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Protecting Students and Schools: Guidance on Federal Agent Presence

The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) has historically maintained a “sensitive spaces” or “protected areas” policy which restricted the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents from making arrests in certain areas, including (1) schools (including primary, secondary, colleges, universities, daycare, preschools, school bus stops), (2) places of worship (includes religious or civil ceremonies or …

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Immigration Compliance for Employers in 2025: Guide to Worksite Audits

During the first Trump administration, worksite enforcement actions (aka raids) were focused in the Southeast and Midwest. The primary industries targeted were manufacturing and meat/poultry processing.[1]   In 2017, Thomas Homan was the acting director for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He directed Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to increase worksite immigration enforcement actions by …

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Walking While Foreign: Documenting Immigration Status in 2025

As we approach 2025 with the threat of impending mass deportation[1] of those without legal immigration status in the United States (U.S.), it is important for foreign nationals lawfully here to remember what documents they are obligated to maintain in their possession under federal law. In addition, any assessment of legal status by law enforcement …

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Avoid Rejection: Submit I-693 with I-485 Adjustment Application

Effective December 2, 2024, certain applicants applying for adjustment of status (Form I-485) to permanent residence must now submit the required Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (I-693) concurrently with their I-485 adjustment application. This change by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was made to expedite processing times and reduce delays in …

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November 1 Deadline Looms as Texas Hospitals Struggle to Track Costs Related to Immigration Status

On November 1, certain Texas hospitals must comply with an Executive Order issued by Governor Greg Abbott on August 8, 2024 (Order), requiring them to document medical costs related to the care of individuals without legal immigration status. Governor Abbott provided the following statement explaining the reasoning behind his Order: “Due to President Joe Biden …

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New TPS and DED Protections for Lebanese Nationals: What You Need to Know

In a significant move, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended temporary immigration protections for Lebanese nationals currently residing in the United States. These measures, which include Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), will provide critical relief to individuals affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. Let us break …

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Updated: Stay Extended by Texas Court to Sept. 23 for Approval of Keeping Families Together Parole

This article was updated after the 5th Circuit Court stayed the District Court case until a hearing on October 10. Meanwhile, USCIS is still accepting KFT PIP applications. On September 4, 2024, U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division, signed an Order denying the Motion of the U.S. …

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Employer Economics: Cost-Saving Strategies for Adjustment of Status Filings

On April 1, 2024, the new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fee schedule took effect. The fee schedule has been modified since publication, which can make determining the appropriate fee challenging.    Please refer to our previous blog post regarding the key takeaways from the final rule implementing these fee increases. The new rule increases …

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Parole in Place for U.S. Citizens’ Spouses: What (Little) We Know Before August 19 Start

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continues to keep spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens in suspense regarding the process and requirements for filings that may be made on Monday, August 19, 2024, for qualifying applicants for the new Parole-in-Place (PIP) program to seek legal permanent residence (LPR) while remaining in the United States (U.S.) …

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Avoiding RFIs in PERM: 3 Key Tips for Travel Requirements

Filing a PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) application is a critical process for most U.S. employers seeking to hire foreign workers. One of the significant hurdles in this process is obtaining a Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD) from the Department of Labor (DOL), which can take at least six months at present. Recently, employers have noticed …

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