Immigration Tips

Before You Sign Anything: If an officer presents paperwork titled Voluntary Departure, Stipulated Removal, or Waiver, ask to speak with a lawyer first. Signing could lead to your immediate removal from the United States.

Know Your Rights: If ICE Comes to Your Workplace (For Employees)

All people living in the United States, including undocumented immigrants, have certain U.S. constitutional rights. If Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers come to your workplace, they must have either (1) a valid search warrant, or (2) consent from your employer to enter non-public areas. However, ICE can enter public areas of your workplace (such as the lobby or reception area) without a warrant or consent from your employer.

ICE Declares Millions Ineligible for Bond Hearings

A new memo from ICE's Acting Director instructs officers to detain immigrants who entered the U.S. without inspection "for the duration of their removal proceedings," which may last months or even years.

What is TPS?

Temporary Protcted Status (TPS) allows nationals from countries affected by disaster, conflict, or instability to remain and work legally in the U.S, on a temporary basis.

President Trump signed a budget bill

On July 4, 2025, the President signed a budget reconciliation bill authorizing several new feesfor immigration applications, including a $100 fee on all asylum applications. Despite no current mechanism to pay this fee, EOIR is requiring proof of payment and rejecting filings without a receipt.

New CBP Link Mobile App

U.S. Customs Border Protection announced CBP Link, a new user-friendly mobile app designed to reduce data requirements for travelers entering the United States. Th new app will include features that used to be on the CBP Home App.

Know Before you Go: Immigration Court and Hearings and ICE Arrests

People who entered the U.S. without inspection AND cannot prove continuous two-year residence in the U.S. or people whose parole has been canceled face risk of expedited removal.

Know Before you Go: Immigration Court and Hearings and ICE Arrests

Since May 2025, ICE officers have been stationed outside of immigration courtrooms and may arrest individuals. The government may dismiss (close) a case and ICE will arrest the person and initiate expedited removal (rapid deportation without another court appearance).

SCOTUS CLEARS PATH TO END CHNV PAROLE PROGRAMS

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) cleared the way for the Trump Administration to move forward with plans to dismantle the parole program for nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV).

DHS ANNOUNCES HISTORIC TRAVEL ASSISTANCE AND STIPEND FOR VOLUNTARY SELF-DEPORTATION

On May 6th, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an opportunity for illegal aliens to receive both financial and travel assistance to facilitate travel back to their home country through the CBP Home App.

The U.S. Supreme Court paused the deportation of a group of Venezuelan migrants in northern Texas

According to CBS News, the Court issued the emergency order, preventing their immediate deportation under the rarely-invoked Alien Enemies Act—a wartime-era law being used by the Trump Administration. Trump has faced scrutiny in recent weeks for invoking the Act.

Alien Registration Requirements

Who is registered already? Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders), Nonimmigrants issued Form I-94/1-94W (tourists, students, etc), Aliens paroled into the U.S., Aliens issued an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), Aliens in removal proceedings, Applicants for lawful permanent residence (even if denied), Aliens issued Border Crossing Cards.

Important Announcement: Alien Registration Rule

Effective April 11, 2025, DHS's new Alien Registration Rule will officially take effect. The rule was challenged in court by AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) and other partners - but the court denied the request to pause or delay the rule.

IMPORTANT ALERT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

The Department of State (DOS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have intensified efforts targeting international students, even those without a history of protest or criminal convictions.

Federal Court Blocks Trump Administration's Termination of TPS

In February 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered an end to the TPS program, citing concerns that local governments were overwhelmed and that Venezuelan immigrants had connections to the international crime organization Tren de Aragua.

IRS nearing deal with ICE

The IRS is reportedly close to finalizing an agreement that would allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to access taxpayer data to identify and locate undocumented immigrants with final removal orders.

La Migra! Handling ICE Encounters

What to do if ICE comes to your home? Below is a flyer that summarizes your rights!

Termination of TPS FOR Honduras and Nicaragua

On July 8, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the terminations of TPS for Honduras and Nicaragua. While the notice stipulates that the termination will take effect 60 days from the date of publication, the effective date will be September 8, 2025.

Deportations to Third World Countries have Begun

On Tuesday, July 15, the Department of Homeland Security announced that five migrants-originally from Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen-were deported to the African nation of Eswatini, a country they had no connection to. This marks the first known use of new "third-country deportation authority" authorized after a recent Supreme Court decision.

NEW IMMIGRATION FEES

New immigration fees authorized by the reconciliation bill (includes minimum amount, type, and fee waivable).

DHS announced the termination of TPS

On July 7, 2025, DHS announced the termination of TPS for Honduras and Nicaragua, effective September 8, 2025. As of today, formal notice is now published in the Federal Register. During the wind-down period, DHS will automatically extend EADs issued under these designations through the termination date. It is important to review eligibility closely, as the extensions apply only to certain EADs with specific expiration dates.

Immigration implications of the Trump Administration's Bill

Massive Increase In Elimination of Certain Deportation Funding Humanitarian Program $175 billion in new immigration funding Parole programs and Temporary +1000 new ICE agents and expanding Protected Status (TPS) face capacity to over 1 million Southern border wall constructions, blocks expanded state and local -enti-sanctuary Future parole programs without cooperation with ICE.

United States v. New York

On June 12, 2025, The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit against the state of New York to stop the Protect Our Courts Act. If overturned, this would allow federal agents to arrest immigrants at or near New York courthouses without a warrant signed by a judge

June 2025 US Travel Ban

On June 4, the presidential administration announced a policy restricting the entry of foreign nationals from designated countries into the United States, citing national security concerns. The ban took effect on June 9, 2025.

DOS WILL WORK WITH DHS TO REVOKE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS VISAS

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that DOS will work with DHS to revoke visas for Chinese students.

June 2025 US Travel Ban
On June 4, the presidential administration announced a policy restricting the entry

Yesterday in Noem, et al. v. National TPS Alliance, et al., the U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay of the order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on March 31, 2025, pending disposition of the appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Maintaining F-1 Student Status

As an F-1 international student in the United States, it is your responsibility to maintain your immigration status. Follow these key guidelines to stay in compliance and avoid jeopardizing your education or legal stay:

Privacy Alert: Sensitive Immigration Data at Risk

The Washington Post reports that representatives from the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have gained access to the sensitive Executive Office for Immigration Review's Courts and Appeals System (ECAS), which holds personal records on millions of immigrants.

Alien Registration Requirements

Effective January 20, 2025, all non-citizens present in the U.S. for more than 30 days must register with DHS under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA §1302), unless exempt.

IMMIGRATION LAW UPDATE: Trump v. J.G.G.

In a significant ruling (Trump V. J.G.G., April 7, 2025), the Supreme Court allowed the government to transfer Venezuelan nationals suspected of ties to foreign terrorist organizations to prisons in El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act.

Calderon Jimenez v. Mayorkase

Are you facing deportation but married to a U.S. citizen? You may qualify for relief under a new settlement agreement!!!

CHNV parol program ending

Under Executive Order 14165 signed by President Trump in January 2025, DHS is terminating all categorical parole programs that don't align with the new administration's border security priorities

Tump invokes the Enemy Aliens Act of 1798

On March 15, 2025, President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, citing national security concerns over the Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan-based criminal organization labeled as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. government.