Keeping you informed on the latest immigration news.
President Trump Proposes ‘Gold Card’ Visa Program to Replace EB-5 Visa
President Trump said he wants to sell a "gold card" visa for $5 million to noncitizens, including both individuals and companies. The visa would include permanent residence with work authorization and a path to U.S. citizenship. A new visa program would require...
Concerns Over 4th Amendment Violations in Chicago ICE Arrests
Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by the Chicago Sun-Times in Trump's Immigration Arrests in Chicago Raise Questions About 4th Amendment Violations. He noted that if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents don't have a court-issued warrant, anyone in the U.S....
Potential Rise in Hongkonger Deportations Under Trump Administration
Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by the South China Morning Post in Will Hongkongers Be Next to Leave U.S. Under Trump's Immigration Crackdown? (subscription required). He said the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program explained a drop in deportations of Hongkongers in...
DOS Rescinds Previous Expansion of Interview Waiver Policy
On February 18, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) released the following update of its interview waiver policy: The Department of State has updated the categories of applicants that may be eligible for a waiver of the nonimmigrant visa interview. Consular officers...
DHS Revokes Extension of Work Authorization for Hong Kong DED Beneficiaries in United States
On January 15, 2025, then-President Biden issued a memorandum extending eligibility for Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for certain Hong Kong residents from February 5, 2025, to February 5, 2027. President Biden also directed the Department of Homeland Security...
DHS Partially Vacates Haitian TPS Notice, Reduces Extension and Redesignation Period
On February 20, 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem partially vacated the July 1, 2024, notice that extended and redesignated Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an estimated 500,000 Haitians and persons of no nationality who last habitually...
Trump Administration Roundup: Highlights of Recent Immigration Developments
In addition to the actions reported in other articles below, the Trump administration has been busy. Below is a non-exhaustive summary of selected highlights of other recent immigration-related developments: On February 18, 2025, Department of Homeland Security (DHS)...
Stephen Yale-Loehr on H-1B Policy in USA Today
Steve was quoted by USA Today in Tech visas and trade: ‘Total killer’ Indian leader to meet with Trump regarding President Trump’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump’s use of H-1B immigration policy. The article summarizes what Steve said,...
EOIR Rescinds 2021 Memo, Resetting Default Filing Deadline in Non-Detained Cases to 30 Days Before Calendar Hearing
On February 14, 2025, the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review rescinded a 2021 memorandum that set a default filing deadline in non-detained cases of 15 days before individual calendar hearings. The rescission returns the default filing...
EOIR Issues ‘Core Policy Values’ Memo
On January 27, 2025, the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) issued a memorandum, EOIR's Core Policy Values. The memo states that more guidance on the values of its "core mission" of "integrity, impartiality, and the decisional...
