The country dodged a government shutdown at the end of September, but we may be faced with the same problem on December 3, 2021, when Congress will again have to fund the government. Because we often come close to a shutdown (and sometimes shutdowns happen), it is important to remember how a shutdown affects the
Michael H. Neifach
Some Travel Restrictions to Relax for Fully Vaccinated in November, Administration Announces
As President Joe Biden travelled to a meeting of the United National General Assembly, the Administration announced that, in early November, COVID-19 travel restrictions would be relaxed for fully vaccinated travelers from all the previously restricted countries: the UK and Ireland, the 26 Schengen Zone countries, Brazil, China, India, Iran, and South Africa.
The details…
TPS Extended Through 2022 for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Sudan
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a notice extending Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua and Sudan through December 31, 2022.
The automatic extension is intended to ensure continued compliance with preliminary injunction orders that have been entered in the various cases challenging…
ICE: I-9 Flexibility to Continue Through 2021
Once again, at the last moment, ICE has extended “flexibility” for I-9 employment verification. This time, for four more months, until the end of the year, December 31, 2021, due to continuing COVID-19 precautions.
Employees hired on or after April 1, 2021, who work exclusively in a remote setting are temporarily exempt from the physical…
Tougher E-Verify Enforcement
E-Verify is moving toward tougher enforcement, which can result in a temporary termination from participation in the E-Verify program.
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, E-Verify relaxed some of its standards regarding Tentative Nonconfirmation (TNCs). But, by November 2020, E-Verify stopped allowing extensions and began enforcing its usual timing requirements.
Employers receiving a TNC must notify…
Haiti TPS Extended Through February 3, 2023
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that, because of new dire circumstances, TPS for Haiti will be designated for 18 months effective August 3, 2021, through February 3, 2023.
The designation is a response to the “[d]eteriorating political crisis, violence, and a staggering increase in human rights abuses,” as well as a deteriorating healthcare…
USCIS Makes More Cap-Subject H-1B Selections, Technical Problems in Notice Access
USCIS made more random Cap H-1B selections on July 28, 2021. Notifications started to go out today – July 29, 2021. Due to a glitch in the USCIS system, attorneys do not yet have access to the notices (although some employers do). USCIS is aware of this technical problem and is working to resolve it.…
Judge Again Finds DACA Program Illegal, Blocks New Applications, Allows Renewals
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program (DACA) is not legal, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen has ruled in State of Texas et al. v. U.S. et al.
Judge Hanen issued an injunction preventing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from accepting new DACA applications. However, recognizing the substantial reliance interests involved, he allowed…
Supreme Court Rules on Noncitizens Granted Temporary Protected Status
In Sanchez v. Mayorkas, 593 U.S. ____(June 7, 2021), the U.S. Supreme Court resolved the circuit split on whether a grant for temporary protected status (TPS) authorizes eligible noncitizens to adjust status to lawful permanent resident even if they entered the United States unlawfully – the Court held that it does not.
Previously, courts…
DHS Announces 18-Month Extension for Haiti TPS, Application Procedures for Burma TPS
The Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will be extending Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, until November 2022. It also has officially set out the application procedures for Burmese TPS, which the Secretary of DHS announced in March 2021, but had not yet issued implementing instructions.
Based on pending litigation,…