By: James Sellars The “Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement” (SAFE) Act is one of several bills that the House leadership has proposed as part of its incremental approach to immigration reform. The bill, introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-SC), was the subject of a contentious committee […]
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will welcome more than 18,000 new citizens during more than 180 naturalization ceremonies from Sept. 16 to Sept. 23 in honor of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. Museums, historic libraries, government landmarks and national park sites will provide the backdrop for this week-long celebration of citizenship and the achievements […]
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, Lexology published an article discussing the recent steps taken by federal agencies to align the Nation’s immigration policies with the recent Supreme Court ruling in U.S. v. Windsor. The article, written by Helen Pihlstrom, gave an in-depth analysis on the preliminary efforts taken by various governmental agencies to ensure […]
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 […]
In early June, the Justice Department’s settlement with a leading facility services company proved that the INA’s anti-discrimination provision prohibiting employers from discrimination against non-citizens is a necessary and enforceable doctrine. ISS Facility Services Company is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas and employs approximately 15,000 employees in the United States. Based on a referral from […]
The decision taken by U.S government of closing the22 embassies and consulates across the parts of Africa and Middle East, stretching towards south of Madagascar and as far as East as Oman, has been under scrutiny. Barbara Starr in her article in CNN has emphasized that the reason behind this decision was the blasts in […]
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 […]
By: Parand Kashani The Washington Post published an article last week discussing immigration reform and U.S. strength and security. The article, written by Robert Kagan, gave an in-depth analysis on the debate over immigration policies, and discussed the current Senate bill in light of these considerations. Kagan discussed how immigration debates can tell us a […]
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 […]
