Insight, News, and Strategy on Immigration Matters Around the World
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper (D) has joined the “sanctuary city” debate. He vetoed House Bill 370, “An Act to Require Compliance with Immigration Detainers and Administrative Warrants,” on August 21, 2019.
Some county sheriffs in North Carolina have been refusing to uphold ICE detainers or coordinate with ICE regarding individuals in custody. They…
ICE raids generally are the results of months (or even years) of investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Before a “raid” is conducted, a search warrant must be issued. To obtain a search warrant, HSI must show that facts establish probable cause to believe that there are violations of federal law, i.e., the company…
The uptick in ICE investigations has Oregon requiring employers to notify employees of any upcoming investigation by a federal agency (such as a Form I-9 inspection) for records, forms, or other documentation used to verify employee identify and work authorization. Oregon follows California in taking this step.
Under Oregon’s statute, SB 370 (2019), employers…
The House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship asked the Department of Homeland Security to account for the delays in immigration processing at a hearing on July 16, 2019.
Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Cal.), who chaired the hearing, wanted an explanation for the 2.4 million application/petition backlog, as well as processing delays that have…
Six hundred and eighty workers from seven poultry processing plants across Mississippi were arrested by ICE in what was the largest workplace raid in a decade. Raids of this size require complex logistics and months of preparation. This raid has been in the planning stages for a year. “Sources close to the Department of…
The Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has sent an unprecedented number of I-9 audits, called Notices of Inspection (NOIs), in the previous three weeks reportedly to more than 3,000 companies. At least another 3,000 are likely on the way since ICE has requested (and received) an additional $6.5 million to hire…
Immigration enforcement is a major focus of attention of the Trump Administration – including in the business immigration context. One measure of this interest is the increase in I-9 audits. ICE reported that worksite investigations surged in FY 2018 by “300 to 750 percent” over FY 2017. Given that, many employers are considering whether to…
The Social Security Administration (SSA) No-Match letters to employers are notifications from SSA that an individual employee’s W-2 form does not match SSA’s records. The letters also inform employers that corrections are necessary and direct employers to use the SSA’s Business Services Online (BSO) database, which requires registration, to find out exactly which employees came…
Immigration case processing times have dramatically increased in the last few years, impacting U.S. businesses and immigrant families, often causing gaps in work authorization and even loss of employment. In a January 2019 Policy Brief, AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) opined, on the basis of USCIS data, that the Agency’s processing delays had reached “crisis…
For some time now, the U.S. has been on the lookout for students who enroll in graduate programs solely for the purpose of obtaining additional CPT (Curricular Practical Training), particularly when they do not “win” the H-1B lottery. Indeed, USCIS has issued Requests for Evidence (RFEs) regarding H petitions when it suspects that a student…
