MS-13 Gang Member Who Confessed to 5 Murders Arrested Just Weeks Before Spanberger Ended ICE Cooperation

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) assisted in the arrest of Edwin Antonio Hernandez Hernandez, a self-admitted MS-13 gang member and confessed murderer, in Virginia after identifying his criminal history during the review of his asylum and work authorization applications. USCIS coordinated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which arrested Hernandez at a USCIS appointment in Alexandria roughly two and a half weeks before newly inaugurated Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger ended the state’s mandatory cooperation with ICE through an executive order. Hernandez, a Salvadoran national, entered the United States illegally in 2015 as an unaccompanied minor and was ordered removed in 2017. While in U.S. custody, he admitted to MS-13 membership and confessed to killing five people in El Salvador through violent acts including torture and dismemberment. Despite this record and a standing removal order, he later applied for asylum and received work authorization, remaining in the country after an immigration judge ruled he required protection from torture if returned to El Salvador. Department of Homeland Security officials criticized both this decision and Governor Spanberger’s executive order, arguing that limiting cooperation with ICE undermines public safety.

For more information contact Las Vegas Immigration Attorney Darren Heyman. 

Homeland Security Terminates Somalia’s Temporary Protected Status Designation

 The Secretary of Homeland Security announced the termination of Somalia’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS), effective March 17, 2026. The Department concluded, after the required interagency review, that conditions in Somalia have improved and no longer meet the statutory requirements for TPS. The Secretary also stated that continuing TPS for Somali nationals is no longer consistent with U.S. national interests. Somalia’s current TPS designation will therefore expire on March 17, 2026, with no extension. Somali nationals who hold TPS but lack another lawful immigration status will be required to depart the United States by the effective date. DHS encourages affected individuals to use U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s CBP Home mobile app to self-report their departure. The program offers a structured departure process that includes a complimentary plane ticket, a $1,000 exit incentive, and the possibility of future lawful immigration opportunities.

Contact Darren Heyman, Las Vegas Immigration Attorney, for more
information. 

DHS Reduces Wait Times for Thousands of Religious Workers Abroad

The Department of Homeland Security issued an interim final rule allowing R-1 religious workers—such as priests, nuns, pastors, and rabbis—to return to the United States without being subject to the prior one-year foreign residency requirement after reaching the five-year maximum stay. While these workers must still depart the U.S. at the end of their authorized period, the rule removes any minimum time they must remain abroad before seeking readmission, significantly reducing disruptions to religious organizations and the communities they serve. DHS framed the change as part of its commitment to protecting religious freedom and ensuring continuity of essential faith-based services. The rule aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order establishing the White House Faith Office and responds to prolonged backlogs in the EB-4 immigrant visa category, which have worsened since 2023 and forced many religious workers to exhaust their R-1 status. By eliminating the one-year waiting period, USCIS aims to reduce clergy shortages caused by visa delays and provide greater stability for religious institutions. The rule is effective immediately, with DHS accepting public comments for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.

Contact Darren Heyman, Las Vegas Immigration Attorney, for more information. 

USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Fees

 

Release Date

01/09/2026

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is publishing a final rule that will increase USCIS fees for premium processing to reflect the amount of inflation from June 2023 through June 2025.

The USCIS Stabilization Act established the authority for DHS to adjust premium processing fees every two years to account for inflation. Fees will continue to be adjusted agencywide to account for inflation and protect the real dollar value of the premium processing service we provide. The revenue generated by this fee increase will be used to provide premium processing services; make improvements to adjudication processes; respond to adjudication demands, including processing backlogs; and otherwise fund USCIS adjudication and naturalization services.

Read more at https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-to-increase-premium-processing-fees

Contact Las Vegas Immigration Attorney, Darren Heyman, for more information. 

9

January

USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Fees

By Kateryna Heyman

USCIS Clarifies Guidance for EB-1 Eligibility Criteria

 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in our Policy Manual to clarify the types of evidence that we may evaluate to determine eligibility for extraordinary ability (E11) and outstanding professor or researcher (E12) EB-1 immigrant visa classifications.

The update adds clarifying guidance describing examples of evidence that may satisfy the relevant evidentiary criteria or qualify as comparable evidence, as well as considerations for evaluating such evidence, with a focus on science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields.

Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-clarifies-guidance-for-eb-1-eligibility-criteria .

Please, contact Darren Heyman, a Las Vegas Immigration Attorney, for more information.

USCIS Announces Further Updates to Policy Manual Regarding Interpretation of Child Status Protection Act Provisions

 On Aug. 24, 2023, USCIS announced further updates to Chapter 7 of the Policy Manual, made with the goal to expand the number of children who may be able to secure CSPA eligibility for permanent residence as dependents of their parents.

 Read more at: https://www.natlawreview.com/article/uscis-announces-further-updates-to-policy-manual-regarding-interpretation-child

 

Please, contact Darren Heyman, a Las Vegas Immigration Attorney, for more information.

Secretary Mayorkas Extends and Redesignates Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine

Ukraine TPS

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine for 18 months, from October 20, 2023, through April 19, 2025, due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Ukraine that prevent individuals from safely returning. In addition, DHS announced a redesignation of TPS for Ukraine for the same reason, allowing Ukrainian nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Ukraine) residing in the United States as of August 16, 2023, to be eligible for TPS.Read more at https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/customs-immigration/secretary-mayorkas-extends-and-redesignates-temporary-protected-status-for-ukraine/

 

Please, contact Darren Heyman, a Las Vegas Immigration Attorney, for more information.