In The News

COVID-19 Chronicles – Immigration Options In These Times

Typically, in times of crisis and emergency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement reduces enforcement efforts, and USCIS issues temporary relief measures. Given the xenophobia of the current administration, we cannot rely on them to support our recommendations to allow for automatic extension of work permits, releasing persons from ICE detention, grant a moratorium on deportations, and other common sense proposals. Below, we discuss some options that may be available to...

A Message About Trump’s “Immigration Ban” Presidential Proclamation

On Monday night, President Trump tweeted that he was banning all immigration to the U.S. in response to the coronavirus and to protect American jobs.  Long story short, he doesn’t have the authority to do that under any statute except for Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which allows him to impose a temporary travel ban on some immigrants and non-immigrants.  After his ill-timed tweet, his advisors scrambled to prepare...

Can Trump Really Ban All Immigration to the United States?

TLDR version: No. Update: As expected, a “U.S. Department of Homeland Security official who requested anonymity said it would only apply to people applying for permanent residence from outside the United States, not those already in the country seeking to adjust their status.” Source: MSN President Trump sent immigration policy advocates, lawyers, and aspiring immigrants into a frenzy tonight with his hyperbolic tweet that he is looking into banning...

FAQs: Immigration-Related COVID-19

Due to the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we are facing a global pandemic and today’s national emergency announcement may have raised questions about the status of immigration processes and the status of your case. At Lal Legal, we are monitoring developments closely and updating clients as needed as to how this impacts their cases. More information on the novel coronavirus can be found here including how...

New Trump Travel Bans In Light of COVID-19 Are Short-Sighted and Reactionary

The United States has issued a new travel ban targeted at limiting travel from Europe in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, President Trump issued Proclamation 9984 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus and Other Appropriate Measures To Address This Risk), which limits travel from EU-specific countries. This follows on the heels of travel bans against all persons...

Trump Administration Expands Muslim Travel Ban

Today, the Trump administration added six more countries to the list of nations facing stringent travel restrictions. Nigeria, Myanmar (Burma), Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan are the new countries to face travel restrictions of varying degrees. The visa ban takes effect on February 21, 2020. There is no expiry date on the visa ban. All six countries have substantially large Muslim populations. These six countries join nationals from Iran, Libya,...

USCIS Sets Effective Date for Public Charge Rule: Feb 24, 2020

Please note that the public charge rule only applies to new applicants for family-based adjustment of status, employment-based cases, diversity visas and non-immigrant visas. If you or your case does not fall into these specific categories, the public charge rule does not apply to you. USCIS has officially announced that the the public charge rule goes into effect on February 24, 2020 except for in the State of Illinois where...

USCIS Accepting Green Card Applications Under LRIF Act Now

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is now accepting applications to adjust status to lawful permanent resident from certain Liberian nationals under Section 7611 of the National Defense Authorization Act (PDF) for Fiscal Year 2020, Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF), which was signed into law on Dec. 20, 2019. Section 7611 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF), allows Liberian nationals and their...

No Changes to TN Visas Under New NAFTA Agreement

The United States and Canada have agreed to a new NAFTA deal and left untouched TN (NAFTA) visas for Canadian and Mexican professionals working or aspiring to work in the United States. The TN nonimmigrant classification, authorized by NAFTA, permits qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to seek temporary entry into the United States for three years at a time to engage in business activities at a professional level. You...

We Released Four More Immigrant Detainees from Otay Mesa!

In a powerful showing of solidarity and community, Attorney Lal, Luis Mora, and RISE at Berkeley, worked together to post bond for clients of the ABA Immigration Justice Project of San Diego who were detained at the Otay Mesa Detention Center. The ABA Immigration Justice Project of San Diego had fought hard to win bonds in these cases but these individuals were detained due to their inability to pay bond. “I...