U.S. Immigration News

The latest headlines in US immigration law

The field of US immigration law is constantly changing. Whether it's new US immigration regulations coming into effect, changes in procedural or substantive requirements at the US Embassy in London, or US immigration legal issues in the news, you can find a selection of US immigration news here.

December 2021

• Air travelers to U.S. set to face tougher COVID-19 testing. US travellers may be subject to stricter testing requirements due to concerns over the new coronavirus strain. Currently, US-bound travellers must present a negative test taken in the three days prior to travel but this may change to one day.

November 2021

• Covid travel: US reopens borders to fully vaccinated UK travellers. As of today, fully vaccinated UK citizens with valid ESTAs can set off for the United States!

September 2021

• US to lift Covid travel ban for vaccinated passengers from UK and most of EU. Travel ban ending! Not official news yet, but multiple media outlets report that the US will lift the Covid-19 travel ban for fully vaccinated travelers from November.

July 2021

• US May Soon Abolish Travel Restrictions With Europe. President Biden makes encouraging comments that US travel ban may be lifted for European travellers.

• First on CNN: Biden unveils unprecedented government-wide strategy to encourage US citizenship. CNN reports that the Biden administration is introducing an unprecedented effort to encourage eligible immigrants to apply for U.S. citizenship.

• AILA Policy Brief: Reopening America - How DOS Can Reduce Delays and Eliminate Backlogs and Inefficiencies to Create a Welcoming America. It is time for America to reopen its borders and for the U.S. Department of State to get back to business.

May 2021

• Why an Estimated 100,000 Americans Abroad Face Passport Problems. For American expats who had a baby abroad in the past year or saw their passport expire during the pandemic, elusive US Embassy appointments for documents are keeping them grounded abroad.

• ‘You can be kicked out any time’: US immigrants’ lives upended by Covid. As if losing your job was not tough enough, especially when not your fault, imagine also having to immediately leave the country as your job loss invalidates your visa. The Guardian reports that many foreign-born workers in the United States are facing precisely this situation amid the pandemic.

April 2021

• What Happened When the U.S. Government Tried to Make the Immigration System Digital. Slate reports on USCIS attempts to digitize the nation's immigration system, concluding "A common mistake people make when trying to improve or modernize something is believing that digital will always be better. But digitizing a broken paper process doesn't make it better. Sometimes it even makes it worse."

• U.S. Department of State: Consular Affairs. The U.S. Department of State provided FAQs on the immigrant visa backlog, including on what DOS is doing to reduce the backlog, reapplication procedures for individuals who were refused an immigrant visa due to Presidential Proclamations 9645 and 9983, K visas, diversity visas, employment visas, and more.

• Update on Presidential Proclamation 10052. Good news for certain US work visa applicants. Presidential Proclamation 10052, which temporarily suspended the entry of certain H-1B, H-2B, J and L visa holders expired on March 31, 2021.

January 2021

• Biden immigration proposal looks to roll back four years of Trump's hardline policies. On his first day in office, President Joe Biden unveiled immigration legislation that includes an eight-year pathway to citizenship for nearly 11 million immigrants living in the United States without legal status.

• Global Covid report: Biden camp rejects Trump changes to travel restrictions. Incoming US administration criticises move to remove entry bans as independent panel criticises WHO for not declaring emergency until 30 January.

• Trump’s Executive Orders on Immigration Could be Tough to Undo. President-elect Joe Biden’s efforts to reverse President Donald Trump’s immigration executive actions may not be as simple as issuing a contrary edict, as court rulings show that the government should consider both the scope of authority as well as underlying reasons for actions taken.

December 2020

• White House Considering Lift on European Travel Bans.

November 2020

• Trans women in Ice custody already suffered sexual harassment and abuse. Then came Covid-19. LGBTQ+ immigrants say officials have failed to address discrimination, and that an inadequate response to Covid is compounding their misery.

• After years of unrelenting attacks, many immigrants breathe a sigh of relief with Biden victory. For nearly four years, the Trump administration gradually, and swiftly, choked off immigration to the United States, making it exceedingly difficult for people to come to the country to study, work, and seek refuge.

• Factbox: Here are six things Joe Biden will likely do on immigration. When he enters the White House, Joe Biden will likely seek to reverse much of President Donald Trump’s immigration legacy and push ahead with his own agenda.

• Biden proposes task force to reunite migrant families on day one of presidency in new ad. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's campaign in a new ad on Thursday pledged to form a task force that would reunite migrant families separated during the Trump administration.

October 2020

• Immigrants rush to submit citizenship applications days before fee is set to soar. The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is among immigration advocates challenging the increase through a federal lawsuit.

September 2020

• High court loses leading advocate for equality, immigrants. Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death could swing the legal trajectory of issues she championed on the Supreme Court, including LGBTQ, gender and immigrants' rights.

• Vote from Abroad. Absentee Ballots for US Citizens Abroad.

• A nation of immigrants no more. Vox reports on how a second term could cement Donald Trump's vision of America with aggressive anti-immigration action taking center stage.

August 2020

• USCIS Averts Furlough of Nearly 70% of Workforce. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that the agency will avert an administrative furlough of more than 13,000 employees, scheduled to begin Aug. 30 as a result of unprecedented spending cuts and a steady increase in daily incoming revenue and receipts.

• AILA and Partners File Preliminary Injunction and Motion for Class Certification Against the 2020 Immigration Bans. AILA and partners filed a motion for a preliminary injunction and class certification, arguing that the April 22 and June 22, 2020, presidential proclamations were invalid, are causing irreparable and unjustifiable harm, and should be enjoined. (Gomez, et al., v. Trump, 7/31/20)

July 2020

• These officers used to terrorize immigrants. Now they go after US citizens. Long before US Customs and Border Protection agents targeted Portland moms, they stalked immigrant communities. This escalation is no surprise.

• The Trump Administration Just Furloughed 13,400 Immigration Workers. Approximately 13,400 employees of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services woke to find out they will be furloughed beginning in August, a move that will effectively bring the U.S. immigration system grinding to a halt.

• Judge orders State Department to issue passport to daughter of married same-sex couple. A federal judge this week ordered the State Department to recognize the birthright citizenship of a married same-sex couple's baby daughter who was born in Canada and grant her a US passport.

June 2020

• High-Skill Immigration Restrictions Expected Soon From Trump. Showing no sense of irony, the Trump administration is celebrating the expected launch of a SpaceX rocketship at the same time Trump officials plan to restrict H-1B visas, the same type of visa the founder of SpaceX, Elon Musk, used to begin working in the United States.

• Executive Order on Blocking Property Of Certain Persons Associated With The International Criminal Court. I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that the situation with respect to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its illegitimate assertions of jurisdiction over personnel of the United States and certain of its allies, including the ICC Prosecutor’s investigation into actions allegedly committed by United States military, intelligence, and other personnel in or relating to Afghanistan, threatens to subject current and former United States Government and allied officials to harassment, abuse, and possible arrest.

• Supreme Court blocks Trump from ending DACA in big win for Dreamers. Chief Justice John Roberts was the swing vote in the 5-4 decision, dealing a big legal defeat to President Trump on the issue of immigration.

May 2020

• Inside the campaign to cut immigration to the United States amid the coronavirus pandemic. In a late-night tweet last month, President Donald Trump teased a sweeping executive order that would suspend immigration to the United States due to the coronavirus pandemic, building up anticipation among allies who for years have urged Trump to reduce levels of immigration.

• Trump Introduces New Sponsorship Rules as Part of “Insidious Campaign” to Halt Immigration. Becoming a U.S. citizen has never been easy, but over the last three years, it has become increasingly difficult to navigate new rules and policies that seem to deliberately discourage people from naturalizing or becoming lawful permanent residents (LPRs).

• This Is What It’s Like To Have A Loved One In ICE Detention During A Pandemic. Three women describe trying to keep their families afloat as the coronavirus threatens their husbands behind bars.

April 2020

• Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the U.S. Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the COVID-19 Outbreak. The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has significantly disrupted the livelihoods of Americans. In Proclamation 9994 of March 13, 2020 (Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak), I declared that the COVID–19 outbreak in the United States constituted a national emergency, beginning March 1, 2020.

• Donald Trump announces plan to suspend immigration to US. President Trump said yesterday that he intended to sign an executive order temporarily suspending immigration to the United States in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

• AILA Files Lawsuit Against USCIS Seeking Maintenance of Status for Nonimmigrants, Extended Immigration Benefit Deadlines. In a follow-up to its March 23, 2020, letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) calling for the immediate suspension of immigration benefit deadlines and the maintenance of status for nonimmigrants in the U.S., the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has filed a complaint against USCIS in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of its members to seek these necessary measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

• It’s Time to Loosen Visa Restrictions and Allow U.S.-Based International Healthcare Professionals to Help Fight COVID-19. Can the coronavirus cure a broken immigration system? Can a pandemic change the anti-immigrant rhetoric that has been emanating from the White House for the last three years? It’s not likely to happen on a broad scale, of course. In fact, the scapegoating of immigrants may even get worse.

March 2020

• UK Travel Information following Coronavirus (COVID-19) Proclamation. Entry is suspended, per Presidential Proclamation, of non-LPR foreign nationals who were present in the People’s Republic of China, not including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the 26 countries that comprise the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or the Republic of Ireland within 14 days prior to their arrival at the port of entry in the United States.

• Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf’s Statement on Presidential Proclamation To Protect the Homeland from Travel-Related Coronavirus Spread. “Protecting the American people from threats to their safety is the most important job of the President of the United States. The actions President Trump is taking to deny entry to foreign nationals who have been in affected areas will keep Americans safe and save American lives. I applaud the president for making this tough but necessary decision. While these new travel restrictions will be disruptive to some travelers, this decisive action is needed to protect the American public from further exposure to the potentially deadly coronavirus." - Chad F. Wolf

February 2020

• DHS Issues Supplemental Instructions For Inbound Flights With Individuals Who Have Been In China. To protect the American people from exposure to the coronavirus, on Sunday, February 2, 2020, the Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf issued instructions supplementing a decision issued on January 31, 2020, and directed all flights from China and all passengers who have traveled to China within the last 14 days to be routed through one of eight U.S. airports, effective Sunday, February 2^nd, 2020, for flights departing after 5:00 PM Eastern.

• Customs and Border Protection Gains an Extra Layer of Secrecy. Under President Trump, US immigration authorities have pushed for extraordinary privileges and increased secrecy from the public.

January 2020

• Here are five USCIS changes that will impact legal immigrants in the U.S. in 2020. The U.S. immigration system saw many changes ordered by the Trump administration during 2019, including some that will take effect in 2020.The changes by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will have a significant impact on the lives of millions of immigrants living legally in the United States.

• Federal court in SF considers two Trump restrictions on immigration rules. A Trump administration lawyer asked a federal appeals court in San Francisco on Thursday to allow enforcement of a ban on U.S. entry for hundreds of thousands of legal immigrants who lack private health insurance. But two of the three judges expressed doubt that President Trump was acting within his legal authority.

• Trump asks Supreme Court to allow public charge rule to go into effect. The Trump administration on Monday asked the Supreme Court to lift a lower court order that is blocking the government's efforts to make it more difficult for immigrants who rely on public assistance to obtain legal status. The request comes after the administration in August unveiled its regulation broadening the definition of "public charge," a provision that dates back at least to the Immigration Act of 1882.

• Trump Says He'll Add 'A Few Countries' To Controversial U.S. Travel Ban. President Trump says he plans to widen a controversial travel ban that prohibits nearly all people from seven countries from traveling or immigrating to the U.S., calling it "a very powerful ban" that's necessary to ensure national security.

• Portion of US border wall in California falls over in high winds and lands on Mexican side. Newly installed panels from the US border wall fell over in high winds Wednesday, landing on trees on the Mexican side of the border. The area is part of an ongoing construction project to improve existing sections of the wall.

December 2019

• "USCIS has been denying H-1B petitions at a record rate: 24 percent of first-time H-1B applications were denied through the third quarter of 2019 fiscal year, compared with 6 percent in 2015. In the 2015 fiscal year, only 3 percent of H-1B transfers and extensions like Samir’s were denied. In 2019, 12 percent were. In total, about 50,000 people were denied H-1B visas in the past year." Trump Has Built a Wall of Bureaucracy to Keep Out the Very Immigrants He Says He Wants.

November 2019

• Class-action suit filed in Portland to bar President Trump from restricting visas for immigrants without health insurance. President Donald Trump gives remarks regarding his administration's health care policy at the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center.

• A timely op-ed. Veterans Day disgrace: Stop deporting immigrants who served, make them American citizens. In a country where we celebrate and honor those who heeded the call to serve in the military, most Americans would be shocked to learn that just south of the U.S.-Mexico border in Tijuana, Mexico, exists the Deported Veterans Support House, better known as “The Bunker.”

• Trump Plans Far-Reaching Set Of New Immigration Regulations. The Trump administration plans a far-reaching set of new immigration regulations that, if enacted, would profoundly affect employers, international students, H-1B and L-1 visa holders, EB-5 investors, asylum seekers and others.

October 2019

• How ICE Picks Its Targets in the Surveillance Age. The New York Times Magazine reports on ICE's quiet embrace of big data, profiling the agency's crackdown on undocumented immigrants in a Pacific Northwest community.

• Trump: No health insurance, no visa. The newest executive proclamation purports to deny immigrant visas to individuals without US health insurance which can be very difficult to obtain without a social security number. The American Immigration Lawyers Association has launched legal action against the administration.

August 2019

• Fed Up With Immigration Backlog, Lawyers Head to the Courts. The US immigration authorities taken to court over lengthy case processing delays.
• The U.S. Customs and Border Agency expand the use of facial recognition tech when entering the country.
• “This administration finally admitted what we’ve known all along: They think the Statue of Liberty only applies to white people,” tweeted former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, a Democratic presidential candidate.
• 13 states led by the attorneys general of Washington and Virginia filed alawsuit over the Trump administration's new "public charge" rule, due to take effect on 15 October. The changes would severely limit legal immigration by denying green cards to users of public services like food stamps and Medicaid.
• More US citizens than before are carrying their passport at all times due to fear of immigration detention. "I feel uncomfortable and I feel insecure because I have an accent," said Duran, a naturalized US citizen who was born in Mexico.
• Harvard Student is allegedly removed due to friends' social media political posts that he did not 'like' or otherwise interact with.

July 2019

• In a setback for the Trump Administration, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a citizenship question from being added to the 2020 census.
• Trump's Racist Tweets Came After He Faced Setbacks on Immigration Policy
• “Examples of potentially unlawful conduct include insults, taunting, or ethnic epithets, such as making fun of a person’s foreign accent or comments like, ‘Go back to where you came from", states the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• Due process concerns over Trump administration's plans to erect tents along the border that will be used as temporary courts where immigration judges will appear remotely and hold mass video proceedings for migrants seeking humanitarian protection

June 2019

• The contents of your phone could get you in trouble with US immigration. The firm's attorney Ioana Hyde is quoted in The Indepedent with advice on travelling to the USA.
• Know your rights: What to do if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) comes to your workplace, home, or stops you in public.

May 2019

• US Immigration authorities may be reading your social media. Brennan Center for Justice issued a report describing how DHS uses digital data in the name of national security.

April 2019

• Kirstjen Nielsen, the secretary of Homeland Security is leaving the administration
• When is an immigrant not an immigrant? When they’re rich
• Trump Officials Are Seeking To Double The Time Asylum-Seekers Must Wait To Legally Work

March 2019

• Infants as young as 5 months old are being detained by ICE, groups claim
• President Donald Trump’s administration is planning to close the U.S. immigration agency’s overseas locations

February 2019

• President Donald Trump will put pen to paper on the border-security deal in order to avoidanother partial government shutdown, CNN reports.
• AILA ANALYSIS REVEALS CRISIS-LEVEL DELAYS IN USCIS CASE PROCESSING

January 2019

• Government shutdown closes immigration courts adding to record-high 800,000 case backlog.
• The Lapse in Federal Funding Does Not Impact Most USCIS Operations
• Thousands of migrants are in legal limbo as shutdown forces multi-year court delays
• For the 7th Consecutive Year, Visa Overstays Exceeded Illegal Border Crossings
• Has Trump peddled bogus claims about the border because of a movie? Click here to read more!
• God Bless America, and Her Lawyers

November 2018

• Ending Birthright Citizenship Could Put All Americans’ Nationality in Jeopardy
• International Students Are Founding America's Great Startups
• A little girl from Honduras had to run from clouds of choking tear gas fired across the border by U.S. agents. Read more in the Washington Post article; "These children are barefoot. In diapers. Choking on tear gas."

October 2018

• F-1 “Cap-gap” Status and Work Authorization Extension Only Valid Through Sept. 30, 2018

August 2018

• ‘I want to die’: Was a 5-year-old drugged after being separated from his dad at the border?
• Citizenship service conspired with ICE to ‘trap’ immigrants at visa interviews, ACLU says
• Students and Exchange Visitors at Risk of Being Barred from U.S. Under New USCIS Policy

July 2018

• This July 4th,I look at the flag and see hope
• 1-Year-Old Baby Appears In Immigration Court, Cries Hysterically

June 2018

• Trump’s Crackdown on Students Who Overstay Visas Rattles Higher Education
• Matter of A-C-M-, Respondent | U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review Board of Immigration Appeals
• Sanders uses Bible to defend Trump's separation of children from families at border
• Separation at the border: children wait in cages at south Texas warehouse
• AILA: Expanding Family Detention Is Not the Answer to Cruel Family Separation Policy

May 2018

• USCIS to Recall Incorrectly Dated Green Cards
• Trump administration preparing to hold immigrant children on military bases
• Trump works to cut high-skilled visas in NAFTA deal
• WhatSeparating Migrant Families at the Border Actually Looks Like

April 2018

• US to require would-be immigrants to turn over social media handles
• What Are H-1B Visas, and Do They Hurt American Workers?
• Trump Administration Wants to Shut Door on Abused Women
• Trump'stravel ban faces U.S. Supreme Court showdown
• 9,000 Nepalis face deportation as Trump administration prepares to cancel residency permits
• Trump renews criticism of new US London embassy, calling area 'horrible... lousy'

March 2018

• Cuts to Skilled Immigration Degrade a U.S. Strength
• U.S. Immigration agency to more closely monitor caseworkers, documents show
• ‘Where’s Mommy?’: A family fled death threats, only to face separation at the border
• Sailor faces deployment and immigrant wife’s deportation
• Hope and Fear: How the Fortunes of Five L.A. Immigrants Have Changed Since Trump Took Office

February 2018

• CNN fact checks Trump's State of the Union speech
• Trump is expected to establish a new "National Vetting Center" for improved checks on travellers and immigrants to the USA
• US immigration law still discriminates against children of LGBT couples.
• USCIS will now accept payment via credit card for the 41 forms filed at USCIS lockbox facilities.
• USCIS issues final guidance regarding the signature requirement on immigration forms.
• Team USA would not be the same without Immigration
• Disappointment prevails as USCIS rewrites its mission statement and removes the phrase "a nation of immigrants."

January 2018

• Washington Journal Daniel Stein Ben Johnson Discuss Immigration Reform
• Travelling to the USA? After entry, you can now check the number of remaining days you can stay in the USA under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA)
• These Claims about 'Chain Migration' Are Not Accurate'
• Brought to the USA at age 10,Michigan father and husband is deported to Mexico.
• The Government Has Officially Shut Down
• The White House released its “framework on immigration reform and border security,” including reforms on border security, DACA legalization, and changes to family-based immigration.
• Trump's immigration proposal of sharp cuts to family immigration is being opposed by law markers in both parties.

November 2017

• Trump administration ends temporary protection for Haitians

October 2017

• Trump Administration didn't notify immigrants about an abrupt deadline to renew DACA

September 2017

• Plans to roll back the Dreamers policy brings a challenge California university system sues Trump over roll back of 'dreamers' program
• US Customs and Border Protection sued over electronic device searches at the US border.
• Becoming a US 'green card' holder is not as easy as 'getting in the queue'
• Your social media accounts may have an unexpected audience.

August 2017

• It seems the most vulnerable people are always being taken advantage of in the most terrible circumstances The Scammers Ripping Off Desperate Immigrants with Fake Legal Advice
• 4 countries have refused to perform deportations, what will the outcome be? US to sanction 4 countries for refusing deportations
• High skill visas are now much more difficult to obtain Scoring a High-Skill Visa Just Got a Little Bit Harder
• Trump's immigration plan could lead to 5 million lost jobs Slash Immigration, and GDP Is the Victim, Research Finds
• White supremacists are on the march and have left blood in there wake America is hooked on the drug of white supremacy. We're paying for that today
• There is currently a farmworker shortage in California due to the new immigration crackdown Fortune
• A new merrit based immigration policy Find Out If President Trump Would Let You Immigrate to America
• European Parliament has voted to end visa-free travel for Americans in EU The end visa-free travel for Americans
• Trump administration accused of pursuing policies that bring harm to immigrants and minority groups Trump, GOP senators introduce bill to slash legal immigration levels

July 2017

• Trump vs. Attorney General Sessions The standoff between Trump and Sessions escalates
• The Government now able to enforce restrictions and prohibion on people entering the U.S. Supreme Court allows Trump refugee ban but backs broader exemptions for relatives
• The end of legal immigration and the era of Trump Trump crafting plan to slash legal immigration
• An RV full of Lawyers tours rural America looking to save young immigrants from being deported FastCompany
• The 4th of July in London Timeout

June 2017

• Lawyers are prepared to defend travelers to the US at airports APNews
• Supreme Court has cleared the way for Trump to halt the entry of people into the U.S from countries he sees dangerous Supreme Court Takes Up Travel Ban Case, and Allows Parts to Go Ahead
• FAQ Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act Frequently Asked Questions
• ICE Director says undocumented immigrants should be worried ICE Director To All Undocumented Immigrants
• The appeals court stated that Trump had exceeded his authority and failed to offer adequate justifications for the travel ban Trump Loses Travel Ban Ruling in Appeals Court
• Trump and his relationship with the Twitter social media platform Trump's Twitter rant could undercut the legal case for his 'travel ban'
• Trump and London Maot Sadiq Khan feud escalates President Trump escalates feud

May 2017

• Will social media now be part of the visa vetting process? Trump administration approves tougher visa vetting
• ICE Agents sit down for a breakfast and detain restaurants employees Restaurant: ICE Agents Ate Breakfast Then Detained Employees
• The Department of Defense rule change stalls the path to citizenship Living in Limbo
• Federal agents are arresting over 400 immigrants daily Immigration arrests soar under Trump; sharpest spike seen for noncriminals
• An excellent piece from the New York Times arguing that 'To be great again, America needs immigrants'

April 2017

• US federal government shutdown possible over Mexico wall funding, according to the Washington Post.
• Green card redesign: 'Green cards' and Employment Authorisation Documents will change to add enhanced graphics and fraud-resistant security features.
• B visa holders who have started impermissibly studying in the USA are not eligible for a change of status to a student visa, according to a new USCIS memo.
• Trump to nominate new Head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• H-1B visa applications pour in by the truckload before the door is shut to this year's filings.

March 2017

• H-1B season is almost here, but a visa lottery is likely.
• Some visa applicants to undergo tougher checks as part of the visa application process under Trump administration.
• Troubling ICE arrests in sensitive locations such as schools and churches.
• New travel ban on electronics in carry-on luggage expected to be announced today, affecting passengers flying from the Middle East & North Africa.
• Trump vows to appeal court rulings striking down his second travel ban.
• Trump's new travel ban blocked by Hawaii federal judge.
• Undocumented spouses of US citizens are seeking 'green cards' in increasing numbers.
• The State of Hawaii sues Trump over the newest travel ban and seeks a temporary restraining order.
• Trump travel ban 2.0. What has changed?
• President Trump signals a drastic shift, saying he is open granting legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants.

February 2017

• Contrary to Trump's claims, immigrants make significant contributions to the USA..
• Immigration took centre stage at the 2017 Oscars.
• You might want to leave your electronics at home when travelling internationally, according to this article.
• The Trump administration's new immigration policy greatly expands the categories of people subject to deportation.
• US Supreme Court to decide three cases that will have an important impact on US immigration law.
• Leaked memo suggests that Trump planned to use the National Guard to round up immigrants.
• President Trump announces a new immigration Executive Order (EO) to "protect our country" next week during yesterday's news conference.
• Almost 700 people have been arrested during immigration raids.
• Federal Court of Appeals refuses to reinstate Trump's travel ban.
• Why immigrant doctors provide a valuable service to the American public

January 2017

• Trump fires US Attorney General after she questions the legality of the immigration ban.
• Trump's US Immigration ban for nationals of certain countries explained.
• Why targeting Muslims and refugees is un-American and will not make us safer.
• Trump's wall with Mexico will require Congressional approval for funding to be allocated, as explained by Washington Post.
• Senior US State Department staff members resign their positions.
• Trump signs two executive orders on immigration. Read all about them here.
• New U.S. Department of Homeland Security secretary announced.
• Canadians wanting to join the Washington DC Women's March were questioned whether they were pro-Trump or anti-Trump, then turned away at the US border.
• Saying goodbye to President Obama. He will be sorely missed by the immigration community.
• What happens to people who are deported from the USA? Some, like these men from El Salvador, start working in call centres supporting American businesses.
• Have a read through one of the most celebrated speeches of all times, Dr Martin Luther King's speech, in celebration of MLK Day.
• The Bush sisters write touching open letter to President Obama's daughters.
• U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry apologises over past discrimination against LGBT visa applicants and employees.
• Meryl Streep stands up for immigrant rights, saying "Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners, and if you kick us all out, you'll have nothing to watch except for football and mixed martial arts, which are not arts."
• Trump may find it more difficult than expected to bring his US immigration pledges into fruition.
• Georgia court rules that DACA immigrants should be charged the lower in-state tuition fees.

December 2016

• US Department of Homeland Security to be led under Trump by general who believes Latin America poses an 'existential' threat to the USA.
• Beyond the immense personal impact, mass deportation would spell trouble for the housing market, reports the New York Times.
• Losing experienced court interpreters affects immigrants the most, as reported by the Huffington Post.
• It seems unbelievable but a fake U.S. Embassy that had been operating for 10 years in Ghana has finally been shut down. Read the full story here.
• Senators are trying to protect so called 'Dreamers' - undocumented individuals brought to the US as children currently protected under President Obama's DACA programme., reports the Guardian.

November 2016

• Can immigrants facing deportation be detained for months or even years? The US Supreme Court to hear arguments in a case that could impact the Trump administration's plans. Read the full article here.
• "This isn’t about Indians and Mexicans, but about the documented and undocumented, and the gulf of privilege that lies between them." The New York Times shines the spotlight on a difficult subject in the article titled 'The privileged immigrant'.
• Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the American Immigration Law Office! Here's a listing of London restaurants where you too can celebrate the holiday.
• The man who wants to head the Department of Homeland Security under Trump accidentally exposes immigration plan.
• 'Sanctuary cities' like Seattle and New York pledge to protect immigrants from Trump's policies, reports the Washington Post.
• "How will Trump's presidency affect my US visa?" is a question we are often asked these days. While nobody knows what measures will be implemented, here is what we do know.
• What the field of immigration may look like under Trump, according to the American Immigration Council.
• What does a Trump presidency mean for US immigrants? Another article weighs in on this important topic.
• Election day is here, but what are the possible outcomes? The Guardian lays out some possibilities.
• Musicians such as Keith Richards, Sting and Bruce Springsteen participate in the "We are not afraid" pro-refugee campaign.
• Yogurt company Chobani, and its Turkish immigrant founder, draw threats after supporting refugees to the USA. Read the full article here.
• Happy Halloween! Here is how the White House celebrated last evening.

October 2016

• USCIS immigration filing fees to increase in December 2016. More information is available here.
• We often publish witty observations Brits make about the USA, and vice versa. This time, an American woman notes all the things she believes the UK does better.
• All 6 Americans awarded Nobel prizes in 2016 are immigrants to the USA.
• Some immigrants to the USA are naturalizing as US citizens to vote in the upcoming presidential election.
• Theresa May has hinted that the UK may adopt a US-style immigration system. Here is what it may look like.
• Louisiana requires a birth certificate before getting married and immigrants whose birth certificates are unobtainable are being affected. Read more here.
• Did you miss the second US Presidential Debate? Watch it here!
• US authorities confirm no immigration enforcement action will be taken in evacuations and sheltering relating to Hurricane Matthew.
• What did Ellis Island immigrants look like in the early 1900s? A collection of photographs brings this fascinating world to life..

September 2016

• The first US presidential debate took place last night; here are the highlights.
• This light hearted piece by an American woman living in London will highlight the things US citizens find peculiar about the UK.
• London mayor Sadiq Khan joins the mayors of New York and Paris in authoring a New York Times letter in support of refugees ahead of the UN General Assembly gathering.
• Should US immigration policy be more like Canada's? Read more here.
• Alert: If you get a call from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, beware! It might be a scam.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection proposes ESTA changes, to include using information collected from publicly available sources such as social media. The full proposal is available here.

August 2016

• Can you name the American equivalent of these British words? Test your knowledge here.
• Beware of individuals contacting you to collect USCIS fees by phone or email -- it's a scam.
• Bernie Sanders asks the Department of Homeland Security to end privately operated immigration detention centres.
• A fascinating read about high skilled immigration to the USA.
• The BBC investigates the difficulty of passing the US citizenship test. Read the article here.
• Small towns from across the USA welcome refugees amidst concerns of population decline, according to PBS.
• Melania Trump responds to allegations and denies having broken US immigration laws.
• On August 4th, President Obama celebrated his last birthday as president of the USA. Read "the 44th at 55".
• What happens in immigration courtrooms located within prisons? The answer is sometimes troubling.
• Immigrants with STEM degrees (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) keep US companies competitive, say Microsoft and Facebook, according to a new article.

July 2016

• Michelle Obama gives inspiring speech at the Democratic National Convention. Here are the highlights.
• President Obama meets Prince George, as captured in this lovely photo.
• Studies show that immigrants boost the US economy. Here's why.
• The US Supreme Court to hear detention of non-citizens challenge.
• U.S. Border control officials will no longer serve as translators, according to new policy.
• Happy Fourth of July! Read some interesting facts about America's birthday here.

June 2016

• Is your parent a US citizen (and you are not)? The US Supreme Court is set to examine the different requirements under current US immigration law when a child born outside the USA obtains US citizenship through a mother versus a father.
• New report concludes that immigrants make a country stronger by complementing the native workforce.
• Celebrate the Fourth of July in London at the annual American Independence Day Picnic.
• President Obama urges calmness after Brexit referendum.
• We are saddened by reports of recent verbal abuse against immigrants. Together, we can join Amnesty International in standing up racism and xenophobia.
• Your social media posts may have a wider audience than you think. Now US Customs want to ask for your online presence before you enter the country.
• The US Supreme Court issues a disappointing 4-4 decision upholding the DACA/ DAPA injunction.
• Orange is the New Black actress Diane Guerrero talks about the hardship US citizen children face when their parents are deported, as hers were when she was only 14.
• CBP imposes further restrictions for Visa Waiver Program/ ESTA travellers.
• Victims of the Orlando tragedy who are undocumented immigrants face additional challenges following the shooting.
• Our thoughts are with the people of Orlando at this tragic time as the US Embassy in London displays the LGBT flag.
• Donald Trump blames Orlando tragedy on immigration.
• Hilary Clinton marks the historic moment of becoming the first woman to win the presidential nomination for a major political party.
• June is Immigrant Heritage Month and more than 50 celebrities, such as Margaret Cho, have joined the campaign at http://www.iamanimmigrant.net/.
• 'Emma', the USCIS virtual assistant, can now answer questions in English and Spanish.

May 2016

• Increased immigration raids follow Homeland Security's new hotline for reporting suspected US immigration violations.
• While immigration law is the same across the USA, this article argues that Atlanta is one of the riskiest places to be an undocumented immigrant.
• Transgender individuals will be housed in new US immigration detention facility, though controversy continues surrounding the project.
• USCIS faces legal action over alleged unlawful delays of US citizenship applications filed by Muslims.
• US immigration fees might be going up! Read the proposed USCIS rule here.
• HIV+ immigrants to the USA face lengthy delays in the immigrant visa process. Read about those struggles here.
• London's new mayor weighs in on the U.S. Presidential race.
• More than 79 million people immigrated to the USA from 1820 to 2013. Watch this fascinating map that illustrates countries of origin.
• Are you a Brit travelling to the USA? Metro highlights the danger in not having the required e-Passport.
• Even if marijuana is legal in some US states, it is still illegal under federal US law and can land immigrants in great trouble. Read more about this troubling issue here.
• The bitter-sweet day when an immigration detention facility in Texas opens a day care centre.

April 2016

• The broad differences between British and American English explained here.
• President Obama warns that leaving the European Union could hurt the UK, according to BBC News.
• Happy Birthday to the UK's longest reigning monarch! See 90 years of the Queen's life in 90 seconds.
• Immigrants to the USA discuss what caused culture shock for them after relocating to the US.
• The 'American foods' section in a British supermarket is dividing public opinion.
• Some 'green cards' are being sent to the wrong address, despite address changes, according to the Washington Post.
• Recent changes to the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) are creating implementation challenges.
• Some children are denied compulsory education due to undocumented US immigration status, according to the Seattle Times.
• The European Union may require US travellers to get a visa unless additional EU countries are allowed to travel to the USA visa-free under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA).
• No more H-1B work visas for 2017, according to a USCIS news release published on 7 April 2016;
• You must now have an e-Passport with an electronic chip to travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA).
• 21 people were charged in an immigration visa scam after the FBI created a fake university online.
• President Obama's immigration actions may be in danger if the U.S. Supreme Court splits 4-4 on the matter due to be heard on 18 April 2016. Read the full article here.

March 2016

• If Donald Trump's vision of a US-Mexico border comes to life, families divided between the two countries will be impacted in no small measure, argues The Guardian.
• More than half of start-ups worth $1 billion or more were started by immigrants to the USA, resulting in invaluable contributions to the US economy, according to NBC News.
• As Brits and Europeans can holiday in Cuba, the significance of President Obama's visit with Raul Casto can be less than obvious. But bear in mind that a serving US President has not visited Cuba since 1928. See the full video here.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection publishes Frequently Asked Questions about the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) in light of the recent changes.
• Foreign students studying science, technology, engineering or maths in the USA can now have up to 2 years' training following graduation. Read more here.
• The terrible hardship of growing up without a mother after she is deported from the USA. Read her full story here.
• US citizens cannot be deported from the USA under the law, yet many have mistakenly suffered exactly this fate, according to Vice News.
• A date has been set for the Supreme Court's hearing on President Obama's executive action on immigration: 18 April 2016.
• Which passports are best for easy travel to as many countries as possible? Read the world passport ranking, from best to worst.
• USCIS releases the 2016 poverty guidelines which dictate the income an Affidavit of Support sponsor must show before their relative can immigrate to the USA.
• Are you a US citizen in the UK? Here's your chance to vote in London in the US Democratic nomination race

February 2016

• British citizen frequently travelling to the USA? You can now enrol in Global Entry and get into the US quicker!
• Do US authorities know when someone has left the USA? According to this new report, that is increasingly the case.
• Visa Waiver Program/ ESTA Updates: New countries have been added to the disqualification list. Travellers to Libya, Somalia, or Yemen after March 2011 can also no longer use the VWP. Read this DHS announcement.
• U.S. Supreme Court Justice Scalia unexpectedly passed away over the weekend. This NPR article explains what happens next.
• Happy Valentine's Day on 14 February 2016! While on the topic of love, have you ever wondered who decides whether a UK fiancee or UK spouse can immigrate to the USA? Read this fascinating Independent article about the US Embassy in London.
• Your Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) questions, including updates on the Terrorist Travel Prevention Act, are answered by US Customs and Border Protection in this updated FAQ.

January 2016

• The USA is concerned about the allegedly high number of forged British passports, endangering visa free travel for UK citizens, according to this Times article.
• The US Embassy in London has just launched a new website on 27 January 2016. Have a look at the new layout here.
• If you are a US citizen in the UK, you may wish to act now.US State Department advises US citizens to renew their passports now if they are expiring soon.
• A look at the fun side of the East Coast blizzard, courtesy of two youngster residents.
• BREAKING NEWS for the Visa Waiver Program: No more visa free travel for dual nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria, or those who have travelled to one of those countries on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for military/ diplomatic travel). Read the full details on the US Department of State website.
• If you are a Brit who has lived in the USA, does this ring true? Read 33 things that all Brits who have lived in America can relate to.
• The US Supreme Court is set to hear a challenge to the Obama immigration actions.
• Changes in immigration enforcement spark a climate of fear, the NPR reports.
• Former Clinton-era immigration official discusses US immigration changes under the Obama administration. How has Obama changed US immigration policy?
• Bad news for US citizens who have outstanding tax bills- your passport can be revoked under new powers conferred to the IRS.
• Struggling to get back into work mode after the Winter holidays? Why not plan your next US trip instead? Here is some inspiration.

December 2015

• Humans of New York is sharing refugees' touching stories. The reason? "There is so much fear in the world right now. And politicians know that they must win the votes of frightened people." Read refugees' real stories on the HONY website.
• Donald Trump's immigration proposals are likely unconstitutional, say legal experts.
• British citizens who have travelled to Iraq, Syria, Iran and the Sudan in the last 5 years may no longer be able to travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) after the House passes a bill overhauling the eligibility criteria.

November 2015

• Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg-backed group FWD is renewing immigration reform efforts ahead of the 2016 election, according to this Politico article.
• Ever ordered 'chips' while visiting the United States only to be served crisps? If travelling to the USA, this handy UK- US 'translation' guide may prove useful.
• The Visa Waiver Program (ESTA application) sees enhanced security measures in light of recent concerns.
• Big changes are coming in for US citizens who frequently travel internationally as the U.S. Department of State announces it will stop issuing new pages for existing passports that have run out of space.
• Wouldn't it be nice if you could fill out US immigration forms online and submit them digitally? So far, plans to make this a reality have not gone terribly well. Read this Washington Post article for further details.
• Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg weighs in on immigration, calling plans to deport all undocumented immigrants 'absurd'.

October 2015

• What do tattoos have to do with US immigration? Read this article to find out.
• There's still time to apply for the green card lottery, but be careful out there. Unfortunately, the Diversity Visa Lottery attracts many fraudsters, as detailed in this Irish Times article.
• Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton pledges support for comprehensive immigration reform.
• The plight of Syrian refugees is documented by Humans of New York photographer Brandon Stanton in an astounding collection of photos and interviews.
• Congress reauthorises key immigration programs in the nick of time.
• Online registration for the Diversity Visa Lottery (DV 2017 Programme) is available from 1 October 2015 until 3 November 2015 at noon EST.

September 2015

• A new study by the Pew Research Center shows how US immigration legal changes in 1965 impacted immigration to the USA and how those immigrants have in turn shaped the United States as a nation.
• What are the Republican presidential candidates saying about US immigration? Read a summary here.
• With the refugee crisis taking centre stage, US presidential candidates were asked their views on refugee policy in the USA. Read the Guardian article for full details.
• Here's why keeping birthright citizenship in the USA is important - the Huffington Post investigates what happens in other countries that have done away with it.
• Good news for those obtaining immigrant visas at the US Embassy in London or other US Embassies abroad. USCIS has simplified the online immigrant fee payment, according to a recent USCIS alert. The immigrant visa fee can be paid here.

August 2015

• Adding more countries to the Visa Waiver Program so their citizens can travel to the USA visa-free is gathering political support. Read the full article here.
• Donald Trump has announced his US immigration plan. It's a bit, shall we say, unconventional.
• US immigration is at the forefront of the presidential debate, with immigration being the fourth most searched for GOP issue. Read what the Republican candidates said on this important topic during their first televised debate.
• If you travel to the USA on the Visa Waiver Program (after obtaining ESTA authorisation), you may want to read this New York Times article describing possible toughening of travel requirements.
• If you are not familiar with it, Humans of New York is an excellent photoblog featuring street photos and interviews. Generally collected in New York, its author also takes trips around the world gathering stories. This time, he's in Pakistan finding out about the unique challenges of being an international student in the USA. Read more here.

July 2015

• Although some politicians have unfortunately claimed that immigrants bring crime to the USA, an authoritative study by the American Immigration Council clearly shows otherwise.
• The US educates a large number of foreign-born STEM graduates (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) who are desperately needed by businesses due to insufficient US-born STEM graduates.. Yet, despite employer and employee willingness, the USA will lose foreign talent and revenue absent immigration reform, argues The Hill.
• The US Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right. Read the full opinion or a variety of interesting articles concerning the case on the Supreme Court blog.

June 2015

• The US Department of State is experiencing technical difficulties affecting all visa applicants who submitted the DS-160/ DS-260 on or after 9 June 2015. The difficulties are affecting visa adjudication and visa printing capabilities. UPDATE: On 25 June 2015, DOS announced that 39 US Embassies have now been reconnected and that it is actively working to connect the remainder US Embassies this week.
• Heads are rolling after undercover agents were able to smuggle mock explosives and weapons through US airport security checkpoints, starting with the Transportation Security Administration leader who was reassigned to a different post.
• For immigrants outside of major US cities, life can be surprisingly lonely, argues The Atlantic in a thought-provoking article entitled "A lonely life for immigrants in America's Rust Belt."
• According to a recent Business Insider article, ex-pats are sometimes misunderstood by their friends and family 'back home' who may ask questions that are best avoided. If you are an ex-pat living in the UK, do some of these questions ring true?

May 2015

• US immigration reform plans hit another roadblock after appeals court rules against President Obama. The president's administration sought a ruling allowing immigration reforms to be implemented while litigation regaring those actions plays out; sadly, the court ruled otherwise. Read more here.
• Are immigrants particularly attracted to countries with British politcal heritage? This New York Times article argues so, indicating that immigrants are attracted to the open exchange of ideas, freedom of moment, and educational opportunities.
• Some H-4 visa holders now have the right to work in the USA. USCIS released a new FAQ explaining eligibility, the application process, and much more. As of 26 May 2015, USCIS has been accepting employment authorisation applications from eligible H-4 visa holders.
• Do you ever get nervous approaching Passport Control? If so, you are not alone. Though not US-specific, this New York Times editorial entitled "A very suspicious traveler" lays bare the problem.
• Hillary Clinton expressed her support for US immigration reform during her first campaign stop in Nevada.
• A newly released working paper argues that each immigrant to the USA helps create approximately 1.2 jobs which primarily benefit US citizens.

April 2015

• The New York Times publishes a facinating op-ed urging us to think of undocumented immigrants to the USA as parents, not problems. According to the article, "at least one of every 15 children living in the United States has an unauthorized parent, and nearly all of those children are native-born United States citizens." On a related topic, another article explores the heart-breaking story of teens growing up in the USA without their parents after the parents were deported.
• President Obama is in the Florida Everglades on Wednesday 22 April 2015 to celebrate Earth Day and speak about climate change.
• The White House Task Force on New Americans, the federal entity officially entrusted with developing better strategies for integrating immigrants to the USA, has released its first set of recommendations.
• A record number of H-1B specialty occupation visa applications were filed this year: 233,000 to be precise. Compare this to just over 170,000 last year and almost half (124,000) two years ago.
• United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has now reached the H-1B cap for Fiscal Year 2016, according to this News Release. USCIS will be holding a lottery to randomly select the petitions that will be given further consideration.
• A new version of Form I-407, Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status, is now available. The old version of the form will no longer be accepted by US immigration authorities.

March 2015

• United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) warms the public to beware of unqualified US immigration assistance in the US pre-tax season. US taxes are due on 15 April and some unscrupulous tax prepararers offer to also prepare US immigration forms, which they are unqualified to do. Please remember that only US licensed lawyers and accredited representatives can legally provide you with US immigration advice and assistance.
• A new 12,400 mile motorway from the UK to the USA (via Russia) is apparently being proposed. But would you want to drive that distance?
• The New York Times published a thought-provoking article entitled "Debunking the Myth of the Job-Stealing Immigrant". A brief snippet from the article reads, "Immigrants don’t just increase the supply of labor, though; they simultaneously increase demand for it."
• Breaking News Alert! US Embassies and Cosulates around the world and the National Visa Center (NVC) are currently experiencing technical difficulties, according to the US Department of State.
• L-1B Intra-Company Transferree Visa Applications are being denied at a higher rate by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), according to a recent National Foundation for America study. USA Today sumarises the findings here.
• Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson pens an open letter in the Washington Post in support of President Obama's US immigration reform proposals.