Immigration Shake-Up: Trump’s Policies, Parole Ruling, and Green Card Self-Petitions
Ruttle Law, PC
Immigration law firm with an emphasis on work visas, green cards, and citizenship for business professionals.
Latest Updates on U.S. Immigration Every week we put together this newsletter to keep our readers informed.
Trump’s Immigration Policies Face Criticism?
President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed immigration policies, including revoking Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for migrants, are drawing sharp criticism, even in his home state of Florida. TPS recipients, many of whom live in Florida, could face deportation under his administration. The Miami Herald editorial board highlighted that such policies would hurt the state significantly, as many TPS recipients are integrated into local communities.
? TPS Recipients at Risk: Trump plans to revoke TPS for migrants from countries like Haiti and Venezuela, despite ongoing crises in these nations.
? Local Impact: Florida is home to nearly one-third of all TPS recipients, with 295,720 individuals residing in the state.
? Criticism: Critics argue that deporting TPS holders endangers lives and negatively impacts the communities they are part of.
Trump’s broader immigration plans include reviving policies like the “Remain in Mexico” program and expanding travel bans, signaling a return to stricter immigration enforcement.
High-Skilled Workers Seek Self-Sponsored Green Cards Amid Delays
With mounting delays in employer-sponsored green cards and fears over changing immigration policies, high-skilled foreign professionals are increasingly opting for self-sponsored options like EB-1 (extraordinary ability) and EB-2 (national interest waiver) visas.
Highlights:
? Rising Interest: EB-1 visa petitions grew by 75% in four years, with nearly 30,000 filed in 2023. Tech professionals from companies like Google and Meta are leading this trend.
? Employer Delays: Labor certification (PERM) processing now takes over a year, with tech layoffs further halting employer-sponsored petitions.
? Backlog Issues: Indian and Chinese workers face decades-long waits due to visa caps, prompting many to pursue self-petitions after years of building strong qualifications.
? Election Fears: Workers are expediting applications before potential policy changes under a new administration, which could bring stricter immigration scrutiny.
Challenges: Strict criteria and subjective evaluations make self-petitioning difficult, though recent USCIS guidance aims to clarify eligibility for extraordinary ability visas.
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As backlogs and uncertainties grow, self-sponsorship offers foreign professionals more control over their immigration journeys. If you’re considering this path, reach out to us to receive personalized advice on the best option for your unique case.
USCIS Responds to Parole in Place Ruling
A federal court has struck down a Biden administration policy that protected certain undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens from deportation. The policy, known as “parole in place,” also allowed these individuals to work legally while applying for citizenship.
What Happened:
? A judge ruled that the Biden administration did not have the legal authority to create this policy without approval from Congress.
? As a result, USCIS will no longer accept applications (Form I-131F) for this program. Pending applications will be canceled, and scheduled appointments have been called off.
Impact:
? The program, which could have affected up to 800,000 people, is no longer in place.
? USCIS has not yet decided whether it will refund application fees.
This decision adds to the legal challenges faced by the Biden administration’s immigration policies. With the incoming administration, the future of similar protections remains unclear.
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