The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a new report examining U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) efforts to reduce its pending caseload, which has increased by 85% in recent years. The GAO noted that policy changes, longer forms,...
Topic: Immigration Updates
DHS Announces New Strategy in Response to Migrant Surge at U.S.-Mexico Border
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new strategy to deal with a surge in migrants at the Del Rio, Texas, border with Mexico. Activities include, among other things, moving migrants to other processing locations; accelerating the pace of removal...
CBP Announces Extension of Temporary Restrictions on Travelers Crossing U.S. Land Borders
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on September 22, 2021, that non-essential travel will continue to be restricted across the U.S.-Canada and Mexico land borders through October 21, 2021. Cross-border activities with Canada and Mexico "that support...
CIS Ombudsman Shares Tips on Submitting DACA Renewal Requests
The Department of Homeland Security sent an email alert on September 22, 2021, announcing the CIS Ombudsman's tips for submitting a request to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to renew Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The tips include:...
Non-U.S. Citizens Can Now Apply for SSNs on I-765 or I-485, SSA Says
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that non-U.S. citizens can apply for a Social Security number (SSN) or replacement SSN card on the same forms used to apply for permission to work in the United States (Form I-765) or for lawful permanent resident...
EB-5 Regional Center Program Lapse Strands Investors
The lapse in the EB-5 regional center program has had a major impact on certain investors. According to a report from IIUSA: Invest in the USA, the lapse is hurting more than 32,000 stranded EB-5 investors, putting at least $15 billion in capital investment and more...
USCIS Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is extending certain flexibilities it originally announced in March 2020 to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors. This flexibility applies to the documents listed...
Biden Admin Announces New Policy: Vaccines, Testing Required for International Travelers to United States
The Biden administration announced on September 20, 2021, a major easing of pandemic travel restrictions that will allow fully vaccinated travelers to enter the United States beginning in November 2021. Under the new policy, all foreign travelers flying to the United...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted re Immigration Provisions in House Bill
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr was recently quoted by the Washington Times in "Democrats Maneuver Behind the Scenes to Secure Amnesty Provisions in Biden's $3.5T Spending Bill." In sum, to succeed, Democrats must thread a very thick...
Haitians Stream to U.S.-Mexico Border; Administration Plans Flights Out
According to news reports, an estimated 15,000 Haitian migrants have converged in Del Rio, located in Texas at the border with Mexico, along with several thousand migrants from other countries. The nearest major city is San Antonio. Biden administration officials told...
