Trump Signs Two Executive Actions on Immigration

Today, President Trump issued the first in a series of Executive Orders on border security and immigration enforcement. Among other items, the President announced that he would order DHS to construct a southern border wall, increase the size of the enforcement agencies, and require that states and localities engage in immigration enforcement to supplement federal efforts.

Cuban Wet-foot- Dry-foot policy Ended

The immigration policy regarding Cuba has ended. This means that if the Cuban reaches the U.S. that they will no longer just be allowed to stay and that they could be expeditely removed. They cannot just stay here and then apply for residency a year later. This is because the immigration policies between the countries …

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New case out on Perjury

(1) The generic definition of “perjury” in section 101(a)(43)(S) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(S) (2012), requires that an offender make a material false statement knowingly or willfully while under oath or affirmation where an oath is authorized or required by law. (2) The crime of perjury in violation of section …

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NY ST Dept of Transp on National Interest Waivers VACATED

Today the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Jeh Jonson, has designated as precedential the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office’s (AAO) decision in Matter of Dhanasar.  This precedent decision vacates Matter of New York State Dep’t of Transp., 22 I&N Dec. 215 (Acting Assoc. Comm’r 1998). The case can be found in the Virtual Law Library of the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for …

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Serving the NTA

Where the Department of Homeland Security seeks to re-serve a respondent to effect proper service of a notice to appear that was defective under the regulatory requirements for serving minors under the age of 14, a continuance should be granted for that purpose. Matter of E-S-I-, 26 I&N Dec. 136 (BIA 2013), followed. Defective NTA Deficient …

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Don’t commit fraud with Asylum

(1) An untimely application for asylum may be found frivolous under section 208(d)(6) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1158(d)(6) (2012). Luciana v. Att’y Gen. of U.S., 502 F.3d 273 (3d Cir. 2007), distinguished. Matter of X-M-C-, 25 I&N Dec. 322 (BIA 2010), followed. (2) The respondent’s asylum application is frivolous because he deliberately …

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K4 return to home is invalid

The Third Circuit reversed the BIA and remanded, holding that 8 CFR §245.1(i), which effectively bars K-4 visa holders who were between 18 and 21 years old when their parent married a U.S. citizen from obtaining lawful permanent residence without first returning to their home country, is invalid, because it is “manifestly contrary” to the INA. Accordingly, …

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Court Finds CBP Holding Detainees in Inhuman Conditions in Arizona Hieleras

The U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona issued an order finding that CBP is violating the constitutional rights of immigration detainees by holding them in conditions of confinement that fail to meet their basic human needs, and directing CBP to take certain steps to improve conditions in those facilities, known as hieleras. The injunction stems …

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Reuters: Here’s How California Plans to Fight Donald Trump’s Immigration Plans

Reuters reports that on Monday leaders of both houses of California’s legislature introduced two bills to protect undocumented immigrants in the state from efforts to deport them once President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20, 2017. One measure would set up a fund to pay for lawyers for immigrants facing deportation. The other would train criminal …

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Ninth Circuit upholds BIA denial

The Ninth Circuit upheld the BIA’s decision refusing to consider the Peruvian petitioner’s adjustment of status application because he entered the United States using a fraudulent Italian passport to gain the benefits of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), holding as a matter of first impression that a noncitizen who fraudulently enters the United States under the VWP …

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BALCA overturns Denial main

Applying the reasoning from Matter of A Cut Above Ceramic Tile, BALCA reversed the Certifying Officer’s denial of the labor certification, finding that an employer is not required to retain or provide proof of publication of its State Workforce Agency (SWA) job order which can be sufficiently documented by listing the start and end dates of the job …

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Former Immigration Judges and BIA Members Slam DHS on Immigration Detention System

On October 31, 2016, former Immigration Judges and BIA members sent a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson to express concern and disappointment regarding the dramatic increase in the numbers of men, women, and children detained by ICE, stating, “On the basis of our experiences as immigration jurists, we know this expansion comes at the expense of …

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