California’s AB 692, officially in effect as of Jan. 1, 2026, is bringing notable changes to how employers may use repayment or “stay‑or‑pay” provisions in employment agreements. While the law applies broadly to various repayment obligations, AB 692 has meaningful implications for organizations that have historically used reimbursement agreements when sponsoring foreign national employees for
What California Employers Should Know About SB 294 and Immigration
California’s “Workplace Know Your Rights Act,” SB 294, introduces significant new requirements for California employers beginning Feb. 1, 2026, with important implications for immigration‑related enforcement and employee rights.
The law is intended to ensure that all employees, including immigrant workers, are informed of their protections during workplace interactions with immigration authorities and law enforcement.
Key
Federal Judge Blocks Implementation of EO on Birthright Citizenship in Class Action Case
A federal district court in New Hampshire granted certification to a nationwide class and issued a preliminary injunction (PI) on July 10 that prevents the U.S. government from implementing Executive Order 14160. EO 14160 seeks to restrict birthright citizenship to only those born to at least one U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident parent
USCIS: Substantial Increase in H-1B Registrations for FY 2024 May Indicate Potential Fraud
USCIS has announced that the total number of eligible registrations submitted for FY 2024 was 758,994 (up from 474,421 eligible registrations submitted for FY 2023). Of the 758,994 eligible registrations submitted, USCIS said it made 110,791 selections to fill the 85,000 available H-1B visa slots.
The significant increase in submitted registrations yielded a relatively low
Jackson Lewis Guides Olympic Bobsledder Kaillie Humphries to U.S. Citizenship
Through a joint effort of our immigration team headed by John Exner in our Los Angeles office and our sports industry group led by Gregg Clifton in our Phoenix office, Jackson Lewis was able to guide Olympic bobsledder Kaillie Humphries to U.S. citizenship just in time for her to qualify to compete on the U.S.
Administration Releasing New COVID-19 International Travel Policies for Individuals Flying Into U.S.
While not all the details are available, the Biden Administration is releasing more information about the lifting of the 14-day travel restrictions.
Here is what is known so far:
- The 14-day travel restrictions on China, Iran, the UK and Ireland, the 26 Schengen Zone countries, Brazil, South Africa and India are scheduled to be
Temporary Suspension of Entry Ends for Certain H, L, J Visa Categories
The restrictions on the issuance of H-1B, L-1, and J-1 nonimmigrant “guest-worker” visas, which have been in place since June 24, 2020, expired without fanfare on March 31, 2021. As a result, U.S. consulates around the world will resume issuing H-1B, L-1, and J-1 visas without the need for an additional national interest exception
Judge Strikes Down Administration Rules Restricting Employers’ Use of Visas
On December 1, Judge Jeffrey S. White granted the plaintiffs’ request to set aside two separate rules issued by the Trump Administration that would have drastically undermined the ability of employers to utilize both the H-1B and PERM visa programs. In Chamber of Commerce of the United States v. United States Department of Homeland Security,
WEBINAR: Navigating Immigration in the Life Sciences Industry
DHS Announces Relaxing Travel Restrictions to U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is making it a little easier for some foreign nationals to fly to the United States by lifting certain restrictions in place following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the restrictions, any airplanes carrying passengers who had recently travelled to or had been present in China, Iran, the