Legal Articles, Immigration
Acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan to Resign
On October 11, 2019, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan announced that he was stepping down from his post. McAleenan has served as acting Secretary since April 11, 2019.
EOIR Swears in 27 New Immigration Judges (Oct. 11, 2019)
On October 11,2019, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) held an investiture ceremony to swear in 27 new immigration judges We will the courts receiving new immigration judges in alphabetical order after first examining the new judges in New Jersey and New York City immigration courts.
EOIR Opens Second Atlanta Immigration Court
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) will establish its Atlanta Annex on W. Peachtree Street as a new immigration court, effective October 15, 2019.
Trump Administration Proposes FY 2020 Refugee Cap of 18,000
President Donald Trump has proposed a refugee ceiling of 18,000 for fiscal year 2020, which is significantly lower than in previous years. The Acting Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Ken Cuccinelli, released a statement on the refugee ceiling.
October 2019 Visa Bulletin
On September 9, 2019, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) published the Visa Bulletin for October 2019 – the first immigrant visa bulletin of fiscal year 2020.
USCIS Proposes Changes to EAD Processes Based on Pending Asylum Applications
On September 6, 2019, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed a new rule to reform the process for adjudicating applications for employment authorization by those with pending asylum applications.
DHS Proposes Expansion of Social Media Vetting to Nine USCIS Forms
On September 4, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a 60-day notice and request for comments on a proposal to extend social media vetting policies to additional immigration applications.
EOIR Moves Three Immigration Judges to Broadway Immigration Court
The EOIR circulated an email regarding the opening of the new Broadway Immigration Court on September 4, 2019. As an initial matter, three current immigration judges will be moved from the New York City Immigration Court to the new Broadway Immigration Court.
USCIS Proposes $10 H1B Registration Fee
On September 4, 2019, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (FR) which would impose a $10 registration fee on H1B petitioners for each registration submitted for the H1B cap selection process.
New Filing Addresses For Certain Cap-Exempt H1B Petitions
On September 1, 2019, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) changed the direct filing addresses for certain petitioners filing Form I-129 cap-exempt H1B petitions.