Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by USA Today in “ ‘Unworthy of trust’: Is Trump pushing the Justice Department too far?” Commenting on the disconnect between Department of Justice lawyers’ arguments under the Trump administration and what courts will accept, he said, “A...
Topic: Immigration Updates
DOS Expands Expedited B Nonimmigrant Visa Appointment Pilot Program
On August 18, 2026, the Department of State (DOS) announced the expansion of its voluntary pilot program to test B nonimmigrant visa expedited appointments at select U.S. embassies and consulates through December 31, 2026. In addition to Mission Mexico (embassy and...
USCIS Releases New Guidance on Ethiopian TPS
On August 18, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released new guidance on Ethiopian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) that supersedes earlier guidance posted on August 6. The guidance notes that the Ethiopia TPS designation was terminated on August...
USCIS Issues Guidance on Public Charge Inadmissibility Determinations
On August 18, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is issuing updated guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual explaining how the agency will determine whether an individual applying for adjustment of status to lawful permanent...
USCIS Revises I-485 Permanent Residence/Adjustment Application
On August 19, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will publish a revised edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (edition date: 09/18/26). The 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 will replace...
Coalition Challenges DHS’s ‘Duration of Status’ Final Rule
On August 18, 2026, a coalition of organizations filed a lawsuit in the U.S. district court in Massachusetts challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) final rule, published in July, that replaces the “Duration of Status” (D/S) framework for F-1...
Federal District Court Strikes Down Trump Administration’s Suspension of Immigrant Visas for Nationals of 75 Countries
On August 21, 2026, in Catholic Legal Immigration Network v. Rubio, the federal district court for the Southern District of New York struck down the Trump administration’s suspension in January 2026 of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries. At the time, the...
DOS Issues Guidance on Fixed Period of Admission for Sponsors of J Nonimmigrant Exchange Visitors
On August 10, 2026, pursuant to a final rule establishing a fixed period of admission for exchange visitors (J-1 nonimmigrants), international students (F-1 nonimmigrants), and others, the Department of State (DOS) issued guidance for J exchange visitor sponsors with...
DOS Establishes New Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force
Pursuant to recent executive orders, the Department of State (DOS) announced on August 12, 2026, that it has established a Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force to “[review] the activities of visa holders worldwide to identify instances of birth tourism, take action to...
E-Verify Status Change Report Expands
On August 11, 2026, E-Verify announced that the E-Verify Status Change Report has expanded in scope. Previously, the report only identified parolee (category C11) Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) that were invalidated. It now identifies employees with asylum...
