The recent government shutdown has caused serious issues in an immigration system already overwhelmed with cases and plagued by delays. Many individuals waiting for decisions about their immigration status have been left in limbo during the shutdown, which is expected to cause even greater delays for immigration cases in the coming months. For those trapped...Read More
In a stunning example of abuse of power, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay participated in efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport a U.S. citizen. A lawsuit filed on December 3, 2018, by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) describes the ordeal faced by Peter Sean Brown after he surrendered himself to local...Read More
The H-4 visa has been a subject of significant controversy since President Donald Trump took office. These visas are generally issued to the spouses of those who hold H-1B non-immigrant visas allowing them to work in specialty occupations in the United States. A lawsuit filed by anti-immigration group Save Jobs USA challenges the right of...Read More
State Representative Thad Altman introduced a bill into the Florida House of Representatives on December 11, 2018, that would require e-verification of citizenship by all employers within the state. The bill would require employers to run applications through a federal database to check citizenship status for all job candidates, slowing down the onboarding process to...Read More
The rate of denials for asylum applications by immigrants in the Miami area reached an 18-year high in 2018. According to data compiled and released by the Transactional Record Access Clearinghouse of Syracuse University, immigration agencies denied 86 percent of the applications for asylum during the period between September 2017 and September 2018. At least...Read More
The arrival of a large group of refugees at the Mexico border has prompted a call from President Trump for added funding for his planned border wall. Images of tear gas being used on immigrant children by U.S. Border Patrol officers reached the media provoked significant backlash against Trump’s policies and the implementation of those...Read More
New guidelines announced by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will present even greater obstacles for immigrants who are going through the legal process to remain in the United States. These rules are scheduled to go into effect on November 19, 2018, and will allow USCIS greater latitude in issuing Notices to Appear (NTAs)...Read More
With midterm elections just completed and some races still in dispute, the role of Cuban-Americans in determining the course of politics in Florida is on the rise. As Cuban-American children enter the voting pool, they are consistently voting along liberal lines. This represents a sharp contrast to the voting patterns exhibited by Cuban-Americans of the...Read More
Proposed changes to green card application processes have created concerns among legal immigrants living and working in the U.S. A proposal by the Trump administration could potentially prevent immigrants who use public services from qualifying for lawful permanent residence. This has created situations in which individuals who are legally entitled to Medicaid, Medicare, Section 8...Read More
A recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court may provide real help for immigrants facing deportation proceedings. On June 21, 2018, the court made a ruling on Pereira v. Sessions that found that notices to appear in immigration proceedings must contain a date and time of appearance as well as a place at which to...Read More
