Knock, Knock: Who’s there?

Maria del Carmen Ramos
Maria del Carmen Ramos

Due to a contempt hearing scheduled for August 19, 2015 in the case of the State of Texas v. United States, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is taking radical measures to recover all three-year Employment Authorization Document (EAD) cards issued prematurely under President Obama’s November 20 executive actions to over 2,500 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients. Continue reading “Knock, Knock: Who’s there?”

Executive Action Update: 3 Year EADs Issued After 2/16/15 Injunction Must Be Returned

Maria del Carmen Ramos
Maria del Carmen Ramos

It is no surprise that the implementation of this administration’s executive actions has run into a series of political and legal snags.  But what is surprising is the administration’s response or overall handling of the matter. Continue reading “Executive Action Update: 3 Year EADs Issued After 2/16/15 Injunction Must Be Returned”

Update on Temporary Protected Status

Mechelle Zarou
Mechelle Zarou

On Wednesday, June 24, 2015, the Department of Homeland security designated Nepal for Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for a period of 18 months, effective June 24, 2015 through December 24, 2016, based on the conditions resulting from the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, and the subsequent aftershocks. As a result, eligible nationals of Nepal residing in the United States may apply for TPS with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”).   Continue reading “Update on Temporary Protected Status”

2000 Three Year Work Permits Were Issued by DHS in Violation of Injunction

Maria del Carmen Ramos
Maria del Carmen Ramos

In a Thursday midnight filing, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyers disclosed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued about 2,000 three-year work permits (as opposed to the currently authorized two-year permits) to illegal immigrants granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Technically, the issuance of the three-year work permits — an aspect of President Obama’s November 20 executive actions which expanded DACA — was in violation of U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen’s February 16 injunction issued in the case of State of Texas v. United States. Continue reading “2000 Three Year Work Permits Were Issued by DHS in Violation of Injunction”

Temporary Protected Status Extended for El Salvador

Mechelle Zarou
Mechelle Zarou

The Department of Homeland Security has extended Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for eligible nationals of El Salvador for an additional period of 18 months, effective March 10, 2015, through Sept. 9, 2016. Continue reading “Temporary Protected Status Extended for El Salvador”

The Devil is in the Details: What Employers and Businesses Need to Know About the President’s Executive Actions on Immigration

Maria del Carmen Ramos
Maria del Carmen Ramos

When President Barack Obama first addressed the nation to unveil his Immigration Accountability Executive Actions, the media and the internet were in a frenzy to see who could get the story out first. Despite the fact that many of the specifics of the planned executive actions were unclear or not yet finalized, legal experts and analysts all across the country were discussing the potential consequences or effects on national security and the economy as a result of the estimated millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States who stood to benefit. Continue reading “The Devil is in the Details: What Employers and Businesses Need to Know About the President’s Executive Actions on Immigration”