U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on January 28, 2021, that it is extending the flexibilities it initially announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors responding to certain agency requests. Included are...
Topic: Immigration Updates
Judge Rules STEM OPT Program Lawful
On January 28, 2021, a U.S. district court judge issued a summary judgment order finding that the STEM OPT (Optional Practical Training for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students) program is a valid exercise of authority under the Immigration and...
February Visa Bulletin Announces Green Card Projections for the Coming Months
The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for February 2021 included the following information on final action date projections (potential monthly movement) for employment-based green card categories through May. The bulletin notes that determination of the actual...
OFLC To Reissue Certain Prevailing Wage Determinations
On January 20, 2021, a U.S. district court issued a modified order governing the manner and schedule in which the Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) will reissue certain prevailing wage determinations (PWDs) that were issued from...
Judge May Extend Hold on Deportation Moratorium Until February 23
Judge Drew Tipton of the Southern District of Texas, who recently blocked for 14 days the Biden administration's 100-day pause on deportations in response to a lawsuit led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, said he is likely to extend the block until February 23,...
USCIS To Abide by Previous Filing Fee Amounts Under Preliminary Injunction
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to abide by previous filing fee amounts because of preliminary injunctions in ILRC v. Wolf and Nw. Immigrant Rts. Project v. USCIS. USCIS said it is complying with the terms of these orders and "is not...
Webinar: Possible Immigration Changes In a Biden Administration
With the new Biden Administration having taken office on January 20, 2021, many changes to federal immigration policy are potentially on the horizon. Miller Mayer attorneys Kristal Ozmun and Stephen Yale-Loehr discussed the possible immigration changes that the Biden...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted re Possible Immigration Legislation
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by the Sinclair Broadcast Group in an article about possible immigration reform that was distributed by many media outlets nationwide. One such article, "Biden to Seek Comprehensive Immigration Reform in...
Trump Grants Last-Minute Relief to Certain Venezuelans
On January 19, 2021, former President Trump announced Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for certain Venezuelans due to the "deteriorative condition within Venezuela, which presents an ongoing national security threat to the safety and well-being of the American...
DHS Pauses Certain Removals for 100 Days
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on January 20, 2021, that it is pausing for 100 days removals for certain noncitizens ordered deported, with exceptions. DHS said the action is intended "to ensure we have a fair and effective immigration enforcement...
