USCIS Eases Visitor Restrictions for Fully Vaccinated Individuals

 Due to updated guidance from the CDC, USCIS has updated its visitor policy. Fully vaccinated individuals no longer have to wear a face covering. Individuals two years old and older who are not fully vaccinated must still wear a face covering.

To be considered fully vaccinated, it must be at least two weeks after receiving a second dose in a two-dose series or at least two weeks after receiving a dose of a single-dose vaccine. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-eases-visitor-restrictions-for-fully-vaccinated-individuals

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

ICE announces extension, new employee guidance to I-9 compliance flexibility

 WASHINGTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced an extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was initially granted last year. Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend this policy until Aug. 31, 2021. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-announces-extension-new-employee-guidance-i-9-compliance-flexibility-0

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

DHS Announces Open Registration for Temporary Protected Status for Burma

 WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security today published a Federal Register notice (FRN) designating Burma for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, effective May 25, 2021, through Nov. 25, 2022. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas previously announced on March 12 that Burma would be designated for TPS. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/dhs-announces-open-registration-for-temporary-protected-status-for-burma

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Labor Issue Joint Rule Supplementing H-2B Visa Cap

 WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) have published a joint temporary final rule making available an additional 22,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural guest worker visas for fiscal year (FY) 2021 to employers who are likely to suffer irreparable harm without these additional workers. Of the supplemental visas, 6,000 are reserved for nationals of the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/us-departments-of-homeland-security-and-labor-issue-joint-rule-supplementing-h-2b-visa-cap

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

DHS Issues Final Rule to Remove Vacated H-1B Rule from Code of Federal Regulations

 The Department of Homeland Security has issued a final rule that removes from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) an interim final rule (IFR) issued in October 2020, which has since been vacated by a federal district court.

On Oct. 8, 2020, DHS issued an IFR titled, Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa
Classification Program. On Dec. 1, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California vacated the IFR. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/dhs-issues-final-rule-to-remove-vacated-h-1b-rule-from-code-of-federal-regulations

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

USCIS Announces Open Application Period for Citizenship and Integration Grant Program

 WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is accepting applications for two funding opportunities under the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. The grant opportunities will provide up to $10 million in grants for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country.

These competitive grant opportunities are open to organizations that prepare lawful permanent residents for naturalization and promote civic integration through increased knowledge of English, U.S. history, and civics. USCIS received support from Congress through appropriations to make these funding opportunities available to communities. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-announces-open-application-period-for-citizenship-and-integration-grant-program

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

ICE removes Guatemalan citizen for alleged human rights violations in connection with 1982 Dos Erres massacre

 

WASHINGTON — Jose Mardoqueo Ortiz Morales, who was wanted in his native country for his role in the killing of hundreds of innocent civilians in Dos Erres, Guatemala, in 1982, was turned over by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to law enforcement authorities in Guatemala Friday, May 7.

Ortiz Morales, 59, a former member of an elite Guatemalan army unit known as the Kaibiles, is accused of taking part in the massacre in which Guatemalan special forces executed 200 unarmed villagers, including women and children. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-removes-guatemalan-citizen-alleged-human-rights-violations-connection-1982-dos

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.