In this edition, find the latest news on the termination of the ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy, expanded eligibility for Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians, the CBP announcing the end of using expired passports for U.S. Citizens, and more.
Supreme Court Allows Biden Administration to Terminate ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy
On June 30, 2022, the Supreme Court held that the Biden administration could end the so-called “Remain in Mexico” policy, which required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their immigration hearings. The Court ruled that the Biden administration’s attempt to terminate it via a memorandum issued in October 2021 was a valid final agency action.
The Court reversed the judgment of the Court of Appeals and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with its opinion. On remand, “the District Court should consider in the first instance whether the October 29 Memoranda comply with section 706 of the [Administrative Procedure Act,” the Court said.
Chief Justice Roberts delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Justices Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan, and Kavanaugh joined. Justice Kavanaugh filed a concurring opinion. Justices Alito, Barrett, Thomas, and Gorsuch dissented.
Details:
- Biden v. Texas, 597 U.S. (2002), https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21-954_7l48.pdf
- “The U.S. Supreme Court Rules Administration Can End ‘Remain in Mexico’ Immigration Policy,” Texas Public Radio, June 30, 2022, https://www.tpr.org/border-immigration/2022-06-30/the-u-s-supreme-court-rules-biden-administration-can-end-remain-in-mexico-immigration-policy
White House Extends and Expands Eligibility for Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians
The White House issued a memorandum deferring through June 30, 2024, the removal of any Liberian national, or person without nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia, who is present in the United States and who was under a grant of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) as of June 30, 2022, as well as any Liberian national, or person without nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia, who has been continuously physically present in the United States since May 20, 2017. Also, any Liberian national, or person without nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia, who was under a grant of DED as of June 30, 2022, or who has been continuously physically present in the United States since May 20, 2017, will have continued employment authorization through June 30, 2024.
The memo directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to publish a notice in the Federal Register to grant work permits for Liberians who held appropriate DED-related employment authorization documents as of June 30, 2022, or those Liberian nationals who have been continuously present in the United States since May 20, 2017. The memo also directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide for “the prompt issuance of new or replacement employment authorization documents in appropriate cases.”
Details:
- Memorandum on Extending and Expanding Eligibility for Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians, Presidential Action, June 27, 2022, https://bit.ly/3RaarA2
CBP Ends Use of Expired U.S. Passports for Direct Return of U.S. Citizens to United States
As of July 1, 2022, U.S. citizens can no longer use their expired U.S. passports to return to the United States. U.S. citizens overseas with expired passports should contact their nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for a passport.
Details:
- CBP announcement, https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article1861?language=en_US
- Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions, https://www.usembassy.gov/
CIS Ombudsman Submits 2022 Annual Report to Congress
On June 30, 2022, the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman submitted its 2022 Annual Report to Congress. The report outlines “some of the most significant problems encountered by individuals and employers when seeking immigration benefits,” including backlogs, issues with employment authorization documents (EADs), expedite requests, and others. The report also provides recommendations for how U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can address these problems and improve its administrative processes.
Highlights include the “avalanche impact of backlogs,” the need for more flexibility in renewing employment authorization, accessibility to advance parole in a timely manner, access to the expedite process, ways to address the affirmative asylum backlog, barriers to obtaining proof of employment authorization for asylum applicants in removal proceedings, USCIS’s digital strategy, and the U nonimmigrant status “bona fide determination” process.
Details:
- Annual Report 2022, CIS Ombudsman, June 30, 2022, https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/CIS_Ombudsman_2022_Annual_Report_0.pdf
