U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today plans to maintain operations at its international field offices in Beijing and Guangzhou, China; Nairobi, Kenya; and New Delhi, India. Previously, Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli directed the agency to continue operating in
Guatemala City, Guatemala; Mexico City, Mexico; and San Salvador, El Salvador, as part of a whole-of-government approach to address the crisis at the southern border.
While retaining these seven international offices, USCIS plans to close the remaining thirteen international field offices and three district offices between now and August 2020. The first planned closures are the field offices in Monterrey, Mexico, and Seoul, South Korea, at the end of September.
USCIS Final Rule Affidavit of Support
This final rule amends DHS regulations by prescribing how DHS will determine whether an alien applying for admission or adjustment of
status is inadmissible to the United States under section 212(a)(4) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA or the Act), because he or she is likely at any time to become a public charge.
The final rule includes definitions of certain terms critical to the public charge determination, such as ‘‘public charge’’ and ‘‘public benefit,’’ which are not defined in the statute, and explains the factors DHS will consider in the totality of the circumstances when making a public charge inadmissibility determination.
The final rule also addresses USCIS’ authority to issue public charge bonds under section 213 of the Act in the context of applications for adjustment of status. Finally, this rule includes a requirement that aliens seeking an extension of stay or change of status demonstrate that they have not,
since obtaining the nonimmigrant status they seek to extend or change, received public benefits.
TPS to Green Card
USCIS Issues Policy Memorandum Designating AAO Decision in Matter of H-G-G- as an Adopted Decision
USCIS issued a policy memo designating Matter of H-G-G- as an adopted decision, noting that “For purposes of adjustment of status under section 245 of the Act, a recipient of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is considered as being in and maintaining lawful status as a nonimmigrant only during the period that TPS is in effect; a grant of TPS does not constitute an admission, nor does it cure or otherwise impact any previous unlawful status.” Matter of H-G-G-, Adopted Decision 2019-01 (AAO July 31, 2019)
DHS Acting Secretary Announces Extension of TPS for Syria
DHS Acting Secretary McAleenan announced that he has extended Syria’s TPS designation for 18 months. The extension permits current Syrian TPS beneficiaries to re-register for TPS and remain in the U.S. with work authorization through March 31, 2021. There are approximately 7,000 Syrian TPB beneficiaries, per DHS.
Further details about this extension for TPS, including information about the re-registration process and employment authorization documents, will appear in a Federal Register notice.
Trump vows mass immigration arrests, starting next week
President Trump said in a tweet Monday night that U.S. immigration agents are planning to make mass arrests starting “next week,” an apparent reference to a plan in preparation for months that aims to round up thousands of alien parents and children in an operation across major U.S. cities.
“Next week ICE will begin the process of removing the millions of illegal aliens who have illicitly found their way into the United States,” Trump wrote, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “They will be removed as fast as they come in.”
Those targeted are the ones who failed to appear at their hearings in immigration court and were issued orders of removal. While that may be the targeted group, anyone who is not in lawful status, or has a pending immigration court hearing is subject to an immigration arrest.
In order to help you understand your rights we are providing the below booklets to help you understand your rights.
Protect Yourself From Immigration Raids
Protejase De Las Redadas De Inmigracion
Know Your Rights: If ICE Visits Your Home
Know Your Rights: If ICE Stops You in Public
Know Your Rights: If ICE Comes to Your Work Place (Employee)