Trump has done it again. On January 31, 2020, he used his extraordinary broad powers under INA § 212(f) to expand his travel ban to six additional countries. The affected countries are Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar. The expanded ban comes about three years after the first ban. Most of the countries […]
In light of the higher possibility of denials of routine H-1B and L-1 petitions, immigration lawyers may want to consider stepping out of their comfort zones. They should consider thinking about representing the client beyond the motion to reopen or appeal to the Appeals Administrative Office (AAO) in the event of a denial. Seeking judicial […]
Immigration Judge Ila C. Deiss’ summary order shows how one who is granted Temporary Protected Status can adjust to permanent resident status through an I-140 petition filed by an employer. Here are the facts based upon which IJ Deiss issued the order: The Respondent is a native and citizen of Nepal who arrived in the […]
Thank you for reading and supporting The Insightful Immigration Blog. Listed below are the top 10 most viewed blogs that were published in 2019. While these are the 10 most viewed blogs, each blog is a carefully crafted gem, and we invite you to read all of them. In 2019, the Trump Administration continued its […]
By Cyrus D. Mehta and Sonal Sharma* In Wilkie v. Kisor, the Supreme Court issued a significant decision regarding whether courts should still be paying deference to the government’s interpretation of its own regulations. Here’s some background on how we got to this deference standard. Over 35 years ago, the Supreme Court established a two-step […]
