Keeping you informed on the latest immigration news.
DHS Terminates Migration Protection Protocols Program
Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announced on June 1, 2021, that he has terminated the Migration Protection Protocols (MPP) program. The Trump administration implemented the program in January 2019 with a memorandum from...
Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for FY 2021
Under the recently announced H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on June 3, 2021, that it has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 16,000 H-2B visas made available for...
State Dept. Expands National Interest Exception Criteria for Travelers from Covid-Restricted Countries
On May 27, 2021, the Department of State expanded the National Interest Exception (NIE) criteria for individuals subject to proclamations restricting travel to the United States due to physical presence in China, Iran, India, Brazil, South Africa, the Schengen Area,...
Webinar on international entrepreneur parole program
USCIS invites stakeholders to a webinar on June 16, 2021, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET, on the international entrepreneur parole program. The webinar will provide an overview of the criteria for consideration for parole, details on how to file, and answers to questions, which...
DHS, DOJ Announce New Dedicated Docket Process for Immigration Hearings
The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Justice (DOJ) announced on May 28, 2021, a new "Dedicated Docket" process intended to "significantly decrease the amount of time it takes for migrants to have their cases adjudicated while still providing fair hearings...
Round Table of Former Immigration Judges Asks Attorney General to Review, Rescind Trump Administration Decisions
The Round Table of Former Immigration Judges (RTFIJ), a group of 40 former immigration judges and appellate-level judges of the Board of Immigration Appeals, sent a letter on May 25, 2021, asking Attorney General Merrick Garland to "review and rescind many, if not...
CBP Continues Temporary Travel Restrictions From Canada, Mexico Into United States Via Land POEs and Ferries
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that temporary limits on nonessential travel of individuals from Canada or Mexico into the United States at land ports of entry along the border, including ferry service, will continue through June 21, 2021. The...
Higher Education Associations Urge Biden Administration to Take Action to Allow International Students to Return to Campus In Time for Fall Semester
The American Council on Education (ACE) and a group of higher education associations sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas urging them to take immediate action to allow international students to return...
DHS Suspends Certain Regulatory Requirements for F-1 Nonimmigrant Students From Burma (Myanmar)
On May 24, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the suspension until November 25, 2022, of certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students from Burma (Myanmar) who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a result of the current...
DHS Designates Burma (Myanmar) for Temporary Protected Status
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated Burma (Myanmar) for temporary protected status (TPS) through November 25, 2022. The designation allows an estimated 1,600 Burmese nationals (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in...
