With the enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), Congress introduced a permanent bar to visas, lawful permanent resident status, and naturalization for all noncitizens who make false claims to U.S. citizenship for the purposes of receiving immigration benefits. In the years since its enactment, the academic and legal […]
H.R. 15 October 24, 2013 Immigration reform is one of the most prominent discussions throughout the United States. Advocates are calling for a comprehensive plan that lays out a viable pathway towards citizenship for the roughly 11 million undocumented individuals that currently reside in the United States. One of the central issues for policy makers […]
By: Samantha Howland *Legal Assistant at BOILA PC From September 15, 2013 to October 15, 2013, the District of Colombia, along with the rest of the United States celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. This month is a time to celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions and heritages of Hispanics and Latinos in the United States. It is […]
By: Danielle Beach-Oswald The current U.S. government shutdown is having adverse impacts on the immigration process for both immigrants in the U.S. and U.S. citizens. A brief discussion of how the immigration process is being impacted is detailed below. Due to the fact that the fact that the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) is […]
By: James Sellars JD/MA Candidate, American University In a 2010 agency-wide memo describing the Obama Administration’s approach to immigration enforcement, former ICE director John Morton stated that “the removal of aliens who pose a danger to national security or a risk to public safety shall be ICE’s highest immigration enforcement priority.” Despite the Obama administration’s […]
An esteemed immigration law professor at the American University Washington College of Law begins every semester by having his students sing a parody about Congress’ plenary power over immigration to the tune of “Let it Be” by the Beatles. The song effectively grapples with questions regarding the constitutionality of the doctrine and although the exercise […]
On Sept. 30, 2013, authorization for the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for Iraqi nationals who worked for or on behalf of the United States government will expire. The program was created by Section 1244 of Public Law 110-181, as amended by Public Law 110-242. It covers Iraqi nationals who—during the period between March 20, […]
By James Sellars Earlier this month, a U.S. District Court in Connecticut approved a settlement in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit which challenged Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) refusal to release thousands of documents regarding the operation of its Criminal Alien Program (CAP). In an effort to better understand the daily workings of […]
Statement from Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano: “After last week’s decision by the Supreme Court holding that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional, President Obama directed federal departments to ensure the decision and its implication for federal benefits for same-sex legally married couples are implemented swiftly and smoothly. To […]
The most significant white I-94 card stapled to the visa of passports for nonimmigrant foreign nationals in land and seaports around the United States is a familiar image to many travelers. This form is used to prove admission to the United States and determines the length of time one many stay. The United States Customs […]
