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• CBP Proposed Updates to I-94 and ESTA Data Collection
• Myanmar TPS Termination Put on Hold by Court
• ICE Crackdown Strengthens Case for Bipartisan Immigration Reform
• Judge Blocks Move to End Legal Status for Migrants
• U.S. State Department Clarifies FIFA PASS Visa Appointment Process

CBP Proposed Updates to I-94 and ESTA Data Collection

CBP has issued a 60-day Federal Register notice proposing revisions to how it collects information for Form I-94 and ESTA, primarily to modernize traveler data collection, improve departure tracking, and expand mobile and biometric processes. The notice is part of the Paperwork Reduction Act process and seeks public comment before submission to OMB. Comments are due February 9, 2026.

Impact: If finalized, the proposal could improve I-94 departure accuracy and reduce erroneous overstay issues, while requiring updates to ESTA guidance, traveler communications, and internal compliance processes.

Myanmar (Burma) TPS Termination Put on Hold by Court

The Department of Homeland Security announced plans to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Myanmar (Burma), a designation first granted in 2021 following the military coup and ongoing humanitarian crisis. DHS concluded that conditions no longer met the statutory requirements for TPS, setting an effective termination date of January 26, 2026.

However, shortly before the termination was to take effect, a federal court issued an order pausing the termination pending litigation, finding that TPS holders could face irreparable harm while legal challenges proceed. As a result, TPS protections, including work authorization and protection from removal, remain in effect for now.

Impact: Employers with Myanmar (Burma) TPS holders should continue recognizing TPS-based work authorization and closely monitor the litigation, as future court decisions or DHS action could affect employment eligibility and compliance obligations.

ICE Crackdown Strengthens Case for Bipartisan Immigration Reform

A Bloomberg Opinion piece argues that the intensified immigration enforcement actions by ICE under the current administration, including expanded raids, deportations, and high-profile incidents that have sparked public backlash, may ironically create greater political momentum for bipartisan immigration reform.

The article highlights a proposal like the Dignity Act, which combines stronger enforcement with a form of long-term legal status (though not full citizenship) for many undocumented immigrants and has gathered support from members of both parties in Congress. This dynamic, hardline enforcement prompting broader concern, could open the door to more balanced legislative negotiations on immigration policy.

Impact: For corporate global mobility stakeholders, these developments signal potential shifts in the U.S. immigration policy landscape that could influence future legislative discussions affecting employment-based immigration, enforcement priorities, and compliance requirements,  even if immediate operational impacts remain limited.

Judge Blocks Move to End Legal Status for Migrants

A federal judge in Boston has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate the legal status of more than 8,400 migrants who entered the U.S. under family reunification parole programs for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Department of Homeland Security from ending the humanitarian parole protections while litigation continues, finding that the government did not provide a sufficient justification for the policy change. Beneficiaries from Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras will retain their legal status and work authorization for now as the lawsuit proceeds.

Impact: This ruling underscores ongoing judicial checks on immigration policy changes that could affect large groups of noncitizens; employers with affected family-parole workers should monitor how the litigation develops and any future policy shifts tied to broader enforcement priorities.

U.S. State Department Clarifies FIFA PASS Visa Appointment Process

The U.S. Department of State has published an updated FAQ for the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS), a voluntary program that allows FIFA World Cup 2026™ ticket holders to access priority B-1/B-2 visa interview appointments at U.S. embassies and consulates. The guidance confirms that FIFA PASS only facilitates earlier interview scheduling and does not affect visa eligibility, adjudication standards, ESTA eligibility, or existing entry restrictions.

Impact: For corporate mobility teams, FIFA PASS is primarily relevant to personal travel and does not create new visa options, exemptions, or priority processing for business travelers or corporate assignees.