Recent Blog Posts
Massachusetts High Court Rules that State Police Cannot Arrest Someone for Visa Violation
The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts has recently ruled that state police officers cannot arrest someone who is suspected only of being in the United States illegally. The court ruled that there was no state law permitting Massachusetts officers to hold someone in police custody “solely on the basis of a federal civil immigration… Read More »
House Passes “Kate’s Law” and Law Targeting Sanctuary Cities
The US House of Representatives recently passed two bills targeting undocumented immigrants. “Kate’s Law” will target undocumented persons who enter the country repeatedly, and the “No Sanctuary for Criminals Act” will make cities more responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws. Longer prison sentences for repeated illegal entry “Kate’s Law” increases the amount of prison… Read More »
DACA Program Continues Under Trump
On June 15, 2017 the Department of Homeland Security released a memo that officially removed President Obama’s memo creating the DAPA, Deferred Action for Parents, program. The DAPA program was stalled in Court since the announcement almost two years ago. DAPA’s final demise comes as no surprise. The positive to take from yesterday’s DHS… Read More »
City Rallies Behind Immigrant Community as Federal Immigration Enforcement Ramps Up
While federal agencies have shown little sympathy for the communities of immigrant people so critical to American society, government officials for both the City and State of New York are devising programs aimed at reducing the negative impact of new federal enforcement policies. A proposed program would offer a subsidy for the fees entailed… Read More »
How have Deportations Changed since Trump Took Office?
In the months leading up to his election, Donald Trump made immigration reform one of his most discussed policies, even going so far as to promise to deport everyone who was in the country illegally. Currently, the Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is conducting raids all over the country, causing fear to… Read More »
New Laws Designed to Protect Non-Citizens
Two new laws—one being considered by the US Congress, and one that has been passed by the New York City Council—seek to protect undocumented individuals from both ICE agents calling themselves police, and scammers calling themselves immigration experts. Rep. Nydia Velazquez, a congressperson representing Brooklyn, introduced a bill before the House of Representatives earlier… Read More »
Revised Travel Ban Blocked by Multiple Federal Judges
After President Trump’s initial attempt at implementing a ban on travel to certain predominantly Muslim countries was rejected by the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the administration vowed to try again. On March 6, Trump signed an executive order that made a second attempt at banning travel to the US by foreign nationals… Read More »
Immigration Raids – Your Rights
Over this past weekend ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) began ramping up immigration raids across the country. It is very important to understand that even undocumented immigrants have constitutional rights in the United States. What should you do if ICE comes to your home? Don’t open the door. Be calm. You have… Read More »
Federal Judge Halts Travel Ban against Foreign Nationals
After a tumultuous week involving a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the US immigration system, including the airport detention of hundreds of individuals with valid visas to enter or re-enter the US, and the cancellation of tens of thousands of visas, a federal judge has issued an order that suspended enforcement of President Trump’s… Read More »
Congress Discusses Potential Changes to H-1B Visa Program
Immigration reform was one of the major issues on which President Trump campaigned, and already, Congress has begun to advance potential changes to the system that could have a major impact on foreign nationals working in the US. Currently, the House Judiciary Committee is considering a bill that would make it harder for US… Read More »
