​Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently began sending warning notices to certain F-1 students engaged in Optional Practical Training (OPT), calling out that they have been enrolled in the OPT program for more than 90 days but have not reported any employment status.

The notices provide impacted students with 15 days to update their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record. If no action is taken, the student’s SEVIS record could then be terminated to indicate a violation of status has occurred for failure to timely report OPT employment or for exceeding the permissible period of unemployment during OPT. The notice further warns that failure to take corrective action may result in the initiation of removal proceedings.

Optional Practical Training
Optional Practical Training is an employment authorization program available to certain F-1 students and is designed to allow students to gain work experience that is related to their field of study in the United States. Pre- or post-completion OPT is available for a period of 12 months to eligible students. Students who have completed certain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) degree programs designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are eligible for an additional 24-month extension of their OPT (i.e., STEM OPT).

During periods of post-completion OPT, maintenance of F-1 status is dependent upon employment. As such, the OPT and STEM OPT programs each include limits as to how long F-1 students may be unemployed during their OPT period. During the 12-month post-completion OPT period, the unemployment limit is 90 days. During the STEM OPT period, the unemployment limit is 150 days, including any unemployment time accrued during the post-completion OPT year. Both unemployment limits are calculated in the aggregate.

Enforcement Background
During the first Trump Administration, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) took several actions to notify designated school officials (DSOs) and F-1 students of the potential for enforcement related to OPT unemployment limits, including a 2020 letter to students that was nearly identical to the recent May 2025 notifications.

The current notifications to F-1 students regarding potential reporting or unemployment violations of OPT also come on the heels of widespread SEVIS terminations earlier this year, many of which were successfully challenged in court – resulting in the restoration of impacted SEVIS records. Following these actions, SEVP has signaled its intention to focus on SEVIS terminations, asserting that SEVP can terminate SEVIS records where there is evidence of failure to comply with the terms of nonimmigrant status or due to a Department of State visa revocation.

What Action Should Impacted Students Take?
F-1 students, including those engaged in OPT or STEM OPT, should work carefully with their DSO to ensure compliance with all F-1 program requirements. Students in receipt of a notification indicating a potential violation of employment reporting or unemployment limits should take prompt corrective action where possible to protect against further enforcement actions by ICE. Students should also work closely with their DSOs and international offices to remain up to date regarding additional developments that may impact F-1 status and OPT.

As the U.S. government heightens its focus on national security, international travelers—especially visa holders and lawful permanent residents—are experiencing increased scrutiny at ports of entry.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has broad legal authority to inspect and search electronic devices — including phones, laptops, tablets, USB drives, and external hard drives – at the border. These searches do not require a warrant, probable cause, or even individualized suspicion, and can be conducted as part of routine screening at any U.S. port of entry. CBP’s authority extends to both incoming and outgoing travelers at any U.S. port of entry.
Here’s a summary of what to expect at the border, your rights and responsibilities, and how to prepare.
Recent Executive Order: Heightened national security screening
On January 20, the White House issued Executive Order 14161: Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats. This Executive Order directs federal agencies, including CBP and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, to implement more rigorous screening procedures for individuals seeking entry into the United States.
Key implications for travelers include the following:

• Expanded data collection. The E.O. authorizes enhanced vetting measures and broader analysis of personal data, including social media activity and electronic records.
• More detailed questioning. Travelers may face additional scrutiny related to travel purpose, background, or affiliations.
• Longer processing times. Enhanced screening could result in delays at ports of entry.

Travelers should assume that both device content and online presence may be reviewed during inspection. Accuracy, consistency, and preparedness are essential.
CBP device searches
CBP categorizes searches into two types:
No. 1: Basic search

• Officers may ask you to unlock your device and may manually examine its contents.
• Officers may browse through your photos, documents, contacts, call logs, emails, messages, downloaded apps, and browsing history.
• Officers cannot access cloud content unless it's already downloaded onto the device or auto-synced.
• You may be asked to put the device in airplane mode to prevent cloud-based data retrieval.

No. 2: Advanced search

• If flagged for further scrutiny, CBP may connect your device to a specialized forensic tool to copy, review, and analyze data.
• This could include hidden files or deleted content.
• CBP may retain the device temporarily (typically for no more than five days, though extensions are possible) for off-site analysis.

Social media scrutiny
In addition to CBP’s authority to search devices, U.S. immigration agencies are expanding efforts to review the digital footprints of applicants and travelers. A recent notice proposes that the USCIS begin collecting social media identifiers from individuals applying for immigration benefits—including green cards, naturalization, asylum, and refugee status. This proposed rule reflects a growing trend toward incorporating social media review into vetting and background checks.
Travelers and visa applicants should consider doing the following:

• Review your profiles. Ensure your personal, employment, and location details match your immigration records.
• Adjust your privacy settings. Limit public access to sensitive content, while maintaining a professional presence.
• Be thoughtful about online posts and interactions. Avoid creating content that could be interpreted as inconsistent with your immigration status or entry purpose.
• Delete inactive or outdated accounts. Especially those that may contain conflicting personal details or old user names.

If you refuse to provide access

• U.S. citizens cannot be denied entry for refusing to unlock a device. However, non-citizens—including visa holders and lawful permanent residents—can be refused admission or face delays.
• It is important to note, in some cases, that CBP may seize the device, escalate questioning, or refer the case to other agencies.

Know the limits of your legal recourse
CBP’s border search policies—including those on electronic devices—are governed by internal directives and longstanding federal law. These policies are designed to guide CBP operations but do not create or confer any personal rights, privileges, or legal remedies for travelers. In other words, travelers generally cannot sue CBP for following these policies unless a separate legal violation can be shown​.
Traveling with electronics
To protect your privacy and reduce the risk of delays or data exposure, you should do the following:
Before you travel:

• Back up your device, and travel with minimal data.
• Log out of social media and email apps; disable biometric access (for example, Face ID, fingerprint).
• Consider using guest profiles or temporary “travel devices.”
• Turn off cloud syncing, or remove apps that store sensitive information (for example, Slack, Dropbox, Signal).
• Encrypt your device, and use strong alphanumeric passwords.
• Consider storing critical work files or privileged content in secure cloud storage (and sign out of those services).

During travel:

• Cooperate respectfully if asked to unlock a device, but avoid volunteering access to apps or platforms.
• If detained or questioned extensively, ask to speak with legal counsel or your company’s HR contact.

After re-entry:

• Monitor for signs of data access or tampering if your device was taken or searched.
• Consider changing passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication on sensitive accounts.
• Notify your legal or compliance team if any privileged, confidential, or regulated data may have been accessed.

Additional tips

• Be prepared to explain your travel purpose, employer, and visa status clearly and concisely.
• Ensure device data does not conflict with your stated purpose of entry.
• Avoid saving politically sensitive material or participating in online discussions that could be misinterpreted.

Filing a complaint
If you believe your device was mishandled or your rights were violated during a CBP search, you can file a redress request through the Department of Homeland Security Traveler Redress Inquiry Program, known as “TRIP” for short. TRIP is a formal avenue for travelers to inquire about or resolve issues related to CBP inspections, delays, or treatment at the border. Complaint or redress requests can be submitted here.
Unfortunately for international travelers—particularly visa holders and lawful permanent residents—electronic device searches are no longer rare exceptions but a routine part of CBP’s screening authority. Travelers should assume that anything accessible on a personal device could be subject to review.

Travel to the United States has gotten trickier in recent months. Below is a summary of tips recommended by the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers for international travelers to the United States:

• Make sure all of your documents are in order and have not expired, and that you do not have a renewal application pending. Consult with an immigration attorney before traveling for advice in specific situations.
• Consider not entering the United States now if your country is on a proposed “red” list of travel ban countries, which includes Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
• Remember that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers have wide leeway at ports of entry to decide who enters and who does not, regardless of visa status, and to conduct electronic searches. They can require travelers to unlock cell phones, reveal laptop passwords, or give officers their digital cameras, for example. U.S. citizens and green card holders can refuse to answer questions (other than those establishing identity and status) and still enter the country (although this could lead to delays or seizure of devices), but those with visas do not have the same rights. The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California advises you not to give up your green card voluntarily. Some advise turning off phones and wiping data from all devices before passing through a port of entry.
• If your device is confiscated, request the name, badge number, and agency of the officer, and ask for a receipt or call the agency to request one.
• Keep your immigration attorney’s contact information handy, along with contact information for a local friend. If it appears that you might be going into a secondary inspection, you can text your friend and ask them to get in touch with your immigration attorney.
• Keep in mind that in the past, rejected travelers were often put on the next plane out, but more recently, some have been detained for days, weeks, or more.
• Check your home country’s travel advisories and warnings before traveling. Consider deferring travel to or from the United States if not necessary.

If you are referred to secondary inspection, request an interpreter if needed and available. There ordinarily will be a transcript (official record) of the questions and answers.

As required by law, the Department of Homeland Security Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), through the Federal Register, announced increases for penalties under the Immigration Reform & Control Act (IRCA), effective January 2, 2025. The higher penalties are for those cases where the penalties are assessed on February 13, 2024, and thereafter. These increases were about 1%, which is similar to the 2024 increases due to inflation.

​With an expected surge in ICE I-9 audits and ICE raids, employers should pay careful attention to their I-9 forms and conduct an internal I-9 audit to correct, any I-9 errors. Such an internal I-9 audit could save an employer substantial money if audited by ICE. 

​Form I-9 is here
Employers must:

• Have a completed Form I-9 on file for each person on their payroll who is required to complete the form;
• Retain and store Forms I-9 for three years after the date of hire, or for one year after employment is terminated, whichever is later; and
• Make their forms available for inspection if requested by authorized U.S. government officials from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, or Department of Justice.

Below are the offenses with the old and new penalties:
​

Supreme Court Ruled That Texas and Louisiana Lack Standing to Block Biden Immigration Enforcement Guidelines
On June 23, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in U.S. v. Texas that Texas and Louisiana lacked standing to block Biden administration immigration enforcement guidelines that prioritize national security, public safety, and border security threats over focusing on deporting anyone in the United States without authorization.
Justice Kavanaugh wrote, “The States have brought an extraordinarily unusual lawsuit. They want a federal court to order the Executive Branch to alter its arrest policies so as to make more arrests. Federal courts have not traditionally entertained that kind of lawsuit; indeed, the States cite no precedent for a lawsuit like this.” Justice also said that the Executive Branch “does not possess the resources necessary to arrest or remove all of the noncitizens covered by” federal law. “For the last 27 years since [the laws] were enacted in their current form, all five Presidential administrations have determined that resource constraints necessitated prioritization in making immigration arrests.” Justice Alito dissented.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would reinstate the guidelines, which were paused last summer by the Supreme Court. He said this would “enable DHS to most effectively accomplish its law enforcement mission with the authorities and resources provided by Congress.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that Texas would “continue to deploy the National Guard to repel [and] turn back illegal immigrants trying to enter Texas illegally.”
US. v. Texas (June 23, 2023). https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/22-58_i425.pdf
“The Supreme Court Sides With the Biden Administration in a Fight Over Immigration,” National Public Radio (June 23, 2023). https://www.npr.org/2023/06/23/1182015382/supreme-court-ruling-immigration

On June 28, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated guidance that aligns its policy for issuing Form I-862, Notice to Appear, with the immigration enforcement priorities of the Department of Homeland Security.
​
A Notice to Appear (NTA) is a document given to a foreign national that instructs them to appear before an immigration judge on a certain date.

The issuance of an NTA commences removal proceedings against the foreign national. Under the new guidance, USCIS officers will now issue an NTA for a wider range of cases where the individual is removable and there is evidence of fraud, criminal activity, or where an applicant is denied an immigration benefit and is unlawfully present in the United States.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and requestors are exempted from this updated guidance when: (1) processing an initial or renewal DACA request or DACA-related benefit request; or (2) processing a DACA recipient for possible termination of DACA. As explained in the concurrently issued DACA-specific guidance, USCIS will continue to apply the 2011 NTA guidance to these cases. USCIS will also continue to follow the existing DACA information-sharing policy regarding any information provided by a DACA requestor in a DACA request or DACA-related benefit request.

USCIS, along with ICE and CBP, has legal authority under current immigration laws to issue NTAs. New USCIS Policy Memorandum updates the guidelines USCIS officers use to determine when to refer a case to ICE or to issue an NTA.

​The revised policy generally requires USCIS to issue an NTA in the following categories of cases in which the individual is removable:

• Cases where fraud or misrepresentation is substantiated, and/or where an applicant abused any program related to the receipt of public benefits. USCIS will issue an NTA even if the case is denied for reasons other than fraud.
• Criminal cases where an applicant is convicted of or charged with a criminal offense, or has committed acts that are chargeable as a criminal offense, even if the criminal conduct was not the basis for the denial or the ground of removability. USCIS may refer cases involving serious criminal activity to ICE before adjudication of an immigration benefit request pending before USCIS without issuing an NTA.
• Cases in which USCIS denies a Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, on good moral character grounds because of a criminal offense.
• Cases in which, upon the denial of an application or petition, an applicant is unlawfully present in the United States.

The revised policy does not change the USCIS policy for issuing an NTA in the following categories:

• Cases involving national security concerns;
• Cases where issuing an NTA is required by statute or regulation;
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS) cases, except where, after applying TPS regulatory provisions, a TPS denial or withdrawal results in an individual having no other lawful immigration status;
• DACA recipients and requestors when: (1) processing an initial or renewal DACA request or DACA-related benefit request; or (2) processing a DACA recipient for possible termination of DACA.

Under separate policy guidance issued concurrently, USCIS officers will continue to apply PM 602-0050, Revised Guidance for the Referral of Cases and Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Removable Aliens, dated November 7, 2011, to the issuance of NTAs and Referrals to ICE for DACA recipients and requestors.

New memo 1 ,general NTAs, and memo 2, DACA NTAs (both issued on June 28, 2018).

Under new June 28 2018 USCIS policy memo, USCIS will issue a Notice to Appear or NTA on its own initiative without referral to ICE, and place individuals in removal or deportation proceedings in immigration court upon denial of an application, if a person is deemed removable on the date of denial.

It will affect many people on H-1B work visa, their spouses, foreign students on F-1 student visa. This new policy will further backlog our immigration courts, and can result in more people becoming inadmissible and requiring waivers if applying for a visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate.

Briefly in Russian:

В соответствии с новыми правилами, опубликованными USCIS 28 июня 2018, Иммиграционная служба США будет передавать дела в иммиграционный суд и выдавать повестки в суд сами, без участия иммиграционной полиции ICE. Такие повестки в суд на депортацию будут выдаваться после отказа в заявлении поданном в USCIS, если заявитель потерял легальный статус на момент получения отказа. Ожидается, что суды станут еще более перегружены, и многие иностранные студенты F-1 student visa, и люди на рабочих визах H-1B получат повестки на депортацию, что ранее было крайне редко. 

#USCIS #ICE #NTA #NoticetoAppear #immigration #immigrant #immigrationcourt #deportation #removal

The Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) gives every person access to certain information from the federal government. A person can file a request under this act, called “a FOIA request,” to any federal agency to request documents about themselves or others. 

There are four main components within DHS that hold immigration records:

(1) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”);
(2) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”);
(3) U.S. Office of Biometrics Identity Management (“OBIM,” formerly US-VISIT); and
(4) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”).

If you are making your request by mail, you should include the notation “Freedom of Information Act Request” on the front of your envelope. This will help ensure that the responsible individual receives the request without delay.

​USCIS is the most common place to submit an immigration-related FOIA request because USCIS keeps records of prior petitions and decisions and often has the Subject’s A-file. Do not submit your FOIA request to your local USCIS office, Service Center, or Lockbox. USCIS processes all FOIA requests at the National Records Center. The request can be submitted by letter request; Form G- 639 by email, mail, or fax; or by using the electronic DHS submission form.

DHS (USCIS) created an online fillable FOIA request form. This FOIA request form has a drop-down menu where the Requestor can select the component within DHS where the FOIA request should be sent. Through this online form, a Requestor can file a FOIA with USCIS, ICE, and OBIM, among others. The online form also allows the Requester to seek FOIA fee waivers and expedited service, if eligible. The online form remains unavailable for CPB FOIA requests, which must be submitted using CBP’s online form. 

The CBP form permits Requestors to upload supporting files. If you are filing a FOIA request on behalf of someone else (not your minor child), you will need to attach either a signed Form G-28 (if you are representing the Subject) or a written notarized consent that will allow a third party to access the Subject’s records. 

Form G-639 is NOT required. USCIS Form G-639 was created by DHS to make filing and processing FOIA requests easier, but it is an optional form. A FOIA request need only be in writing, state that the request is being made under FOIA, reasonably describe the records sought, and provide contact information for the Requestor. In some cases, you may not want to use Form G-639 and may choose to submit a letter request instead. 

ILRC published a helpful FOIA guidance in November 2017 here.

Where FOIA requests can be filed: direct filing addresses for different federal agencies.

USCIS created a new Form G-639 with an issue date of April 17, 2017. Make sure you are using the correct form because previous versions are no longer accepted. The form is frequently updated, so always check for the latest version of the form at http://www.uscis.gov/g-639. 

Most FOIA requests filed in individual immigration cases are free. Although federal agencies can recover certain costs, the first two hours of search time are free, and the first 100 pages copied are free. Additionally, agencies currently do not charge at all if the total amount is $14.00 or less. By submitting a FOIA request, the Requestor is agreeing to pay all applicable fees up to $25.00, should the costs go over what is provided for free. The Requestor will be notified if she owes any money up to $25.00, and is ordinarily expected to pay that amount before the agency sends the requested documents. If the Requestor does not wish to agree to $25.00 upfront, the Requestor can specify a greater or lesser amount when making the FOIA request and/or by submitting a fee waiver request. Most of the online submission forms take this into consideration and require the Requestor to state the maximum amount that she will pay. 

Alcohol-related crimes, charges, convictions are a health-related ground of inadmissibility to the United States.

USCIS, DHS, ICE, Department of State and other immigration authorities are now following the new policy regarding the individuals who have alcohol-related charges, arrests or offenses. Immigrants should keep in mind the consequences of having even one alcohol related criminal charge or offense, which means that USCIS possibly can find them ineligible for an extension of status, change of status, adjustment of status request.

In some cases (not always) it could be possible to leave the U.S.A. and apply for a visa at the U.S. Consulate abroad. However, U.S. Consulates abroad can require applicants to be evaluated by a designated panel physician who will evaluate whether the visa applicant has a physical or mental disorder associated with alcohol use that may pose a threat to the property, safety or welfare of others in the United States.

It should be noted that the U.S. Consulates are now often revoking already issued and valid visas of affected foreign nationals when they receive a law enforcement report of a DUI-related arrest or conviction regardless of whether individuals are in the United States or abroad at the time. A person can receive a phone call or email asking him or her to come to the U.S. Consulate with a passport (no explanations given), so a visa can be physically revoked (cancelled). Most people are unaware that their visas are revoked until they try to return to the United States after travel abroad.  ​Some people with alcohol-related charges receive letters from the U.S. Department of State notifying them of their visa revocation. 

Because these negative consequences are result of the health-related ground of inadmissibility, it means that no conviction is necessary (arrest and charged are enough). 

Until recently, the only affected groups of people were the visa holders with a single alcohol-related arrest or conviction within the last five years, or two or more alcohol-related arrests or convictions.

Under the current policy, it only takes a single alcohol-related charge to trigger action by U.S. authorities. USCIS is now identifying alcohol-related offenses and denying requests for an extension of status in any visa classification.

Until recently and before this policy change, U.S. Consulates only referred visa holders to a panel physician for evaluation when a new visa application was made. Now, U.S. Consulates are responding to law enforcement reports proactively by revoking the already approved and issued visas of anyone who has an alcohol-related charge even in situations where an individual hasn’t made a new visa application.

If USCIS denied an application for extension or change of status, the applicant will have to leave the country and apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate abroad, in his home country. “Every nonimmigrant alien who applies for admission to, or an extension of stay in, the United States must establish that he or she is ​admissible to the United States, or that any ground of inadmissibility has been waived.” In other words, it is an applicant's burden to prove that he/she is not inadmissible. 

An alcohol-related charge is a health ground of inadmissibility, which means that a conviction is not required and charges alone can trigger inadmissibility. Visa holders affected by this rule are not removable (not deportable on this ground) from the United States.

If a visa is denied, can a visa applicant file an appeal of denial of a Visa Application at the U.S. Consulate abroad?  No, you can't appeal a visa denial. There is no appeal process to challenge a consular officer’s decision to deny a visa application. The doctrine of "nonreviewability of consular decisions" was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015 in the case Kerry v. Din .

Another important moment to keep in mind is that neither the visa applicant nor the attorney can review the panel physician’s medical report.

What else can be done? People can ask for an Advisory Opinion from the Department of State’s Visa Office. Also, visa applicants can dispute the findings of the panel physician by asking the consular officer to request an Advisory Opinion from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which the consular officer can refuse to do without recourse. Both of these options take a lot of time. As a result, most of the nonimmigrant visa applicants have to obtain a nonimmigrant waiver of inadmissibility through the DHS, which could take six months or longer to process, and during this time the visa applicant has to wait abroad. Approval of any immigrant or nonimmigrant visa waiver is not guaranteed.

During October 19, 2017 meeting, AILA asked the US Department of State Liaison Committee and the Visa Office the following question:

"AILA has received reports of visa holders whose visas were prudentially revoked for DUI arrests while they are in the United States being charged by ICE as removable under INA §237(a)(1)(B), for being physically present in the United States with a revoked nonimmigrant visa. Based on our previous conversations, it is our understanding that a prudential revocation only becomes effective once the alien departs the United States. Has VO discussed this issue with DHS? If prudential revocations are now leading to the initiation of removal proceedings, would VO be willing to revisit the issue to ensure that the prudential revocation only precludes future travel to the United States?"

DoS answer: "We’ve discussed this with ICE, and there has not been a policy change."

New USCIS waiver policy memorandum (08/23/2017).

Updated USCIS Policy Manual, Chapter 7, Physical or Mental Disorders.

Nonimmigrant waiver application.

Immigrant waiver application.

On October 8, 2017, the White House released a list of immigration priorities addressing border security, interior enforcement, and a merit-based immigration system. 

The priority list calls for the hiring of 10,000 ICE agents, 300 federal prosecutors, 370 immigration judges and 1,000 ICE attorneys.  

The Department of Homeland Security would be authorized to raise and collect fees from visa services and border crossings to fund border security and enforcement activities. 

The border security measures include funding the southern border wall, ending the abuse of the asylum system, discouraging illegal re-entry by enhancing penalties and expanding categories of inadmissibility, and improving expedited removal of undocumented immigrants.

Making E-Verify mandatory, putting an end to sanctuary cities by authorizing and incentivizing states and localities to help enforce federal immigration laws, and improving visa security (which was recently declared unconstitutional by a federal judge).

With regards to the merit-based immigration system, the White House's priority list reiterates what was previously announced on August 2, 2017, when President Trump unveiled the revised RAISE Act (Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment). This law would reduce the number of eligible family-based green cards and create a new point-based system for awarding green cards. 

Specifically, the RAISE Act would establish a 30-point threshold for green cards, awarding an applicant higher point totals for higher-salaried jobs, professional degrees, English-speaking ability, younger applicant age, higher future salary, extraordinary achievements, and an applicant’s investing $1.35 million or more in the United States.

Some of these new immigration priorities were previously announced in the form of President's executive orders, proclamations and memos:

• January 23, 2017 EO: Protecting American Jobs and Workers by Strengthening the Integrity of Foreign Worker Visa Programs
• January 25, 2017 executive orders: Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States and the Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements
• February 20, 2017 memo: Implementing the President's Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvement Policies
• March 6, 2017 EO:  Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States
• March 6, 2017 Memo: Implementing Immediate Heightened Screening and Vetting of Applications for Visas and Other Immigration Benefits, Ensuring Enforcement of All Laws for Entry into the United States, and Increasing Transparency Among Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government and for the American People
• April 18, 2017 EO: Buy American and Hire American
• September 24, 2017 presidential proclamation:  Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats

​If these priorities/proposals will become law, what does this mean for employers/employees? 

Employers will face higher costs in sponsoring foreign workers for visas, and for the employees it will become increasingly difficult to meet a high point-based system threshold in order to obtain a green card.
There will be additional delays in visa issuance due to the additional screening required. There will be litigation, and not all of the priorities will become the law.

Starting in January 2017, a new administration has issued multiple immigration-related Executive Orders and implementing memoranda.

These orders and memoranda touch on nearly all areas of immigration enforcement, including the treatment of immigrant children.

March 2017 ILRC guidance addresses possible ways that UACs may be affected by these changes.

We do not know how these policies will play out in practice, and there will likely be legal and advocacy challenges to their implementation.

Limiting Who Can Be Considered a UAC.

 UAC is defined as a child who:

1) has no immigration status in the U.S.;

2) is under 18 years old; and

3) has no parent or legal guardian in the U.S., or no parent or legal guardian in the U.S. who is available to provide care and physical custody.

When children from non-contiguous countries are apprehended by Customs & Border Protection (CBP) or Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), those agencies must notify the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) within 48 hours, and transfer the child to HHS within 72 hours of determining them to be a UAC.

Such notice and transfer are also required for UACs from contiguous countries, provided that they trigger trafficking or asylum concerns or are unable to make an independent decision to withdraw their application for admission.

Many UACs are apprehended by CBP at the border, such that even those who do have parent(s) in the U.S. typically do not have parents that are “available to provide care and physical custody” in the short time in which CBP must determine if the child meets the UAC definition. Because of this, some children are classified as UACs even though they have a parent in the U.S., consistent with the definition’s disjunctive third prong.

Under previous USCIS guidance and practice, once a child is classified as a UAC, the child continues to be treated as a UAC, regardless of whether they continue to meet the definition. The UAC designation is generally beneficial because the law provides for more child-friendly standards for UACs. In an apparent effort to limit the number of youth who are classified as UACs, the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) Memorandum implementing the recent Executive Order on border enforcement (“Border Enforcement Memo”) directs U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), CBP, and ICE to develop “uniform written guidance and training” on who should be classified as a UAC, and when and how that classification should be reassessed.5 This guidance has not yet been developed.

But we anticipate that we may see any or all of the following changes:

--  Fewer children being classified as UACs upon apprehension. This could result in these children being subject to expedited removal (fast-track deportation without seeing an Immigration Judge), rather than being placed in removal proceedings under INA § 240, as the law requires for all UACs from non-contiguous countries and those who pass the screening from contiguous countries.

-- This could also result in more children being detained by DHS in detention centers rather than by HHS in less restrictive settings.

-- Children who are initially classified as UACs being stripped of that designation—formally or informally--once they turn 18 and/or reunify with a parent and/or obtain a legal guardian.

Federal law offers certain benefits to UACs. Losing that designation may deprive the affected children of those protections, meaning that they may:
1) no longer be able to avail themselves of the provision of law that allows UACs to file their asylum applications with USCIS in a non-adversarial setting despite being in removal proceedings;
2) be subject to expedited removal after being released from HHS custody rather than being placed in removal proceedings under INA § 240;
3) not receive post release services from HHS;
4) no longer be eligible for certain government-funded legal representation programs for UACs; and
5) no longer be eligible for voluntary departure at no cost.

Punishing Sponsors & Family Members of UACs

The Border Enforcement Memo also seeks to penalize parents, family members, and any other individual who “directly or indirectly . . . facilitates the smuggling or trafficking of an alien child into the U.S.” This could include persons who help to arrange the child’s travel to the U.S., help pay for a guide for the child from their home country to the U.S., or otherwise encourage the child to enter the U.S.10 Pursuant to the Border Enforcement Memo, enforcement against parents, family members or other individuals involved in the child’s unlawful entry into the U.S. could include (but is not limited to) placing such person in removal proceedings if they are removable, or referring them for criminal prosecution. We do not know how this provision will play out in practice.

​But even the inclusion of this language in the memo may cause panic and dissuade parents, family members or other adults from 1) sending children to the U.S. (typically done when children face imminent harm in their home country); 2) sponsoring children out of HHS custody once they are in the U.S.; 3) assisting in children’s applications for immigration relief, including asylum; 4) otherwise assisting children in fighting against deportation.

Criminalizing Young People

​Under the DHS memo implementing the Executive Order on interior enforcement, DHS’s enforcement priorities have been vastly expanded. While DHS previously focused its resources on removing people with serious criminal convictions, now DHS will take action to deport anyone it considers a “criminal alien.” The current administration’s definition of a criminal alien is incredibly broad, including people with criminal convictions, but also those charged with criminal offenses, or who have committed acts that could constitute a criminal offense.

Immigration law has long treated juvenile delinquency differently than criminal convictions, and that law is unchanged. However, it is unclear given the broad scope of the new enforcement plan whether delinquency will be considered a “criminal offense” and thus a priority for purposes of enforcement (even though it may not make a person inadmissible or deportable under the immigration laws). It remains to be seen how these expanded enforcement priorities will play out. 

See a new March 2017 guidance here.

​

On Monday, March 20, 2017, The Department of Homeland Security made good on a current administration's promise to publicly shame cities and counties that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities, and to publish a list of Sanctuary Cities and Counties. The administration also stated that sanctuary jurisdictions will be denied federal funding.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, released its first weekly list of local jails and jurisdictions that haven't honored so-called immigrant detainer requests.

Detainer requests on behalf of ICE go to cities and counties asking that local law enforcement hold an inmate who is in the country illegally and has been arrested or charged with a crime. The intent is to have such prisoners detained for up to 48 hours so that federal officials can decide whether to pick them up and deport them.

Such cities and counties, commonly described as "sanctuary jurisdictions," may not cooperate with the detainer requests for a variety of reasons. Some say that cooperating can undermine local trust in the police if immigrants are afraid that reporting a crime will result in their own deportation. Other jurisdictions cite court rulings that have cast doubt on the constitutionality of the detainers.

The list published today covers the period from January 28 to February 3, 2017. It comes during the week following President's executive order on the interior enforcement of the nation's immigration laws. The order directed DHS to compile and publicize a list "of criminal actions committed by aliens" and identify any jurisdiction that ignored any federal detainer requests.

The list covers the cases of 206 unnamed individuals who ICE says committed "notable criminal activity" and the jails from which they were released. (206 of ignored detainers represent less than 10 percent of the 3,083 detainer requests that were issued nationwide.)

The vast majority of the offenders are from Mexico and Central America. The jurisdictions listed include Los Angeles, Colorado, New York and Travis County, Texas.

ICE sanctuary jurisdictions list can be found here.

​

​
​On February 20 and 21, 2017, DHS USCIS had published several Memorandums, Fact Sheets and Q&As at their official website, explaining changed border and interior immigration policies and priorities, following the executive branch's January 2017 executive orders. 

Two USCIS Memorandums, both dated February 20, 2017, and signed by the DHS Secretary John Kelly, authorize CBP, ICE and USCIS to significantly increase interior and border enforcement efforts:

Border protection and enforcement, building the wall and hiring at least 10,000 more ICE agents; expedited removal will apply to a broader class of undocumented immigrants; changes to asylum application process and credible fear interview, intended to make it more difficult to get a grant of asylum; criminal sanctions for parents of unaccompanied children; anyone present in USA without a proper visa or status will be subject to deportation; changing old DHS removal priorities from criminal aliens to all undocumented aliens; DACA grantees are safe from deportation at present time.

• Implementing the President's Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements Policies
• Enforcement of the Immigration Laws to Serve the National Interest
• Fact Sheet: Executive Order: Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements
• Fact Sheet: Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States
• Q&A: DHS Implementation of the Executive Order on Border Security and Immigration Enforcement
• Q&A: DHS Implementation of the Executive Order on Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States

Actions (Fact Sheet, 02/21/2017, Executive Order: Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements ):

• Enforcing the law. Under this executive order, with extremely limited exceptions, DHS will not exempt classes or categories of removal aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to enforcement proceedings, up to and including removal from the United States. The guidance makes clear, however, that ICE should prioritize several categories of removable aliens who have committed crimes, beginning with those convicted of a criminal offense. 
• Establishing policies regarding the apprehension and detention of aliens. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will release aliens from custody only under limited circumstances, such as when removing them from the country, when an alien obtains an order granting relief by statute, when it is determined that the alien is a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or that the alien holds another protected status, when an arriving alien has been found to have a credible fear of persecution or torture and the alien satisfactorily establishes his identity and that he is not a security or flight risk, or when otherwise required to do so by statute or order by a competent judicial or administrative authority.
• Hiring more CBP agents and officers. CBP will immediately begin the process of hiring 5,000 additional Border Patrol agents, as well as 500 Air & Marine agents and officers, while ensuring consistency in training and standards.
• Identifying and quantifying sources of aid to Mexico. The President has directed the heads of all executive departments to identify and quantify all sources of direct and indirect federal aid or assistance to the government of Mexico. DHS will identify all sources of aid for each of the last five fiscal years.
• Expansion of the 287(g) program in the border region. Section 287(g) of the INA authorizes written agreements with a state or political subdivision to authorize qualified officers or employees to perform the functions of an immigration officer. Empowering state and local law enforcement agencies to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law is critical to an effective enforcement strategy, and CBP and ICE will work with interested and eligible jurisdictions.
• Commissioning a comprehensive study of border security. DHS will conduct a comprehensive study of the security of the southern border (air, land, and maritime) to identify vulnerabilities and provide recommendations to enhance border security. This will include all aspects of the current border security environment, including the availability of federal and state resources to develop and implement an effective border security strategy that will achieve complete operational control of the border.
• Constructing and funding a border wall. DHS will immediately identify and allocate all sources of available funding for the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of a wall, including the attendant lighting, technology (including sensors), as well as patrol and access roads, and develop requirements for total ownership cost of this project.
• Expanding expedited removal. The DHS Secretary has the authority to apply expedited removal provisions to aliens who have not been admitted or paroled into the United States, who are inadmissible, and who have not been continuously physically present in the United States for the two-year period immediately prior to the determination of their inadmissibility, so that such aliens are immediately removed unless the alien is an unaccompanied minor, intends to apply for asylum or has a fear of persecution or torture in their home country, or claims to have lawful immigration status. To date, expedited removal has been exercised only for aliens encountered within 100 air miles of the border and 14 days of entry, and aliens who arrived in the United States by sea other than at a port of entry. The Department will publish in the Federal Register a new Notice Designating Aliens Subject to Expedited Removal Under Section 235(b)(1)(a)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act that expands the category of aliens subject to expedited removal to the extent the DHS Secretary determines is appropriate, and CBP and ICE are directed to conform the use of expedited removal procedures to the designations made in this notice upon its publication.
• Returning aliens to contiguous countries. When aliens apprehended do not pose a risk of a subsequent illegal entry, returning them to the foreign contiguous territory from which they arrived, pending the outcome of removal proceedings, saves DHS detention and adjudication resources for other priority aliens.  CBP and ICE personnel shall, to the extent lawful, appropriate and reasonably practicable, return such aliens to such territories pending their hearings.
• Enhancing Asylum Referrals and Credible Fear Determinations. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers will conduct credible fear interviews in a manner that allows the interviewing officer to elicit all relevant information from the alien as is necessary to make a legally sufficient determination. USCIS will also increase the operational capacity of the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate.
• Allocating resources and personnel to the southern border for detention of aliens and adjudication of claims. CBP and ICE will allocate available resources to expand detention capabilities and capacities at or near the border with Mexico to the greatest extent practicable. CBP will focus on short-term detention of 72 hours or less; ICE will focus on all other detention capabilities.
• Properly using parole authority. Parole into the United States will be used sparingly and only in cases where, after careful consideration of the circumstances, parole is needed because of demonstrated urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Notwithstanding other more general implementation guidance, and pending further review by the Secretary and further guidance from the Director of ICE, the ICE policy directive with respect to parole for certain arriving aliens found to have a credible fear of persecution or torture shall remain in full force and effect.
• Processing and treatment of unaccompanied alien minors encountered at the border. CBP, ICE, and USCIS will establish standardized review procedures to confirm that alien children who are initially determined to be unaccompanied alien children continue to fall within the statutory definition when being considered for the legal protections afforded to such children as they go through the removal process.
• Putting into place accountability measures to protect alien children from exploitation and prevent abuses of immigration laws. The smuggling or trafficking of alien children into the United States puts those children at grave risk of violence and sexual exploitation.  CBP and ICE will ensure the proper enforcement of our immigration laws against those who facilitate such smuggling or trafficking.
• Prioritizing criminal prosecutions for immigration offenses committed at the border. To counter the ongoing threat to the security of the southern border, the directors of the Joint Task Forces-West, -East, and -Investigations, as well as the ICE-led Border Enforcement Security Task Forces (BESTs), are directed to plan and implement enhanced counter-network operations directed at disrupting transnational criminal organizations, focused on those involved in human smuggling.
• Public Reporting of Border Apprehensions Data. In order to promote transparency, CBP and ICE will develop a standardized method for public reporting of statistical data regarding aliens apprehended at or near the border for violating the immigration law.

Actions (Fact Sheet, 02/21/2017: Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States)

• Enforcing the law. Under this executive order, with extremely limited exceptions, DHS will not exempt classes or categories of removal aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to enforcement proceedings, up to and including removal from the United States. The guidance makes clear, however, that ICE should prioritize several categories of removable aliens who have committed crimes, beginning with those convicted of a criminal offense. 
• The Department’s Enforcement Priorities. Congress has defined the Department’s role and responsibilities regarding the enforcement of the immigration laws of the United States. Effective immediately, and consistent with Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution and Section 3331 of Title 5, U.S. Code, Department personnel shall faithfully execute the immigration laws of the United States against all removable aliens. 
• Strengthening Programs to Facilitate the Efficient and Faithful Execution of the Immigration Laws of the United States. Facilitating the efficient and faithful execution of the immigration laws of the United States—and prioritizing the Department’s resources—requires the use of all available systems and enforcement tools by Department personnel.
• Exercise of Prosecutorial Discretion. Unless otherwise directed, Department personnel may initiate enforcement actions against removable aliens encountered during the performance of their official duties. Department personnel should act consistently with the President’s enforcement priorities as identified in his executive order and any further guidance issued by the director of ICE, the commissioner of CBP, and the director of USCIS prioritizing the removal of particularly dangerous aliens, such as convicted felons, gang members, and drug traffickers.
• Establishing the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office. The Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office within the Office of the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will create a programmatic liaison between ICE and the known victims of crimes committed by removable aliens. The liaison will facilitate engagement with the victims and their families to ensure, to the extent permitted by law, that they are provided with information about the offender, including the offender’s immigration status and custody status, and that their questions and concerns regarding immigration enforcement efforts are addressed.
• Hiring Additional ICE Officers and Agents. To effectively enforce the immigration laws in the interior of the United States in accordance with the president’s directives, additional ICE agents and officers are necessary. The director of ICE shall—while ensuring consistency in training and standards—take all appropriate action to expeditiously hire 10,000 agents and officers, as well as additional mission support and legal staff necessary to support their activities.
• Establishment of Programs to Collect Authorized Civil Fines and Penalties. As soon as practicable, the director of ICE, the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shall issue guidance and promulgate regulations, where required by law, to ensure the assessment and collection of all fines and penalties for which the Department is authorized under the law to assess and collect from removable aliens and from those who facilitate their unlawful presence in the United States.
• Aligning the Department’s Privacy Policies with the Law. The Department will no longer afford Privacy Act rights and protections to persons who are neither U.S. citizens nor lawful permanent residents. 
• Collecting and Reporting Data on Alien Apprehensions and Releases. The collection of data regarding aliens apprehended by ICE and the disposition of their cases will assist in the development of agency performance metrics and provide transparency in the immigration enforcement mission.
• No Private Right of Action. This document provides only internal DHS policy guidance, which may be modified, rescinded, or superseded at any time without notice.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.

Q20: How does the expansion of expedited removal account for those who may be eligible for immigration benefits?
A20: The Secretary’s intentions regarding expedited removal are under development and will be set forth and effective upon publication of a notice in the Federal Register.
Q21: How soon will DHS make changes to more closely align its use of the expedited removal authority with Congressional intent?
A21: DHS is working to issue appropriate parameters in which expedited removal in these kinds of cases will be used.

Q22: Is it true that DHS is going to make the threshold for meeting credible fear in asylum cases more difficult to meet?
A22: The goal of DHS is to ensure the asylum process is not abused. Generally speaking, to establish a credible fear of persecution, an alien must demonstrate that there is a “significant possibility” that the alien could establish eligibility for asylum, taking into account the credibility of the statements made by the alien in support of the claim and such other facts as are known to the officer.
Asylum officers are being directed to conduct credible fear interviews in a manner that allows the interviewing officer to elicit all relevant information from the alien as is necessary to make a legally sufficient determination. In determining whether the alien has demonstrated a significant possibility that the alien could establish eligibility for asylum or torture protection, the asylum officer shall consider the statements of the alien and determine the credibility of the alien’s statements made in support of his or her claim and shall consider other facts known to the officer, consistent with the statute.

Q23: How will the enhancements to asylum referrals and credible fear determinations under INA section 235(b)(1) affect the work of USCIS?
A23: The Secretary’s memorandum outlines several points:

• The director of USCIS shall ensure that asylum officers conduct credible fear interviews in a manner that allows the interviewing officer to elicit all relevant information from the alien as is necessary to make a legally sufficient determination.
• The director shall also increase the operational capacity of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) and continue to strengthen its integration to support the Field Operations Directorate (FOD), Refugee Asylum and International Operations (RAIO), and Service Center Operations (SCOPS), consulting with Operational Policy and Strategy (OP&S) as appropriate.
• The USCIS director, CBP commissioner, and ICE director shall review their agencies’ fraud detection, deterrence, and prevention measures and report to the Secretary within 90 days regarding fraud vulnerabilities in the asylum and benefits adjudication processes, and propose measures to enhance fraud detection, deterrence, and prevention.
• The asylum officer, as part of making a credible fear finding, shall determine the credibility of statements made by the individual in support of his or her claim. This determination should include, but is not limited to, consideration of the statistical likelihood that the claim would be granted by the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).
• The asylum officer shall make a positive credible fear finding only after the officer has considered all relevant evidence and determined, based on credible evidence, that the alien has a significant possibility of establishing eligibility for asylum, or for withholding or deferral of removal under the Convention Against Torture, based on established legal authority.


• Q25: Is it true that in cases of UACs (unaccompanied children) who travel to the U.S. to reunite with a parent, if a parent is identified by ORR as an appropriate guardian, that parent could also be prosecuted for possibly having their child smuggled into the U.S.?

• A25: Correct. The parents and family members of these children, who are often illegally present in the United States, often pay smugglers several thousand dollars to bring their children into this country. Tragically, many of these children fall victim to robbery, extortion, kidnapping, sexual assault, and other crimes of violence by the smugglers and other criminal elements along the dangerous journey through Mexico to the United States. Regardless of the desires for family reunification, or conditions in other countries, the smuggling or trafficking of alien children is intolerable. Accordingly, DHS shall ensure the proper enforcement of our immigration laws against those who—directly or indirectly—facilitate the smuggling or trafficking of alien children into the United States. This includes placing parents or guardian who are removable aliens into removal proceedings, or referring such individuals for criminal prosecution, as appropriate.
  and report to the Secretary within 90 days regarding fraud vulnerabilities in the asylum and benefits adjudication processes, and propose measures to enhance fraud detection, deterrence, and prevention.

Q12: Will ICE still be hiring the 10,000 officers called for in the executive orders?
A12: ICE is currently developing a hiring plan.

Q13: What is the 287(g) program and how will it be used by ICE?A13: The 287(g) program allows local law enforcement agencies to participate as an active partner in identifying criminal aliens in their custody, and placing ICE detainers on these individuals. ... To strengthen the 287(g) program, ICE field leadership has begun examining local operational needs and liaising with potential 287(g) partners and will collaborate with CBP in these efforts. Existing 287(g) applications are also undergoing an expedited review process. 

Q14: Are 287(g) officers now going to do ICE’s job?A14: The 287(g) program, one of ICE’s top partnership initiatives, enables state and local law enforcement agencies to enter into a partnership with ICE, under a joint memorandum of agreement. The state or local entity receives delegated authority for immigration enforcement within their jurisdictions.

Q15: When will 287(g) task force agreements be available to local jurisdictions? Will these new task force agreements be modeled after the previously canceled task force model?A15: ICE and CBP will be  is developing a strategy to further expand the 287(g) Program, to include types of 287(g) programs, locations, and recruitment strategies.  ... Existing 287(g) applications are also undergoing an expedited review process. ...

Q16: How will ICE accommodate an immigration judge in each of its facilities? How about asylum officers?A16: ICE is working with the Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to review current procedures and resources in order to identify efficiencies and best practices to improve the system. Most dedicated detention facilities already house immigration courts and have enough space to accommodate asylum officers. ICE is also seeking to increase the use of technology, mainly through the use of video teleconferencing, in locations with insufficient space or staffing.

Q&A: DHS Implementation of the Executive Order on Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States Release Date: February 21, 2017

Q2: How is ICE conducting interior enforcement operations based on this executive order?A2: Effective immediately, ICE will direct its personnel as well as its state and local partners through the 287(g) program to apply the enforcement priorities stated in Executive Order No. 13768. 
To that end, within 180 days, ICE will carry out a number of actions to implement the enforcement priorities stated in the executive order. Some of those actions include, but are not limited to, conducting targeted enforcement operations and allocating resources to work in jurisdictions with violent crime tied to gang activities.
​
Q3: Does this new memoranda substantively change the authority of immigration enforcement officers throughout DHS to exercise traditional law enforcement discretion?A3: DHS officers and agents maintain discretion to determine which action(s) to take against removable aliens, but they have been provided with additional guidance by the president and secretary. 

Q5: What are ICE’s priorities under this executive order?A5: Under this Executive Order, ICE will not exempt classes or categories of removal aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States. 

Q14: When is the Priority Enforcement Program (PEP) being terminated (Previous Administration's policy)?
A14: ICE has terminated the Priority Enforcement Program (PEP) and restored Secure Communities, directing its personnel to take enforcement action consistent with the priorities set forth in the executive orders. 

Q18: What threshold of abuse of a public benefit program will render someone removable?
A18: Those who have knowingly defrauded the government or a public benefit system will be priority enforcement targets.

Q22: Do these memoranda affect recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)?
A22: No. (Presently, new immigration enforcement policies do not affect DACA grantees. However, there have been recent arrests of DACA grantees)

ЗНАЙ СВОИ ПРАВА: ИММИГРАЦИОННЫЕ РЕЙДЫ И ОБЛАВЫ НА ОСНОВАНИИ УКАЗОВ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА ОБ УСИЛЕНИИ ИММИГРАЦИОННОГО КОНТРОЛЯ ОТ 25 ЯНВАРЯ 2017.

25 и 27 января 2017 Президент США Трамп подписал три важных указа, касающихся иммиграции, виз и национальной безопасности страны.
 
Полный текст этих указов можно прочитать по линкам:

1. Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements (01-25-2017)
2. Enhancing Security in the Interior of the United States (01-25-2017)
3. Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States (01-27-2017)

Указ номер 1 касается постройки стены на границе между США и Мексикой. 
 
Указ номер 2 касается новых приоритетов в депортации из США, а также изменения во взаимоотношении федерального правительства и так называемых "sanctuary cities", городов, не выдающих нелегальных иммигрантов. Если такие города будут отказываться сотрудничать с федеральными орнанами, и не согласятся передавать им информацию о нелегалах, федеральное правительство угрожает отменой федерального финансирования для некоторых программ. Следует помнить, что это касается только тех программ, которые финансируются федералным правительством США, так как большая часть программ в любом штате финансируется за счет бюджета штата.

Указ номер 3 был подписан и вступил в силу 27 января 2017, и получил самую большую огласку и вызвал шквал негодования и возмущения граждан и политиков как в нутри США, так и за пределами (после 3 февраля 2017 применение этого указа временно приостановлено). Указ предусматривает следующее: (1) вводится временный на 90 дней запрет на въезд в США лиц имеющих отношение к семи исламским странам Ближнего Востока (указ не расшифровал, что значит national): Иран, Ирак, Сирия, Судан, Ливия, Йемен и Сомалия; (2)временно на 120 дней приостанавливается въезд беженцев в США изо всех стран мира; (3) на неопрееленное время запрещен въезд в США лиц, имеющих отношение к Сирии (важно подчерктунть, что запрет неограничен по времени, он относится как к лицам, имеющим гражданство Сирии, так и рожденным там, и может относится к лицам, которые имеют паспорта или travel documents, выданные Сирией, но рожденным в других странах, (4) отменена процедура выдачи виз в США без интервью.
 
Как известно, 9 февраля 2017 г апелляционный суд 9-го федерального округа вынес единогласное решение оставить в силе запрет федерального судьи на выполнение многих положений Указа президента номер 3 (суд признал многине положение указа недействительными, как противоречащие Конституции США). 

Федеральный апелляционный суд 9 округа собирается провести еще одно рассмотрение этого дела, в полном составе 11 судей, так называемое заседание суда en banc. 
 
Решение апелляционного суда Президент собирается либо обжаловать в вышестоящий суд или, по сообщениям из Белого Дома, готовится новый проект Указа Президента США, который заменит собой Указ номер 3. Даты подписания этого нового "передаланного" Указа может быть уже на следующей неделе (13 февраля или позже). Если новый указ будет подписан, то ожидается повторение ситуации с запретом на въезд беженцев и запрет на въезд лиц из определенных стран!

ИММИГРАЦИОННЫЕ РЕЙДЫ:
 
Вчера 9 февраля 2017 во многих городах и штатах в США прошли иммиграционные рейды ICE. Иммиграционная полиция арестовывала нелегальных иммигрантов в домах и на работе. Это был первый день таких усиленных рейдов в исполнение Указа президента от 25 января 2017, BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IMPROVEMENTS.
 
По сообщениям медиа, ICE рейды прошли в южной Калифорнии, Лос Анджелес, Остин. Техас, Атланта, Джорджия, Чикаго, Иллинойс, во многих городах штатов Нью-Йорк и Нью-Джерси, Северной Каролине, Финикс, Аризона и мнгогих других.
 
Рейды и облавы на иммигрантов стали готовиться уже после 25 января 2017, после выхода указа. По результатам рейдов 9 февраля, складывается впечатление, что задерживали, арестовывали и депортировали всех тех, кто "под руку" попался. Не было строгой и логичной системы, как ранее, когда например, приоритет был на депортации уголовников и лиц с судимостями. В этот раз депортировали также и лиц без судимостей и матерей, у которых остались в США американские граждане дети. Депортировали и тех, кто пришел отметиться в местный участок ICE, как они делали годами до этого.
 
Помните, что могут депортировать не только тех, кто въехал в США без визы, например, путем нелагального пересечения границы с Мексикой. Депортированы могут быть и те, кто приехал по визе, но срок пребывания по визе истек (например, приехал по гостевой визе на 6 месяцев и остался в США, ожидая пока муж или ребенок получит гражданство, чтобы самому получить грин карту через них, или приехал как студент, но прекратил посещать колледж и статус был аннулирован и т.п.).
 
В некоторых штатах 9 февраля устраивались облавы на водителей автомобилей, так называемые checkpoints или roadblocks на дорогах. Эта практика была признана нелегальной в прошлом, когда такие облавы проводились в борьбе с наркоманами и водителями в нетрезвом состоянии (так как обычно полиция должна иметь причину для остановки именно вашей машины и для проверки именно ваших документов). Но пока не было судебных запретов на облавы на иммигрантов. Это значит, что если вы ведете машину, и вас остановят на таком roadblock с единственной целью проверить ваши документы и узнать какой у вас иммиграционный статус, вам придется показать свои документы иммиграционной полиции, и они могут обыскать вас, ваших пассажиров и машину.

ЗНАЙ СВОИ ПРАВА:

Помните, что у вас есть права в соответствии с Конституцией США, а именно: право хранить молчание и не отвечать на вопросы (кроме как правдиво предоставить свое имя и фамилию), право нанять адвоката (нет права на бесплатного адвоката, и на адвоката в ситуации "ускоренной депортации (expedited removal),  что применяется в отношении нелегальных иммигрантов, находящихся в США менее двух лет и нередко на границе с Мексикой), право не открывать дверь если к вам пришли без ордера на арест или обыск, право отказаться подписывать документы если вы не понимаете, что вы подписываете.

Если вас пытаются депортировать по правилам "ускоренной депортации" (expedited removal), полезно иметь при себе доказательства своего длительного непрерывного проживания в США более двух лет (налоговые декларации, счета, платежки и т.п.
 
Помните, что если полиция спрашивает ваше имя, вы обязаны ответить и представиться (назвать свое настоящее имя и фамилию).
 
Помните, что нельзя иметь при себе фальшивые или поддельные документы (например, если вас зовут Сергей Иванов, а карточка соц страхования или водительские права в вашем бумажнике на имя Джордж Смит).
 
Но вы не обязаны отвечать на другие вопросы: например, адрес или страна где вы родились, или семейное положение, или где вы работаете. Если вы скажете, что вы родились в России, на Украине, или в Казахстане - это автоматически дает основания иммиграционой полиции подозревать вас в том, что вы не гражданин США, и начать расспрашивать вас о визе, грин карте, вашем иммиграционном статусе.
 
Заранее найдите список общественных организаций в вашем городе и штате, и имейте при себе телефон иммиграционной клиники или адвоката, а также телефон консульства вашей страны. Также оставьте номера телефонов дома для своей семьи, и составьте план на случай непредвиденной ситуации, emergency plan, если вас задержит иммиграционная полиция.
 
Во многих семьях в США один из супругов американец, дети американские граждане, а второй супруг иностранец. И реальность такова, что по иммиграционному законодательству многие иммигранты не могут получить грин карту даже если они женаты или замужем за американцем (например, если иностранец приехал в США нелегально). Наличие американских граждан детей и супруга не дает автоматического права на грин карту и автоматическую защиту от депортации. В таких ситуациях всегда полезно иметь emergency plan, и оставить телефоны и инструкции своему мужу или жене.
 
Если к вам домой пришла иммиграционная полиция, вы имеете право не открыть им дверь и не пускать к себе в дом, если у них нет ордера на обыск именно вашего дома по вашему адресу (случаются ошибки, когда приходят с обыском в соседний дом или квартиру по ошибке). Возможно, что безопаснее не открывать дверь вообще, так как это может быть расценено как предложение войти в дом. Безопаснее попросить их показать вам ордер через окно, стекло, или просунуть под дверь. В ситуации как это развивается сейчас, из-за огромного количества рейдов на практике может быть множество отступлений от обычной практики проведения обысков и арестов, поэтому стоит быть готовым ко всему. Следует запомнить или записать имена агентов, дату и время рейда, название агентства (ICE, FBI, местный шериф или полиция).
 
Если иммиграционный рейд происходит на вашей работе, обычно полиции нужен или ордер или разрешение вашего работодателя. На практике работодатели обычно дают свое согласие и разрешают обыск и опрос сотрудников без ордера.
 
Если вас задержала иммиграционная полиция, позвоните своей семье и попросите их связаться с адвокатом, или сами звоните адвокату. Имейте при себе карточку с номером телефона адвоката или организации, с которой вы сможете связаться в случае ареста или задержания.
 
Если вы плохо говорите по-английски, тем более не следует отвечать на вопросы кроме как ответить на вопрос "ваше имя и фамилия". Они могут часами повторять те же вопросы, дожидаясь когда вы выдохнитесь, устанете или потеряете терпение и подпишите, чтобы поскорее закончить допрос.

​Вы можете подготовить карточку и иметь при себе, чтобы дать агенту ICE с текстом приблизительно такого содержания:
 
Please be informed that I am choosing to exercise my right to remain silent and the right to refuse to answer your questions.
If I am not detained, I will choose to leave now (спросите если они вас задерживают официально, и если ответ "нет", вы можете уходить, и не задерживаясь уходите).
If I am detained, I request to contact an attorney immediately.
I am also exercising my right to refuse to sign anything until I consult with my attorney.
I would like to contact a lawyer at this number: ....................................................
(Телефон вашего адвоката или организации)
Thank you
 
Если вас задержали и вы подписали какие-то документы в отсутствие адвоката, настаивайте, чтобы вам предоставили копию. По закону вам обязаны предоставить копию, на практике они это редко делают. Особенно важно получить копию своего NTA Notice to Appear, если вам такой дали. Этот документ поможет вашему адвокату соориентироваться какие обвинения против вас были выдвинуты, и как можно добиться в суде выхода под залог (если это возможно).
 
Полезная информация для иммигрантов на английском: знай свои права, когда имеешь дело с сотрудниками иммиграционной полиции. Подробное практическое руководство и пример как выглядит ордер на обыск тут.

На официальном вебсайте иммиграционной полиции ICE существует поисковик, с помощью которого вы можете попытаться разыскать своих близких, если вы знаете или подозреваете, что они были задержаны ICE. Для поиска лучше всего иметь при себе номер А и страну рождения человека, которого вы разыскиваете. Также можно искать по имени и фамилии плюс дата и страна рождения. Во втором случае могут быть ошибки, если имя было написано неверно, или произошла ошибка с датой рождения.

​ЧТО ДЕЛАТЬ, ЕСЛИ ВЫ ПОСТОЯННЫЙ ЖИТЕЛЬ США (У ВАС ГРИН КАРТА), И НА ВЪЕЗДЕ В США, СОТРУДНИК ИММИГРАЦИОННОЙ СЛУЖБЫ ПЫТАЕТСЯ ОТОБРАТЬ ВАШУ ГРИН КАРТУ, ЗАСТАВЛЯЕТ ВАС ПОДПИСАТЬ ФОРМУ I-407, И ПЫТАЕТСЯ ВЫДВОРИТЬ ВАС ИЗ СТРАНЫ.

Полезная памятка для грин карт холдеров (постоянных жителей США), которые возвращаются в США и которых принуждают к отказу от грин карты и сдаче грин карты прямо в аэропорту сотруднику CBP. Эта ситуация случается нередко в аэропортах, но в последнее время требования к отказу участились, и нередко без веских оснований.

Помните, что если вас принуждают к подписи на форме I-407, Отказ от грин карты, вы не обязаны ее подписывать. Если вы не согласны и не хотите лишаться вида еа жительство в США, то не подписывайте эту форму.

Если сотрудник CBP продолжает настаивать, что вы потеряли свое резиденство (вид на жительство) в США, например, из-за длительного отсутствия за пределами США (более года), или потому, что вы являетесь лицом родившимся или имеющим паспорт из одной из семи стран на Ближнем Востоке, указанных в недавнем указе президента от 27 января 2017 г  - то они должны вас все же впустить в страну и выписать форму NTA, приглашение на явку в иммиграционный суд США, куда они должны передать ваше дело для решения вопроса о том, потеряли ли вы статус постоянного жителя или нет.

Помните, что хотя существует презумпция, что статус "автоматически" теряется после более одного года, проведенного за границей, но на самом деле все не так уж автоматически. Государство должно это доказать, и у вас есть право на доказательство своей правоты в иммиграционном суде США. Только судья может принять решение  том, чтобы отобрать у вас грин карту, а не сотрудник в аэропорту (естественно, вы можете решить отказаться от своей грин карты и добровольно ее отдать и подписать форму I-407).

Мы будем держать вас в курсе!

​Если вам нужна консультация или совет адвоката, свяжитесь с нами по электронной почте.

​Yesterday, on February 9th 2017, ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) engaged in "immigration sweeps" in California, Texas and other states -- detaining undocumented immigrants that were in their homes, or at work. #ICERaid #ICErains #immigrationraid

ICE was enforcing another Executive Order issued by the President on January 25, 2017, BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IMPROVEMENTS, that pushes for increased enforcement activities against immigrants in the U.S. already.

If you, or someone you know, is in potential danger of being picked up by ICE, please prepare for this possibility. Have someone that can take care of your kids, someone that can contact relatives, friends & immigration attorneys on your behalf and someone who can advocate for you in the media.

Remember that all individuals in the U.S., no matter what immigration status they have, are covered under the U.S. CONSTITUTION. This was affirmed yesterday by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

YOUR RIGHTS: you have the right to remain silent and not answer any questions, the right to refuse to open your door, the right to refuse to sign anything and the right to retain an immigration attorney (no right to a free attorney, but you can hire an attorney).

To locate your loved ones and friends that have been detained by ICE, go to https://locator.ice.gov/odls/homePage.do

To locate a person who is being detained by ICE, you need to know either his or her A Number plus a country of birth, OR his or her full legal name, and date and country of birth. Please note that if you don't know his or her A number, searching by name may not be successful if the name was misspelled, or a wrong date of birth entered into the system.

​As was reported by Washington Post, ICE raids took place in at least 6 states in following areas: Vista, Pomona and Compton, CA; Austin and Pflugerville, TX, Alexandria and Annandale, VA, Charlotte and Burlington, NC, Plant City, FL, Hudson Valley region, NY, Wichita, KS. 

In Russian:

Вчера 9 февраля 2017 во многих городах и штатах в США прошли иммиграционные рейды ICE. Иммиграционная полиция арестовывала нелегальных иммигрантов в домах и на работе. Это был первый день таких усиленных рейдов в исполнение Указа президента от 25 января 2017, BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IMPROVEMENTS.

Помните, что у вас есть права в соответствии с Конституцией США, а именно: право хранить молчание и не отвечать на вопросы, право нанять адвоката (нет права на бесплатного адвоката, и на адвоката в ситуации "ускоренной депортации (expedited removal),  что применяется в отношении нелегальных иммигрантов, находящихся в США менее двух лет и нередко на границе с Мексикой), право не открывать дверь если к вам пришли без ордера на арест или обыск, право отказаться подписывать документы если вы не понимаете, что вы подписываете.

Если вас пытаются депортировать по правилам "ускоренной депортации", полезно иметь при себе доказательства своего длительного непрерывного проживания в США более двух лет (налоговые декларации, счета, платежки и т.п.

На официальном вебсайте иммиграционной полиции ICE существует поисковик, с помощью которого вы можете попытаться разыскать своих близких, если вы знаете или подозреваете, что они были задержаны ICE. Для поиска лучше всего иметь при себе номер А и страну рождения человека, которого вы разыскиваете. Также можно искать по имени и фамилии плюс дата и страна рождения. Во втором случае могут быть ошибки, если имя было написано неверно, или произошла ошибка с датой рождения.

​

In the very first days of the January 2016, ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) started raids, targeting undocumented immigrants. 

This document is an excellent overview of your rights:

What to do in the event of an ICE raid (at your work, home, in the mall or other public place). What questions you must answer and when you shall remain silent. 

Know your RIGHTS. Read and download a pdf file here. You can save or memorize your local and state free legal services or community organizations contact numbers, or your attorney's number, and carry their contact numbers. You can print out the card on page 8 and carry it with you, as well.

https://www.justice4all.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Know-your-rights-in-case-of-raids-English.pdf

Secretary of Homeland Security has suspended certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant Nepalese students who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the April earthquake in Nepal. This relief applies only to students whose country of citizenship is Nepal and who were lawfully present in the United States in F-1 status on April 25, 2015, and enrolled in an institution certified by ICE’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

This suspension will enable eligible F-1 students to obtain employment authorization (EAD or work permit), work an increased number of hours during the school term, and if necessary, reduce their course load while continuing to maintain their F-1 student status. 

The suspension of the regulatory requirements will remain in effect through Dec. 24, 2016. Students must apply for relief by Dec. 21, 2015.

As of Sept. 19, 2015, more than 9,000 F-1 students from Nepal were enrolled in courses at U. S. schools.

See the announcement here.