CNN: Supreme Court Blocks 2020 Census Citizenship Question in Setback for Trump Administration

CNN reports that the Supreme Court has blocked a citizenship question from being added to the 2020 census for the time being. Writing for a 5-4 majority, Chief Justice John Roberts concluded that there was sufficient reason for concern about why the Commerce Department wanted to add the question. President Trump tweeted that he has asked lawyers …

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USCIS Provides Guidance Related to Northern Mariana Islands Long-Term Legal Residents Relief Act

USCIS announced it will automatically extend parole, and employment authorization if applicable, for certain residents of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). This specific extension of parole as authorized by law will provide relief while USCIS establishes procedures for obtaining the new CNMI Resident status, which was created by the Northern Mariana Islands Long-Term …

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Federal Court Requires Immigration Courts to Continue to Provide Bond Hearings Despite Matter of M‑S‑

In Padilla v. ICE, a district court judge issued a decision that requires immigration courts to continue to provide bond hearings to individuals fleeing persecution who enter the United States without inspection, are placed in expedited removal proceedings, and pass their credible fear interviews. The decision is set to take effect on July 16, 2019.

Trump Administration Ending In-Person Interpreters at Immigrants’ First Hearings

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the administration is preparing to replace in-court interpreters at initial immigration court hearings with videos informing asylum seekers and other immigrants facing deportation of their rights. Advocates have raised concerns that the move could jeopardize immigrants’ due-process rights, add confusion, and potentially make the system less efficient by causing more individuals to …

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BIA Dismisses Appeal and Issues Decision on “Realistic Probability”

The BIA found that where an individual has been convicted of violating a state drug statute that includes a controlled substance that is not on the federal controlled substances schedules, the individual must establish a realistic probability that the state would actually apply the language of the statute to prosecute conduct involving that substance in order …

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Court Reverses BIA’s Determination on Nexus Requirement for Asylum and Withholding of Removal

The Fourth Circuit vacated the denial of the petitioner’s asylum and withholding of removal claims, reversed the BIA’s determination that the petitioner had failed to establish the required nexus between her persecution and her proposed protected statuses—that is, her membership in the particular social group of unmarried mothers living under the control of gangs in Honduras …

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Asylum Officers Union and Former U.S. Officials File Amicus Briefs Condemning Remain in Mexico Policy

Two amicus briefs were filed yesterday in Innovation Law Lab v. McAleenan, a case challenging the administration’s Migrant Protection Protocols (MPPs), commonly known as the Remain in Mexico policy. Local 1924 of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents over 2,500 bargaining unit employees of USCIS, submitted an amicus brief arguing that the MPPs don’t streamline processes, but …

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