Wednesday, May 20, 2020

USCIS Begins Implementing New Interactive Voice Response Telephone System

USCIS is introducing a new interactive voice response (IVR) telephone system today for English and Spanish calls to the USCIS Contact Center. The new IVR system personalizes the caller’s experience by giving the caller the ability to:
  • Speak to the system rather than selecting keypad options;
  • Receive links for forms and information by email or text; and
  • Provide real-time feedback through an optional survey.     

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

DHS Offers Flexibilities to Increase Food Security, Stabilize U.S. Supply Chain During COVID-19

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a temporary final rule to change certain H-2B requirements to help support the U.S. food supply chain, maintain essential infrastructure operations and reduce the impact from the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
These temporary measures apply solely to aliens already present in the United States with a valid H-2B nonimmigrant status, and the temporary final rule does not increase H-2B visas above the congressionally mandated 66,000 visa cap through the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2020. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/dhs-offers-flexibilities-increase-food-security-stabilize-us-supply-chain-during-covid-19
Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.

Monday, May 4, 2020

ICE HSI seizes approximately 48 kilograms of cocaine in Michigan

DETROIT – Special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Detroit, seized approximately 48 kilograms of cocaine at the border in Michigan on April 29. The cocaine was concealed inside a tractor trailer which was destined for Canada.
No arrests were made in the ongoing HSI investigation. HSI routinely works with its partner federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to intercept dangerous drugs before they can reach local communities. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-hsi-seizes-approximately-48-kilograms-cocaine-michigan
Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.

Friday, May 1, 2020

USCIS Offices Preparing to Reopen on June 4

On March 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services temporarily suspended in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers (ASCs) to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). USCIS is readying offices to reopen on or after June 4. Employees in these offices are continuing to perform mission-essential services that do not require face-to-face contact with the public while the offices are closed.
While offices are temporarily closed, USCIS will continue to provide limited emergency in-person services. Please call the USCIS Contact Center for assistance with emergency services. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-offices-preparing-reopen-june-4
Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.

Thursday, April 23, 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. Since then, the American people have united behind a policy of mitigation strategies, including social distancing, to flatten the curve of infections and reduce the spread of SARS–CoV–2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Read more at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-immigrants-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-economic-recovery-following-covid-19-outbreak/

The executive order has been released. It would appear on its face that it only applies to immigrant visa applicants who are not the spouses or children (under 21) of US citizens, are outside the U.S., and do not yet have their immigrant visas issued. As such, it will effect those who have filed for their siblings, parents, and employment-based immigrant visas.
For those applicants within the US, who are applying for adjustment of status, from within the U.S., this order does not appear to apply, for any category, including parents, and even work-based applicants.
USCIS offices are closed to the public until at least May 3, 2020. We will only know the implementation of this order once those offices reopen and they start rescheduling interviews.

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

President Trump claims he will temporarily suspend immigration into US

President Donald Trump said he will sign an executive order to "temporarily suspend immigration" into the U.S. amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.

On Monday evening, he said in a tweet, "In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!" 

Well, we do not yet know how this is going to affect our clients and people who have already filed for immigrant visas and status, we will be sure to keep you posted as soon as we do.

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

ICE Dallas arrests Salvadoran gang member wanted for capital murder


DALLAS – Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested a Salvadoran man Thursday night in Arlington, Texas, who was wanted for capital murder. 
Jonathan Alexander Gonzalez-Rosales, 25, is in the U.S. illegally and an active member of the 18th Street Gang, a transnational criminal organization. The Texas Office of the Attorney General assisted members of the ERO Dallas Fugitive Operations Team with the arrest.
According to court documents, Gonzalez-Rosales was wanted for the murder of Franklin Alexander Mercado, 17. Mercado’s body was discovered Jan. 22, 2020, in the 300 block of N. Prairie Creek Road in Dallas with multiple stab wounds. A Dallas County magistrate judge issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez-Rosales April 1, 2020, for capital murder. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-dallas-arrests-salvadoran-gang-member-wanted-capital-murder
Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.

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