| Immigration News by Shabani & Associates P.C. presents this month’s most important immigration updates. |
| Liberian DED Extended Through June 2026 – President Biden has extended through June 30, 2026, deferred removal for Liberians with a grant of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). President Biden also announced that eligible Liberian nationals will have continued work authorization through June 30, 2026. DHS Releases Details on Haiti TPS Extension and Redesignation, Work Authorization for Haitian F-1 Students – The Department of Homeland Security released additional details about the extension and redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) through February 3, 2026. Given the timeframes, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services automatically extended through August 3, 2025, the validity of certain employment authorization documents issued under the TPS designation for Haiti and having the expiration dates listed in the notice. DHS Raises Civil Penalties for Certain Violations – The Department of Homeland Security has raised civil monetary penalties for certain violations based on inflation. The new penalty amounts are effective for penalties assessed after June 28, 2024, whose associated violations occurred after November 2, 2015. Naturalization Applicants Can Request Replacement Social Security Cards When They Apply for Citizenship – Applicants for naturalization can now request a replacement Social Security card when they apply for citizenship through Form N-400 (edition date 04/01/24). DOS Updates Diversity Visa Guidance in Response to Court Decision – The Department of State said it will not process DV cases associated with several district court decisions from the DV-2020 or DV-2021 program years. Ninth Circuit Holds That Discrimination Against U.S. Citizens on Basis of Citizenship is Prohibited – In Rajaram v. Meta Platforms, Inc., the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that discrimination against U.S. citizens on the basis of their citizenship is prohibited under 42 U.S.C. § 1981. DOJ Reaches Settlement With Staffing Agency for Discrimination Against Non-U.S. Citizens – The Department of Justice has secured a settlement agreement with eTeam Inc., an online staffing agency that provides services to companies in the United States and worldwide. The agreement resolves DOJ’s determination that eTeam discriminated against non-U.S. citizens with permission to work in the United States by excluding them from job opportunities based on their citizenship or immigration status. FLCDataCenter.com Discontinued – FLCDataCenter.com is discontinued effective July 1, 2024. Prevailing wage data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Survey is now available through the OFLC Wage Search tool. President Announces New Measures for Spousal Work Authorization, DACA Recipients – On June 18, 2024, President Biden announced measures “to ensure that U.S. citizens with noncitizen spouses and children can keep their families together.” He also announced measures to enable certain Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients and others to receive work visas more quickly. USCIS Extends Certain TPS Work Permits Through March 9, 2025 – USCIS is extending the work authorization of Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries under the designations of El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan through March 9, 2025. DOJ Reaches Settlement With Staffing Agency for Discrimination Against Noncitizens –Under the settlement, the company will pay civil penalties, train its employees on the INA’s requirements, revise its employment policies, and be subject to monitoring. Coming Soon: Increased Login Security for E-Verify and SAVE – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that login security will be enhanced for E-Verify and Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements later this year. DOS Rolls Out ‘Beta Release’ of Online Passport Renewal System – The Department of State is testing a system for U.S. citizens to renew their passports online. EB-3 Category Retrogresses for July, Other Updates: Visa Bulletin – The worldwide EB-3 final action date (including Mexico and Philippines) retrogressed in July. OFLC Seeks Info on Availability of Qualified Workers and Ways to Contact Them – The Office of Foreign Labor Certification seeks input on the annual determination of Labor Supply States to enhance U.S. worker recruitment. Class Certified for Visa Applicants Refused Visas Under Presidential Proclamation – A U.S. District Court has certified a class to allow certain visa applicants who were refused visas under Presidential Proclamation 9645 to receive a one-time, non-transferable fee credit to submit a new visa application and (for eligible class members) to get a prioritized visa appointment. New USCIS Policy Guidance Interprets Confidentiality Protections as Ending at Naturalization – “This policy will result in naturalized citizens having full access to USCIS electronic benefit processing and critical customer service tools that are available to other U.S. citizens,” USCIS said. Update Your E-Verify Login Bookmark! – The URL should say “everify.uscis.gov“, not “e-verify.uscis.gov“. President Suspends and Limits Entry Into the United States of Certain Noncitizens, With Exceptions – Exceptions include lawful permanent residents, noncitizen nationals of the United States, noncitizens with valid visas or other lawful permission to enter, noncitizens traveling under the Visa Waiver Program, unaccompanied children, and others. DOJ Sues Oklahoma Over New State Enforcement Law Against Unauthorized Noncitizens – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has sued the state of Oklahoma over House Bill 4156, a new law that DOJ says “impermissibly creates a state-specific immigration system that effectively seeks to regulate noncitizens’ entry, reentry, and presence in the United States.” BALCA, OALJ Offices Move – The national, Washington, DC, and Cherry Hill offices of the Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals and the Office of Administrative Law Judges have relocated to the Frances Perkins building in DC. Global: Colombia – This article discusses visa options for retirees and “digital nomads” in Colombia. |