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WR Immigration News Digest

Jun 12, 2025 | Immigration Updates

Court Temporarily Blocks Visa Ban on Harvard Students

On June 5, 2025, a federal judge paused the Trump administration’s effort to block F, M, and J visas for new Harvard international students, following a proclamation that cited national security concerns. The directive had ordered U.S. embassies to deny visas and consider revoking existing ones for current students—targeting only Harvard, not other U.S. schools.

Impact: This signals a shift toward institution-specific visa scrutiny, underscoring the need to monitor evolving policy risks and support foreign nationals pursuing education-based immigration paths.

DHS Launches Visa Overstay Crackdown After Colorado Attack

Following a high-profile incident involving a visa overstay, DHS announced on June 4, 2025, that it is intensifying enforcement efforts across CBP, ICE, and USCIS. The move follows the arrest of an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa and is accused of a violent attack in Colorado.

Impact: Expect heightened scrutiny of visa duration compliance, increased audits/site visits, and potential enforcement actions. Companies should proactively review employee status tracking, overstay risk protocols, and documentation procedures to ensure full compliance.

TPS for Nepal and Cameroon Ending in August

DHS has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nepal and Cameroon. TPS for Cameroon ends on August 4, 2025, and for Nepal on August 5, 2025, following official notices in the Federal Register. Affected individuals will no longer have protected status after these dates.

Impact: Employers should immediately assess work authorization status for impacted employees and advise on alternatives or departure planning. Proactive outreach and legal coordination are critical to avoid lapses in employment eligibility.

USCIS Proposes New Biographic and Employment Data Collection

USCIS is seeking public comments on a proposed expansion of biographic and employment-related identifiers on immigration forms, as part of Executive Order 14161 aimed at enhancing national security screening. The data would be used to validate identity, assess benefit eligibility, and flag potential security risks.

Impact: The proposed changes introduce more detailed data requirements in immigration filings, requiring greater support for employee background and employment history disclosures.  It may also delay processing times of petitons and applications submitted to USCIS.

Washington Bans Immigration-Based Workplace Coercion

Starting July 1, 2025, Washington employers are prohibited from using an employee’s or their family member’s immigration status to threaten or deter them from asserting their rights related to wages or working conditions. Violations may trigger civil penalties and can be investigated independently by the Department of Labor & Industries.

Impact: In-house mobility and HR teams should review workplace policies, ensure compliant manager training, and reinforce protections for foreign national employees to report concerns without fear of immigration-related retaliation.

SSA Halts Automatic SSN Issuance for EAD Holders

Effective March 19, 2025, the Social Security Administration paused automatic SSN issuance for work-authorized immigrants and newly naturalized citizens. Affected individuals must now apply in person at SSA offices, creating delays in employment eligibility, banking access, and driver’s license applications. The pause, currently under a 90-day review, adds pressure to already understaffed field offices and disrupts onboarding timelines for employers.

Impact: This change may significantly delay new hires’ ability to begin work if a Social Security Number is necessary for background checks, complete background checks, or access essential services.  It is important to note that if an individual has valid employment authorization their commencement of work cannot be delayed solely for not yet having received a Social Security Number. In-house mobility and HR teams should update onboarding protocols, communicate the new requirements to affected employees early, and provide guidance on navigating in-person SSA appointments.

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Rapid-Fire Wednesdays Q&A | Executive Orders | 1/29/2025 Recap

The transcript version of our weekly Q&A livestream for corporate immigration professionals. Join our Immigration News Digest Newsletter for more immigration updates. By Kimberley (Best) Robidoux & Miki Kawashima Matrician 🔥 Question: What is the impact of the executive order on birthright citizenship? Response: One of the most significant executive orders signed seeks to eliminate birthright citizenship. This policy directly contradicts the 14th Amendment, which has long established that anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen. If enforced, this order could fundamentally alter citizenship rights, impacting both individuals and global mobility programs. Immigration professionals should monitor developments closely and advise affected employees accordingly. 🔥 Question: What does the executive order on national security and visa vetting entail? Response: The order mandates a review of countries deemed to have insufficient visa vetting processes. This could lead to travel restrictions or additional scrutiny for individuals from specific nations. Employers should prepare for potential delays in visa approvals and increased security-related reviews for foreign national employees. Companies should ensure that their compliance measures align with these evolving requirements. 🔥 Question: How should employers and foreign nationals prepare for compliance checks? Response: Given the likelihood of increased USCIS and FDNS site visits, employers […]

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Client Alert: USCIS Final Rule for FY 2025 H-1B Cap Registration

By Nathan Grow On February 2, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule titled Improving the H-1B Registration Selection Process and Program Integrity. The final rule, which will become effective March 4, 2024 focuses on enhancing integrity, reducing fraud, and ensuring fairness in beneficiary selection in this year’s H-1B lottery registration process. Beneficiary-Centric Selection Process: USCIS is introducing a beneficiary-centric selection process for H-1B registrations. Instead of selecting from all registrations, USCIS will select registrations by unique beneficiary. This ensures that each beneficiary has an equal chance of being selected, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf. Flexibility in Start Dates: Previously, USCIS mandated that the start date for H-1B petitions for selected individuals must be October 1. Under the final rule, the start date can now be after October 1. Integrity Measures: The final rule calls for additional measures to reinforce the overall registration system, emphasizing fairness for both petitioners and beneficiaries. USCIS will have the authority to deny or revoke H-1B petitions if the underlying registration contains false attestations or is otherwise invalid. Registration Fee: A separate final rule published on January 31, 2024 calls for an increase in the registration […]

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