Citizenship

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The Department of State has announced a significant restructuring of visa operations across Africa, effective Aug. 1, 2026. Under this initiative, routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing at certain U.S. embassies and consulates will be consolidated into designated regional visa processing hubs or centers. According to the Department of State, this realignment is intended to…

In today’s landmark Trump v. Barbara decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that children born in the United States are citizens at birth regardless of whether their parents are present in the country unlawfully or temporarily. The Court concluded that Executive Order 14160 violates the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and therefore cannot be…

Takeaways

  • The Trump Administration will review all green cards issued to individuals from 19 “countries of concern.”
  • The DHS has indefinitely stopped processing Afghan-related immigration requests.
  • President Trump stated his goal is to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries.”

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joe Edlow recently announced a realignment of…

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) August 2025 policy memorandum on naturalization applications demonstrates the agency’s heightened scrutiny in conferring citizenship and raises questions on how newly empowered officers will conduct their review. 

Citizenship is the final step in what can be a long and complicated journey for foreign nationals seeking immigration benefits. After…

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) February 2025 policy memorandum and July 2025 policy manual update highlight the agency’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts.

Generally, USCIS will no longer exempt classes or categories of foreign nationals from potential enforcement except in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion. One update describes the circumstances under which USCIS issues…

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…

Takeaways

  • As of March 19, 2025, the SSA has paused automatic SSN issuance for many immigrant applicants, including those receiving new work permits and newly naturalized citizens.
  • Affected individuals must now apply in person at SSA offices.
  • Employers should adjust onboarding processes accordingly and educate HR teams to avoid disruptions.

The Social Security Administration (SSA)…

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation suspending entry to the U.S. for nationals of 19 countries on June 4, 2025. The proclamation stated that the designated countries are so deficient in their information screening and vetting that a suspension on the entry of nationals from those countries is necessary. “Presidential Proclamation Restricting the Entry…

Implementation of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) has been delayed again. Initially expected to be operational in 2022, ETIAS is now scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2026. This delay allows more time for the Entry/Exit System (EES) to be fully implemented, which is expected to become operational in October…

The Trump Administration urged the U.S. Supreme Court to limit nationwide injunctions blocking enforcement of the executive order (EO) to end birthright citizenship.

Following his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an EO directing federal agencies to refuse recognition of U.S. citizenship for children born in the United States to mothers who…