Month: May 2025
May 25, 2025
USCIS Updates Policy to Recognize Only Two Biological Sexes
On April 2, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented a significant update to its Policy Manual. This change reaffirms the federal agency’s recognition of only two biological sexes: male and female. This update follows an executive order issued on January 20, 2025, titled Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological […]
May 23, 2025
USCIS to Screen Social Media for Antisemitic Activity in Immigration Applications
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new policy that will consider antisemitic activity on social media, as well as the physical harassment of Jewish individuals, as negative factors when reviewing immigration benefit requests. This move aims to bolster national security and prevent individuals with extremist or antisemitic views from gaining legal […]
May 20, 2025
Social media can impact an immigration case
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are asking for public comments on a new information collection. This is part of a law called the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, which helps make sure that the information collected is necessary and doesn’t take too much time or money. […]
May 17, 2025
DHS sends termination letter to CBP One Users and Revokes Legal Status
On April 11, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued notices to individuals who entered the United States using the CBP One App—informing them that their humanitarian parole is being terminated. This change affects many migrants who, under the Biden administration, were allowed to schedule appointments at the U.S.-Mexico border using the CBP One […]
May 15, 2025
DHS fires USCIS employees: How does it affect your case?
On February 14, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dismissed nearly 50 employees from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), classifying them as “non-mission critical personnel in probationary status.” USCIS is responsible for reviewing requests related to immigration benefits, and last year, it processed a record 10.9 million applications. While the agency has struggled […]
May 13, 2025
A federal judge blocks termination of TPS for Venezuelans
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 350,000 Venezuelans. U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen’s ruling applies to those who registered under the October 3, 2023 TPS designation for Venezuela. This decision comes from the case National TPS Alliance, et al. v. Noem, et al. Before this […]
May 11, 2025
Understanding the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and Its Role in U.S. Immigration
The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) is the highest administrative body responsible for interpreting and applying U.S. immigration laws. Located at the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia, the BIA plays a crucial role in reviewing immigration-related decisions. Its rulings significantly impact immigrants’ lives across the country. The BIA is […]
May 9, 2025
April 11, 2025 Deadline for Immigrant Registration Under Alien Registration Act
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a nationwide reminder to all noncitizens: if you’ve been in the United States for 30 days or more, you must register with the federal government by April 11, 2025, in accordance with the Alien Registration Act. This renewed enforcement effort follows Executive Order 14159, signed by President […]
May 6, 2025
What is the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals?
If the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) or an Immigration Judge denies your case, you may request a review of the decision by filing a Petition for Review with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The filing fee is $500. This federal court examines the rulings of the Immigration Judge and the BIA to determine […]