The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program protects approximately 640,000 young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. without visas as children. It protects these young people, known as “dreamers,” from deportation and gives them work authorizations...
USCIS releases new, more difficult US citizenship civics test
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is responsible for the English and civics tests immigrants must take to become U.S. citizens. It has recently released a new version of the civics test. The new version is longer, and many consider it more...
USCIS updates processes for getting green cards, naturalization
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently updated its policies on awarding green cards (lawful permanent residency) and granting citizenship to green card holders. The updates to the policy manual also changed every instance of the phrase “foreign...
You don’t have to be a woman to get VAWA protection
Battered spouses, children or parents of U.S. citizens, along with spouses and children of lawful permanent residents, can all be eligible for immigration protections under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA is part of the Immigration and Naturalization Act....
Furlough canceled at USCIS, for now
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is primarily funded by immigration fees. When costs rise but fees do not, the agency experiences shortfalls. The same thing happens when there is a sudden drop in fees collected. Both of those appear to be...
Judge certifies class action for asylum seekers turned back
Since President Trump took office in 2016, it has become much more complex for some immigrants to apply for asylum in the U.S. This is because Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began “metering” the number of people it would allow into ports of entry, especially...
Federal court: US must begin accepting new DACA applications
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration’s efforts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in 2017 had been illegal. The program, therefore, remains in place. Does that mean that new applicants should be admitted?...
9th Circuit strikes down rule forcing asylum seekers to try Mexico
Last July, the Trump administration issued a rule requiring people who need asylum to ask for it in Mexico before asking for it in the U.S. Only those who were turned down by Mexico would be allowed to apply for asylum here.The government rightly claimed that it can...
New policy would make it harder for some to claim asylum
The Trump administration has issued a new proposed rule that would further limit access to asylum. If the rule goes into effect, would apply extra scrutiny to noncitizens who travel from Latin America to the Southern border of the United States. Primarily, the...
Supreme Court: Immigrants can bring CAT claims even in deportation
The Convention Against Torture (CAT), which refers to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, can prevent the deportation of immigrants who can show it is more likely than not that they will be...