El “pequeño Marco” y sus menudos principios
Maribel Hastings

USCIS used to automatically stop the accrual of days on an asylum applicant's Employment Authorization Document (EAD) clock when the applicant filed a Form AR-11, Change of Address.

Over the past few days, many of you probably heard that the Obama Administration is launching a new round of immigration raidstargeting Central American women and children. The CARA Pro Bono Project staff have already begun to meet with families with final orders who were transferred to Dilley, Texas, over the past few days, and we will continue to monitor and report on the types of cases we see.

Texas is leading 26 states dominated by Republicans in challenging the programs that Obama announced in 2014 and that have been put on hold by lower courts.

Emergency rulings reveal indefensible deportation strategy for vulnerable Central American families
January 13, 2016

This Bulletin explains how the Asylum Division has prioritized the adjudication of affirmative applications for asylum. On December 26, 2014, we began prioritizing asylum applications for interview scheduling as follows:

USCIS approved the statutory maximum of 10,000 petitions for U-1 nonimmigrant status for FY2016.

Initial December 24 and 25 media reports of the planned roundups:

On November 20 and 21, 2014, President Barack Obama announced a series of administrative reforms of immigration policy, collectively called the Immigration Accountability Executive Action. The centerpiece of these reforms is an expansion of the current Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative and the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) initiative for the parents of U.S citizens and lawful permanent residents who meet certain criteria.

The following chart shows the changes that have been made to the Country Reciprocity Tables since our last publication.

Travel to U.S. Territories such as the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by people who have been granted deferred status by USCIS is similar to travel to any one of the 50 states. However, we strongly recommend that you carry your USCIS documents showing deferred status with you in order to facilitate your ability to return to your residence. Please note that depending on the location of your travels, you may be subject to certain processes, including customs inspections.

"We are pressing to build preclearance capability at foreign airports around the world that have flights directly to the United States. Preclearance means screening by our customs personnel at the front end of the flight, not the back end. This provides us with a greater ability to prevent those who should not be flying here from doing so. Preclearance exists at 15 overseas airports now, and we are building more. In May I announced 10 overseas airports we have prioritized for preclearance

USCIS would like to remind you that the following teleconference on T and U visas and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) will take place today, Wednesday, November 18, 2015 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. (Eastern).

USCIS intends to revise its Policy Manual with respect to this issue, and has prepared a draft () for comment. The comment period expires in just 10 days, Nov 23^rd. Here’s a link to the USCIS webpage: https://www.uscis.gov/outreach/feedback-opportunities/policy-manual-comment. Email your comments to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Many nonlawyers are unqualified to guide an alien through the immigration system. Some practice law with good intentions, while others do so unscrupulously. Nevertheless, the net effect of the unauthorized practice of immigration law is a negative one. See Margaret Mikyung Lee, Cong. Research Serv., R40822, Legal Ethics in Immigration Matters: Legal Representation and Unauthorized Practice of Law 1 (Sept. 18, 2009) (“The unauthorized practice of law by persons who are not attorneys, ineffective

Applying for a Social Security number and card is free. To apply:

SAN ANTONIO, TX -Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), the American Immigration Council, Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), partners in the CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project, are calling on the government to fully comply with U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee's ruling concerning the inhumane incarceration of mothers and children fleeing violence and persecution.

USCIS has posted the following draft guidance for your review:

Hundreds of deported migrants with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder may qualify to return to the U.S.

CBP announced the implementation of an agency-wide policy that sets forth the first nationwide standards which govern CBP’s interaction with detained individuals.