The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported today that the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reauthorized and hence extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) benefits for Sudanese nationals from the current expiration of May 2, 2010 to the new expiration date of November 2, 2011.  During the past year, both the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State have reassessed [...]

The Orlando Sentinel reported today that despite the significant problems that the country is facing such as health care and the economy, President Obama and his administration is laying the groundwork to work on resolving another issue that is expected to create controversy and possibly, political division.  The issue is overhauling the immigration system, better known as immigration reform. Insiders in the Obama administration have [...]

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced recently that the application period to pursue a U Non-Immigrant visa for victims of certain crimes has been extended to February 1, 2010. The U visa grants protection from deportation, crime victims who come forward and assist law enforcement to investigate and aid in the prosecution of their perpetrators who are charged with domestic violence, various types of assault, trafficking, or other crimes. [...]

The San Antonio Express reported today that despite President Obama’s campaign promise to resolve the nation’s immigration problem in 2010, critics have said that immigration reform will face an uphill battle in Congress. The battle begins with lawmakers from both parties who will be primarily concerned with mid-term elections.  Next is the growing downturn in the economy which as of recent, has resulted in over [...]

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it has received enough H-1B visa applications to reach the Congressionally mandated cap of 65,000 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. The USCIS has determined that December 21, 2009 was the final receipt date for new H-1B visa applications filed by employers requesting a start date in FY 2010. The final receipt date is the [...]

The Immigration & Customs Enforcement (USICE) recently apprehended and indicted a Guyanese national along with a few others on charges of conspiracy and alien smuggling in connection with the smuggling and/or attempted smuggling of four Indian nationals into the United States. According to the indictment, from April 2009 to Nov. 17, 2009, a USICE investigation revealed that the individuals conspired to bring to [...]

The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) ruled recently and as a result clarified in the case of Matter of Martinez-Serrano, 25 I&N Dec. 151 (BIA 2009) that a conviction for Alien Smuggling is not necessary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to charge a foreign national with a ground of deportability under section 237(a)(1)(E)(i) – (Alien [...]

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USICE) announced that beginning January 4, 2010, it will release from DHS custody, arriving foreign nationals who seeking asylum who can show that they have a credible fear of persecution or torture. The new policy will allow these asylum seekers to be released from DHS custody and be paroled into the U.S. Parole is a temporary authorization [...]

The New York Times reported today that the momentum to resolve our country’s growing immigration problem has picked up again in light of legislation introduced by Congressional Representative Luis V. Gutierrez, a Democrat from Illinois.  His introduction of the bill is seen by many as the first skirmish in a battle that is expected to be long and drawn [...]

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported today that it has intentions to terminate the U non-immigrant visa interim relief program. The U visa classification was authorized to allow victims of certain crimes to receive temporary benefits until regulations concerning U visas were published.  On October 17, 2007, the USCIS published the U visa regulations. The USCIS will terminate the U non-immigrant visa interim relief for [...]