Immigration Policy
How Does a Government Shutdown Impact Immigration Services?
Congress is preparing to break for the holidays, and it is apparent that the standoff over President Trump’s wall will result in a partial government shutdown. Unlike a full government shutdown, the current funding lapse only impacts certain aspects of the government. As of midnight on November 21st, funding expired for all non-essential employees in…
Read MoreWhat to Do if Stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement
At our California law office, Greco Neyland handles a number of immigration issues and cases. Our clients have questions about student visas and naturalization, but one of the more important issues we deal with every day is detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also referred to as ICE. Investigation and detention by ICE have substantial…
Read MoreDistrict Court Judge Blocks New Measures on Asylum
At least for the immediate future, the Trump Administration’s latest measures on asylum will go unenforced. As of last week, a district court judge in California has ruled that the new measures, which we covered in a blog post two weeks ago, were invalid and outside the scope of executive power. While this is a…
Read MoreWhat Is the Impact of the Government’s Asylum Proclamation?
Late last week on November 9th, the White House released an official proclamation from the President of the United States. The proclamation addresses the issue of “mass migration” to the southern border of the United States. It begins, “The United States expects the arrival at the border between the United States and Mexico (southern border)…
Read MoreCan Donald Trump Stop Birthright Citizenship?
The immigration news in the United States was dominated by a single topic this week: President Trump’s announcement that he intends to end birthright citizenship. He made the claim to the news outlet, Axios, in an interview released in part last Tuesday and fully on Sunday. His exact statement regarding the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of…
Read MoreDiversity Lottery Is Open: Questions on the Diversity Visa
Today is an important date for many individuals hoping to immigrate to the United States. October 3rd marks the first day that applicants can register for the 2020 Diversity Lottery. Despite being the source of some debate, and vast criticism by the current administration, the Diversity Lottery, officially called the Diversity Lottery Visa Program, will…
Read MoreHow Recent Court Decisions Are Restricting Deportation Hearings
If you are detained in the United States as a suspected illegal or unlawful immigrant, your right to access the United States legal system and due process is incredibly important. Through a series of hearings and the right to legal counsel, an undocumented or illegal immigrant has an opportunity to show a claim for asylum…
Read MoreICE Hits a Record High for Worker Enforcement Actions in U.S.
If you want proof that the government’s mentality and approach to immigration have shifted in the past 18 months, look no further than a recent report on actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE. The National Law Review reported that between January 2018 and the first week of August, ICE served a record 5,200…
Read MoreAfter the Deadline: What Happens to Families Deemed Ineligible for Reunification?
Summer 2018 will be remembered for many major stories on immigration and immigration policy. Several of these stories centered on events in California. Among these events are two crucial decisions by California judges. The first was a decision by Judge John Mendez in Sacramento, who made the initial ruling against the federal government in its…
Read MoreWhat Are the Ramifications Now That Trump’s Travel Ban Stands?
It’s only mid-July, yet this summer already feels like a series of immigration policy changes. We’ve seen the Trump Administration ramp up its stance on zero tolerance for illegal immigration, make announcements on asylum policies and changes to the asylum system, and even take the drastic step to separate minor children from their parents or…
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