Connecticut Woman Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Citizenship After Committing Torture and War Crimes in Bosnia

 

A Bosnian-born naturalized U.S. citizen, Nada Radovan Tomanic, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to unlawfully obtaining U.S. citizenship through fraud. Authorities found that Tomanic concealed her involvement in serious human rights abuses during the 1990s Bosnian conflict, where she served in a military unit that participated in the torture and mistreatment of civilian prisoners. Despite being legally required to disclose such conduct, she falsely denied any role in detention activities or prior criminal acts in both her written naturalization application and her sworn USCIS interview. The case was investigated by the FBI with support from multiple U.S. and international agencies, including USCIS and foreign authorities. Prosecutors emphasized that Tomanic’s repeated false statements allowed her to secure citizenship under false pretenses, ultimately leading to her conviction for procuring citizenship contrary to law.

Contact Darren Heyman, Las Vegas immigration attorney , for more information. 

Serial Immigration Fraudster Working as a Minnesota Corrections Officer Arrested

 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), through Operation Twin Shield, helped identify and arrest Morris Brown, a 45-year-old Liberian national living in Minnesota without legal status. Brown entered the United States in 2014 on a student visa that was terminated in 2015 after he failed to maintain full-time enrollment. Despite losing legal status, he remained in the country, joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, later went AWOL, and was discharged under other than honorable conditions in 2022. He was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Jan. 15 for overstaying his visa and making false claims to U.S. citizenship. Authorities allege that Brown repeatedly committed immigration fraud, including misrepresenting his military service and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship in applications for a Green Card under the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness program and later for naturalization. Investigators also uncovered evidence of marriage fraud and determined that he had been working as a Minnesota corrections officer by falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. His case has been referred for removal proceedings and potential criminal prosecution related to immigration fraud and false statements.

Contact Darren Heyman, Las Vegas immigration attorney , for more information. 

DHS Terminates Temporary Protected Status for Yemen

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemen, effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Yemen was first designated for TPS on September 3, 2015, due to ongoing armed conflict that posed serious safety threats to returning nationals. The designation was extended or redesignated multiple times in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024. After reviewing current conditions and consulting with other U.S. agencies, Secretary Noem determined that Yemen no longer meets the statutory requirements for TPS and stated that continuing the designation would be contrary to U.S. national interests. Yemeni nationals who do not have another lawful basis to remain in the United States must depart within 60 days of the termination’s effective date. The Department of Homeland Security is encouraging voluntary departure through the CBP Home app, which offers incentives including a complimentary plane ticket, a $2,600 exit bonus, and possible future immigration opportunities. After the termination takes effect, DHS may arrest and remove Yemeni nationals without legal status, and those who are formally removed may face permanent bars to reentry.

For more information, contact Las Vegas Immigration Attorney Darren Heyman.

USCIS Assists in Marriage Fraud Conspiracy Investigation Resulting in 11 Indictments

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services assisted in an investigation that led to a three-count federal indictment against 11 individuals accused of participating in marriage fraud and bribery conspiracies. According to the indictment, the group allegedly recruited U.S. citizens—preferably members of the armed forces—to enter into sham marriages with Chinese nationals seeking to bypass immigration laws and obtain lawful permanent resident status. The fraudulent marriages occurred in several states, including Florida, New York, Connecticut, and Nevada. To make the unions appear legitimate, the conspirators staged photographs and followed a payment structure in which U.S. citizen spouses were paid upfront, again upon approval of immigration benefits, and a final amount after divorce. Two defendants are additionally charged in connection with a sham marriage in Jacksonville in August 2024, and three individuals are accused of conspiring to bribe a public official. In related cases, four former U.S. Navy servicemembers have pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the FBI, and USCIS, and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. As with all indictments, the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Please contact Las Vegas immigration attorney Darren Heyman for more information. 

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.

US restricts visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders because of security concerns

 

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The United States imposed new travel restrictions on citizens of Hungary on Tuesday over concerns that the identities of nearly 1 million foreigners granted Hungarian passports over nine years weren't sufficiently verified, according to the U.S. Embassy and a government official. Read more at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-restricts-visa-free-travel-for-hungarian-passport-holders-because-of-security-concerns/ar-AA1eCvoF

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

September 2023 Visa Bulletin Updates

 

The U.S. Department of State (DOS)’s September Visa Bulletin, the last visa bulletin of fiscal year 2023, saw small movement for the EB-2 Final Action Date, except India and China, while all other employment-based Final Action Dates remain unchanged from last month. All dates listed below are based on the Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference cases. Applicants must have a priority date that is earlier than the final action date listed for their preference category and country to be eligible to file an employment-based adjustment of status application. Read more at https://www.natlawreview.com/article/september-2023-visa-bulletin-updates

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

Policy Update: Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF)

 USCIS has expanded its guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual about Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) to clarify steps applicants must take if they cannot submit primary evidence of Liberian nationality to support an LRIF-based application for adjustment of status. The deadline to apply to adjust status under LRIF is Dec. 20, 2021.

At the time of this update, the Department of State’s Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country for Liberia webpage indicates that primary evidence is available. Examples of primary evidence include, but are not limited to, an unexpired Liberian passport or Liberian certificate of naturalization. However, if an applicant cannot provide primary evidence at the time of filing (for example, if they have applied for but have not yet received primary evidence), they must demonstrate this. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/policy-update-liberian-refugee-immigration-fairness-lrif

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

US appeals court finds immigration policy does not violate equal protection.

 

May 24, 2023 02:46:17 am

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled Monday that US immigration law regarding the reentry of migrants who have already once been removed from the US is “facially neutral as to race,” overturning a lower court’s decision. US officials first brought charges in a Nevada court against Gustavo Carrillo-Lopez under 8 USC § 1326. A lower court judge threw out the case on the grounds that § 1326 violated the US Constitution’s Fifth Amendment protection against discrimination on the basis of race.

 Read more at https://www.jurist.org/news/2023/05/us-appeals-court-finds-immigration-policy-does-not-violate-equal-protection/ 

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

USCIS Clarifies Start Date for Maximum 60-Day Grace Period Following Termination of Employment

 

On March 10, 2023, U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS) provided clarification on the 60-day grace period offered to nonimmigrant workers who have been terminated or who have resigned from their jobs. This is relevant given recent layoffs affecting nonimmigrant visa holders.

USCIS now clarifies that the “grace period starts the day after termination of employment, which is typically determined based on the last day for which a salary or wage is paid.” Consequently, the date on the employee’s final pay statement will indicate the start of the grace period. This may afford a terminated employee more time between their last day of in-office employment and when the 60-day clock starts running.

Read more: https://www.natlawreview.com/article/uscis-clarifies-start-date-maximum-60-day-grace-period-following-termination. Please, contact Darren Heyman, Las Vegas immigration attorney, for more information.

Mexican man sentenced for smuggling over 8 kilos of narcotics in candy box following HSI, federal partner investigation

 

McALLEN, Texas — A Mexican citizen was sentenced today to more than 12 years in federal prison following his conviction for smuggling cocaine and methamphetamines. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with help from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

On April 13, a federal judge sentenced Nestor Alan Garcia, 28, of Monterrey, Mexico, to serve 144 months in prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard arguments on whether Garcia had a larger role in the conspiracy beyond his participation as a transporter. The court heard that Garcia should receive an appropriate sentence based on the amount and purity of the drugs he and others smuggled into the country. Following a four-day trial, the jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before returning a guilty verdict Sept. 22, 2022, on all six counts as charged. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/mexican-man-sentenced-smuggling-over-8-kilos-narcotics-candy-box-following-hsi

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

San Diego-based human trafficking investigation leads to criminal charges for foreign national

 SAN DIEGO — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego-led investigation with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern District of California resulted in criminal charges against a foreign national accused of human smuggling and sexually exploiting an underage migrant.

Cecilio Jimenez-Bautista, 26, of Mexico, appeared in federal court April 6 to face charges that he sexually abused a 17-year-old unaccompanied minor he and his brother guided from Tijuana, Mexico, into the United States in June 2022. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/san-diego-based-human-trafficking-investigation-leads-criminal-charges-foreign
Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance on Safe Mailing Address and Case Handling Procedures for Certain Protected Persons

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to provide guidance on mailing address procedures for persons eligible for and recipients of victim-based immigration relief, specifically Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitioners as well as those who are seeking or currently hold T or U nonimmigrant status (protected persons). This guidance also applies to abused spouses of certain nonimmigrants applying for employment authorization under section 106 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-updates-policy-guidance-on-safe-mailing-address-and-case-handling-procedures-for-certain

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

Employers May File H-2B Petitions for FY 2023 Late Second Half Returning Workers

 Starting April 13, 2023, USCIS will begin accepting petitions for workers for the late second half of fiscal year (FY) 2023, requesting employment start dates from May 15, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2023 under the H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule. The 10,000 visas made available under this allocation are limited to returning workers who were issued H-2B visas or held H-2B status in fiscal years 2020, 2021, or 2022, regardless of country of nationality. These supplemental visas are available only to U.S. businesses that are suffering irreparable harm or will suffer impending irreparable harm without the ability to employ all the H-2B workers requested in their petition, as attested by the employer on a new attestation form. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/employers-may-file-h-2b-petitions-for-fy-2023-late-second-half-returning-workers

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.