Month: June 2021

CNN Travel – US extends Covid-19 travel restrictions with Canada and Mexico

The United States has extended Covid-19 restrictions on non-essential travel at land and ferry crossings with Canada and Mexico until July 21, according to a tweet from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Sunday.

“To reduce the spread of #COVID19, the United States is extending restrictions on non-essential travel at our land and ferry crossings with Canada and Mexico through July 21, while ensuring access for essential trade & travel,” DHS wrote.

“DHS also notes positive developments in recent weeks and is participating with other US agencies in the White House’s expert working groups with Canada and Mexico to identify the conditions under which restrictions may be eased safely and sustainably.”

In March 2020, the US and Canada mutually agreed to shut down the border to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.

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Maria del Carmen Ramos Re-Elected to the Board of Directors of the AILA Central Florida Chapter

Tampa Partner Maria del Carmen Ramos has been re-elected to the Board of Directors for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Central Florida Chapter. The AILA Central Florida Chapter is the local chapter for the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members. This will be Maria’s second term on the Board of Directors after having been heavily involved in the AILA Central Florida Chapter for many years, previously serving as the Education Vice Chair and co-chairing the chapter’s law conference in 2019.

Incoming AILA Central Florida Chapter Chair, April Caminez-Bentley said, “It is wonderful to have Maria re-elected to the Board of Directors. Maria’s leadership, wealth of immigration expertise, and her skillful communications bring great value to the Board in carrying out our Chapter endeavors from educating our Members about the latest immigration changes to lobbying Congress for immigration reform.”

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AP – Supreme Court rules against immigrants with temporary status

WASHINGTON (AP) — A unanimous Supreme Court ruled Monday that thousands of people living in the U.S. for humanitarian reasons are ineligible to apply to become permanent residents.

Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the court that federal immigration law prohibits people who entered the country illegally and now have Temporary Protected Status from seeking “green cards” to remain in the country permanently.

The designation applies to people who come from countries ravaged by war or disaster. It protects them from deportation and allows them to work legally. There are 400,000 people from 12 countries with TPS status.

The outcome in a case involving a couple from El Salvador who have been in the U.S. since the 1990s turned on whether people who entered the country illegally and were given humanitarian protections were ever “admitted” into the United States under immigration law. Continue reading “AP – Supreme Court rules against immigrants with temporary status”