Limited Travel Ban Becomes Effective This Evening

Posted on June 29, 2017June 29, 2017

As a result of Supreme Court ruling earlier this week, a limited version of the travel ban proposed by the Trump Administration goes into effect this evening (8 PM EDT, 5 PM PDT).

The modified ban would impact individuals from six majority-Muslim nations: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. In order for individuals from those nations to enter the United States, they must have “bona fide” relationships with individuals or entities in the country.

U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Appeal on Travel Ban, Reinstates Part of Ban

Posted on June 26, 2017

Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the Trump Administration’s appeal on its travel ban during its next session.

The court also allowed a part of the ban to go forward. The court ruled individuals without bona find relationships with people or entities in the United Stated could be barred from entry; those with relationships with organizations or individuals will be allowed to enter the country.

The order becomes effective within 72 hours.

DACA to Remain for Now, DAPA Officially Rescinded

Posted on June 16, 2017

On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially rescinded the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) policy that was issued by the Obama Administration in 2014 but blocked by a federal court later that year before it could be implemented. In the same memo that repealed DAPA, the Administration stated that it will keep in place for now the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

A press release about the DACA and DAPA announcement is available here and a fact sheet about the announcement from DHS is available here.

Appeals Court Upholds Block on Administration Travel Ban

Posted on May 25, 2017

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the block on the second version of the Administration travel ban. A federal judge in Maryland originally blocked the ban from going into effect earlier this year. The Fourth Circuit covers the following states: Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has yet to rule on a similar block issued by a judge in Hawaii.

Trump Signs “Buy American and Hire American” Executive Order

Posted on April 20, 2017

As promised, President Trump on Tuesday signed his “Buy American and Hire American” executive order, aimed partly at purported abuses in the H-1B visa program. The order reads, in part:

(a) In order to advance the policy outlined in section 2(b) of this order, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, as soon as practicable, and consistent with applicable law, propose new rules and issue new guidance, to supersede or revise previous rules and guidance if appropriate, to protect the interests of United States workers in the administration of our immigration system, including through the prevention of fraud or abuse.

(b) In order to promote the proper functioning of the H-1B visa program, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, as soon as practicable, suggest reforms to help ensure that H-1B visas are awarded to the most-skilled or highest-paid petition beneficiaries.

The entirety of the executive order is available here.