U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the filing period for certain Liberian nationals and family members to apply for adjustment of status under the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness provision has been extended until December 20, 2021.
The provision provides an opportunity for certain Liberian nationals and family members to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the United States.
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In this edition, find the latest news on Biden’s immigration enforcement memorandum, COVID-19 vaccine requirements for travelers to Canada and Mexico, CDC rescinding the order requiring negative COVID-19 test before a flight to United States, and more! Federal Judge Vacates Biden Immigration Enforcement Memorandum On June 10, 2022, a U.S. district judge in the Southern District of Texas vacated the Biden administration’s September 2021 memorandum on immigration enforcement, which, in an effort to reduce arrests, called for a targeted enforcement or “prioritization” on removal for those who pose a “current threat to public safety”. The District judge stated that the memo’s prioritization was “arbitrary and capricious, contrary to law, and failing to observe procedure under the Administrative Procedure Act.” Judge Drew Tipton said the core of the dispute was “whether the Executive Branch may require its officials to act in a manner that conflicts with a statutory mandate imposed by Congress. It may not.” The states of Texas and Louisiana argued that the memorandum conflicted with detention mandates under federal law. The judge noted that in the 1990s, Congress reined in the Executive Branch’s discretion by mandating detention of criminal aliens or those with final orders of removal: “The wisdom […]
Court Blocks CHNV Parole Termination A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from revoking the legal status and work authorization of over 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who entered the U.S. under the Biden-era CHNV parole program. The court ruled that mass terminations without case-by-case review violate due process, suspending DHS’s plan to require self-deportation by April 24. The CHNV program allowed migrants to enter legally with U.S. sponsors and work for two years. While the policy has faced legal and political challenges, this ruling preserves their status for now. Impact: CHNV beneficiaries may continue working lawfully, but uncertainty remains. Employers should verify work authorization of employees whose temporary work authorization is expiring based on the provide work authorization document. Employers who are aware of employees that have CHNV parole may want to encourage them to explore longer-term options (e.g., asylum or TPS). It is also recommended that employers stay in close contact with immigration counsel as policies evolve. USCIS Scrutiny of Social Media Triggers Visa Revocations USCIS has announced it will now consider antisemitic activity on social media as a negative factor in discretionary immigration decisions. This new policy has already led to the revocation […]
