Category: Other
Trump’s shutdown stops immigration courts from functioning
In the story linked-below, DMCA partner Lance Curtright, discusses a special case about a woman who is particularly affected by the shutdown. From the story: “‘Her husband is dying,’ immigration attorney Lance Curtright said. ‘And part of the reason we think she can get her green card in the United States requires her husband to be alive.’ Campos’s attorney, Curtright said she’s in a race against time. ‘That’s why we are trying desperately to get her case in front of a judge,’ Curtright said. ‘The problem is, the court isn’t open for business because they are not funded.’ A painful ... Read more
DMCA partner Lance Curtright on KSAT news in an interview about changes to asylum procedures
New asylum policy could face court challenge
How the Trump Shutdown may impact immigration cases
Recent news indicates that President Trump intends to shut down the government if Congress refuses to fund his ill-advised border wall. Here is how the Trump shutdown will affect federal agencies that process immigration cases: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS): This is a fee funded agency; therefore, processing of cases such as adjustment of status applications (form I-485), immigrant visa petitions (forms I-130 and I-140), employment authorization applications (I-765), naturalization applications (N-400) and applications filed directly with a USCIS Service Center will continue to be adjudicated. E-verify will likely be unavailable during a government shutdown. U.S. Department of Labor: It ... Read more
Proposed Changes to H1B Process: What you Need to Know to Now
DHS has proposed substantial changes to the H1B process. We anticipate these changes will be effective for April 1, 2019 H1B filings that are subject to the annual cap. The main change to the process will be the establishment of a mandatory internet-based registration process for petitioners seeking to file H1B petitions for beneficiaries who will be counted against the H1B cap. The proposed regulations flip the lottery process to the front end of the application process. Registrants who are selected will be able to apply for an H1B visa. Here are the basics that you need to know: –The ... Read more
ICE Hold? Detained by Immigration? There May Be Hope.
Since Donald Trump took office, and in the wake of SB4, more and more immigrants are being placed in detention centers in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Unfortunately, this includes immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for years, have strong family ties, and little or no criminal record. Shortly after Trump became president in 2017, ICE launched large scale raids in the Austin and San Antonio areas, arresting more than 130 people. Following the passage of SB4 in the Texas legislature, many surrounding counties have been arresting immigrants found driving without a valid license and then ... Read more
Attorney General’s Decision a Setback for Women Seeking Asylum Based on Domestic Violence, but Hope Remains
A recent administrative decision by Attorney General Jeff Sessions marked a major step backwards for women who came to the United States fleeing domestic violence. Session’s decision overturned a 2014 landmark decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), which held some victims of domestic violence could qualify for asylum under United States. To seek asylum in the United States, a person must show that he or she has a well-founded fear of persecution in his or her country of nationality on account of his or her religion, political belief, race, nationality, or membership in a particular social group. In ... Read more
¿VICTIMA DE FRAUDE POR ABOGADO? PODEMOS AYUDAR
Como ya sabrán ahora, hay personas inescrupulosas que están dispuestas a aprovecharse de las circunstancias de las vidas de inmigrantes. Recientemente, hemos visto en nuestro bufete muchos inmigrantes quejándose de un abogado inescrupuloso que ha tomado ventaja de ellos, pidiendo al gobierno beneficios legales y permisos de trabajo por los cuales no eran elegibles y ahora el gobierno está tratando de deportarlos. Como inmigrantes, deberían saber que si lo que le dice un abogado suena increíble, probablemente lo es. Si usted o alguien que conoce se encuentran en un proceso de deportación a causa de las acciones fraudulentas de un ... Read more
FOLLOWING THE RULES: AN OVERVIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN APPREHENDING UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN WHO HAVE RECENTLY ARRIVED TO THE UNITED STATES.
The recent influx of unaccompanied children from Central America and other countries has dominated the news. As usual, whenever the topic of immigration arises, a common theme is that immigrants should follow the rules. Indeed, immigrants are often chastised by anti-immigration activists for allegedly not following the rules. Ironically, these same activists who are critical of rule-breaking often urge immigration officials to disregard the rules when it comes to the processing of children for deportation. For example, California residents recently stopped a bus containing juvenile immigrants from Central America from arriving at a Border Patrol facility. Some of the protesters ... Read more