State Department Secretary Rex Tillerson has directed all consular chiefs to determine which populations of visa applicants should be subject to additional “extreme” vetting. The March 15 direction is in response to President Donald Trump’s March 6 “Travel Ban” Executive Order and Presidential Memorandum on “extreme vetting.” The Memo directed the U.S. Attorney General
Revised Travel Ban Blocked
Late on March 15, Judge Derrick Watson of the U.S. District Court in Hawaii issued a nationwide injunction blocking the revised travel ban Executive Order that was scheduled to take effect on March 16. In addition, on March 16, Maryland U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang, in a less sweeping order, granted a nationwide injunction
Revised Travel Ban Executive Order Targets Six Countries, Drops Iraq
The “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” Executive Order (E.O.), issued by President Donald Trump on March 6, 2017, suspends processing of visa issuance for individuals from six designated countries until June 14, 2017, 90 days from the E.O.’s effective date, March 16, 2017. The E.O. will supersede
Immigration Law Enforcement and Visa Programs Subject of Draft Executive Order: LCA Public Access File Audits
Please see our advisory.
New I-9 Handbook for Employers
USCIS’s new M-274 “Handbook for Employers with Guidance for Completing Form I-9” is now available. In addition to detailed I-9 completion instructions, the Handbook contains guidance on Photocopying and Retention, Unlawful Discrimination and Penalties, E-Verify. It also contains FAQs as well as images of sample documents.
The new I-9 Form went into effect on January
Ninth Circuit Denies Government’s Motion to Stay District Court’s Order Blocking Travel Ban
In a unanimous opinion, a three-judge panel in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the stay of President Trump’s travel ban. The Court found in favor of the State of Washington on all of its arguments and held that the Administration had not shown a likelihood of success on the merits of the
Travel Ban Update: Court Refused Emergency Government Request to Continue Implementation of EO
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has denied the government’s request for an emergency “pause” of Judge James Robart’s TRO prohibiting implementation of the EO barring individuals from seven countries to enter the United States. The Court ordered briefs to be submitted on an expedited basis with the final brief due by
Travel Update Under Trump’s Executive Order
While daily governmental guidance for affected individuals, in the United States and abroad, has followed the signing of Executive Order “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” on January 27, 2017, reports of inconsistent treatment of individuals abound. The following illustrates some of the confusion regarding individuals “from” Iraq, Iran, Libya,
Congress Considers Visa Bill Ahead of Expected Immigration Executive Order
Perhaps anticipating an Executive Order from the White House on business immigration reforms, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Cal.), who represents Silicon Valley, has introduced a bill that calls for many reforms.
The High-Skilled Integrity and Fairness Act of 2017, similar to a bill introduced by Representative Darrell Issa (R-Cal.), raises wage levels related to certain
Improved Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Focus of Two Executive Orders
Posted at 10:34 am
Border security and immigration law enforcement are the subject of two new Executive Orders from President Donald Trump released on January 25, 2017.
“Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements” directs the Department of Homeland Security to start the process of constructing the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico