USAID Shutdown and Major Immigration & Policy Changes |
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.
USCIS Announces H-1B Registration Dates for FY 2026
The FY 2026 H-1B cap initial registration period will open on March 7 at noon ET and close on March 24 at noon ET. Employers and representatives must register beneficiaries electronically through a USCIS online account and pay a $215 fee per registration.
Key updates:
? The beneficiary-centric selection process continues, meaning selections are based on unique beneficiaries rather than registrations.
? Selected registrants will be notified by March 31.
? The credit card transaction limit has been temporarily increased to $99,999.99 per dayto accommodate high-volume payments.
? New account enhancements include allowing paralegals to work with multiple legal representatives, pre-filling Form I-129 fields, and bulk-uploading beneficiary data.
Additional details and resources will be available on the H-1B Electronic Registration Process page before registration opens.
Trump Administration Puts USAID Staff on Leave, Orders Return to U.S.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been effectively shut down, leaving programs frozen and staff cut off from work. The Biden administration has appointed Marco Rubio as acting administrator and Pete Marocco, a Trump ally, as deputy. Many employees have been laid off or lost access to their emails, and some are now communicating through encrypted channels.
Key Impacts:
? Humanitarian programs halted, including malaria vaccine distribution in Africa, HIV/AIDS drug supplies, and famine monitoring systems.
? U.S. soft power weakened, especially in regions like Africa and Asia where USAID counters China’s influence.
? Legal uncertainty over whether Trump has the authority to take such actions against an independent agency.
Democrats call this a constitutional crisis, while the administration argues it’s addressing overspending and agency reform. However, critics claim this is more about destruction than reform.
Learn more about the possible national and global impact of closing USAID.
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Marco Rubio’s Latin America Tour on Migration, Security, and China
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is touring Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Panama to strengthen security ties, curb illegal migration, and counter China’s influence in the region.
Migration & Deportation:
? El Salvador’s President Bukele agreed to accept all deportees from the U.S., even non-Salvadorans.
? U.S. deportation flights from Panama have repatriated over 1,700 migrants since August 2024, with U.S. funding of $2.7M.
? Panama reported a 90% drop in illegal crossings through the Darién region.
? Rubio observed a U.S.-funded deportation flight returning 43 undocumented Colombians. Since August 2024, U.S. has funded $2.7M in deportation flights, repatriating 1,700+ migrants to 14 countries.
? Rubio met with officials in Costa Rica and Guatemala to discuss: Border security and curbing migration,?Countering China’s influence in the region,?Strengthening U.S.-Central America ties. No specific agreements were announced in these meetings.
China’s Influence:
? Panama ended its Belt and Road Initiative agreement with China and may cancel more Chinese deals early.?U.S. warned Panama about China’s “influence over the Panama Canal” and threatened action if Panama doesn’t act.
? El Salvador and China negotiating a free trade deal, though the U.S. remains its main trading partner.
Other Agreements:
? El Salvador & U.S. signed a nuclear cooperation MOU to expand energy and economic ties.
? Customs security agreement between El Salvador & the U.S. aims to curb illegal migration.
Rubio will conclude his tour in the Dominican Republic, though details of discussions remain unclear.
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