On December 2, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has received enough H-1B petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption (master's cap) for...
Topic: Immigration Updates
DOS Removes China, India, Others From Countries on Skills List for Exchange Visitors
The Department of State (DOS) announced an update of the countries on the Exchange Visitors Skills List, effective December 9, 2024. This update supersedes the most recent update in 2009. DOS has removed China and India, among others, from the list. This means that J...
Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted in The Boston Globe
Steve was quoted in College Campuses Scramble to Protect Foreign and Undocumented Students Under Trump (subscription required). Most colleges are working "more behind the scenes than in 2017 because they fear that the new administration may put a target on their backs...
Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted in Newsweek
Steve was quoted in Trump Team Eyes Using State And Local Police For Immigration Enforcement. He noted that a potentially applicable 1996 immigration law was not intended to allow local law enforcement to round up anyone suspected of living in the United States...
DHS Removed or Returned More Individuals in FY 2024 Than Any Year Since FY 2010
On November 18, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that it has removed or returned more individuals in FY 2024 than any year since FY 2010. From the implementation of President Biden's Proclamation on June 4, 2024 (which temporarily suspended the...
Courts in Kentucky and Mississippi Issue Orders on Implementation of Farmworker Protection Final Rule
On November 27, 2024, the Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) announced court orders issued on November 25, 2024, by the Eastern District of Kentucky and Southern District of Mississippi associated with implementation of the 2024...
OFLC Confirms Permanent Online System Is No Longer Available
On December 1, 2024, the Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) confirmed that the legacy Permanent Online System, which provided public access to permanent labor certification applications and final determinations, is fully decommissioned...
DOJ Reaches Agreements to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claims
The Department of Justice (DOJ) secured agreements in late November with a restaurant group and a trailer manufacturer to resolve immigration-related discrimination claims. Restaurant Group On November 26, 2024, DOJ announced that it secured an agreement with Anna...
DHS Publishes Notice Designating Lebanon for TPS and Providing Special Student Relief
On November 27, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security published a Federal Register notice designating Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. DHS initially announced the designation on October 17, 2024. The new notice provides information about...
DHS Publishes Temporary Final Rule to Supplement H-2B Cap With Nearly 65,000 Additional Visas for FY 2025
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Labor (DOL), will publish a temporary final rule on December 2, 2024, making available an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year 2025. This...
