Keeping you informed on the latest immigration news.
DOS Requests Public Comments on Passport Application Changes; Lawsuit Filed
On February 14, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) published a 30-day notice requesting public comments until March 17, 2025, on changes to the Application for a U.S. Passport (Form DS-11). Among other things, to comply with Executive Order (EO) 14168, DOS updated...
DOS Releases Employer Guidance on I-9 Reverification Process for Venezuelan TPS Beneficiaries
On February 5, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security released guidance for employers on completing the Form I-9 work authorization verification form for Venezuelan TPS beneficiaries. The notice explains that employment authorization documents (EADs) with a...
OFLC Announces Deletion of Older Records in FLAG System
On February 14, 2025, the Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) announced that records more than five years old will be deleted from the Foreign Labor Access Gateway (FLAG) System beginning on March 20, 2025. OFLC explained that deletions...
March Visa Bulletin Announces Retrogression of EB-4 Category, Religious Workers Expiration
The Department of State's Visa Office has released the Visa Bulletin for March 2025. Among other things, the bulletin announces retrogression of the final action date in the EB-4/SR categories, and warns that it may be necessary to make them "Unavailable" in "the...
Steve Yale-Loehr on ICE Deportation Tactics in Upstate NY
Steve was quoted by Syracuse.com in Immigration Crackdown in Upstate NY: A Knock at the Door and Fear: 'Everything is Different.' He said, "ICE is definitely arresting more people right now, and making a big show of it." Commenting on reports that ICE is starting with...
Steve Yale-Loehr on U.S. Citizenship and Deportation
Steve was quoted by the Miami Herald in Can U.S. Citizens Be Deported? El Salvador Offers to Take American Criminals, Rubio Says. He said, "Natural-born U.S. citizens maintain their citizenship through the Fourteenth Amendment. Just as President Trump can't eliminate...
Steve Yale-Loehr on Deportation and Citizenship Rights
Steve was quoted by the Associated Press in El Salvador's Offer to Take In U.S. Deportees and Violent Criminals is Unlike Any Other Migrant Deal. He said that "just as President Trump can't eliminate birthright citizenship by himself, so too the U.S. government cannot...
USCIS Pauses Acceptance of Declaration of Financial Support
On January 28, 2025, USCIS announced, "Due to the Jan. 20, 2025 Executive Order, Securing Our Borders, USCIS is pausing acceptance of Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support, until we review all categorical parole processes...
DOS Suspends Follow-to-Join Refugee Processing
On February 7, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) announced that pursuant to an executive order, processing of all refugee applications under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is suspended, including following-to-join refugee (FTJ-R) travel eligibility...
EOIR Re-establishes Anti-Fraud Program
On February 5, 2025, Sirce Owen, Acting Director of the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), announced a renewed anti-fraud emphasis. The memo states that EOIR "is committed to re-establishing a robust and effective Anti-Fraud...
