Keeping you informed on the latest immigration news.
Texas Governor Freezes New H-1B Visas for State Agencies and Universities, Launches Investigation
On January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced an immediate freeze on new H-1B visas by all state agencies and universities and an investigation into "H-1B visa abuse." In a letter to state agency heads, Gov. Abbott said, "No state agency controlled by a...
Fifth Circuit Upholds Trump Administration’s Policy of Detention Without Release on Bond
On February 6, 2026, despite numerous rulings by lower courts across the United States, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the Trump administration's policy of mandatory detention of thousands of people in the court's jurisdiction (Texas and...
Congress Scraps Visas for Afghans Who Helped the United States
Last year, after an Afghan national shot two National Guard members in Washington, DC, killing one, President Trump paused the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program that provided a legal pathway to residence in the United States for Afghans who had worked with the U.S....
District Court Grants Stay of DHS Secretary Noem’s Decision to End Haitian TPS; Appeal Likely
Following a January 28, 2026, ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem exceeded her statutory authority in her partial vacatur of Haiti's Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation, on February 2, 2026, a...
Steve Yale-Loehr co-authored an op-ed published in The Hill
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr co-authored an op-ed in The Hill connecting today’s immigration debate to the Immigration Act of 1924. A timely perspective with important historical context. Read it: Back to the Future: Trump's Restrictions Echo the Immigration Act...
Trump Administration Launches ‘Gold Card’ Site
The Trump administration has launched its "Trump Gold Card" website. The site includes application information and questions and answers about the Trump Gold Card. It explains that for a $15,000 "processing fee" and, after background approval, a contribution of $1...
Ninth Circuit Rules That Secretary Noem Exceeded Her Authority With Respect to Venezuelan and Haitian TPS
On January 28, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem exceeded her statutory authority in her vacatur and termination of Venezuela's Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation and her partial vacatur...
DOL-DHS Temporary Rule Will Increase H-2B Visa Limit in FY 2026
The Departments of Labor (DOL) and Homeland Security (DHS) plan to publish a temporary rule on February 3, 2026, to exercise their time-limited Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 authority to issue up to an additional 64,716 H-2B visas for this fiscal year. The supplemental visas...
FY 2027 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens March 4
On January 30, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 H-1B cap will open at noon ET on March 4 and run through noon ET on March 19, 2026. During that period, prospective H-1B...
DHS Increases Self-Deportation ‘Exit Bonus’
On January 21, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it has temporarily increased the "exit bonus" for self-deportation through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home app from $1,000 to $2,600, in addition to a free flight home. DHS...
