The FORM I-9 that all employers must complete for all newly-hired employees to verify their identity and authorization to work in the United States will expire on August 31, 2019. Until further notice from DHS/USCIS, employers should continue using the Form I-9 currently available on I-9 Central, even after the expiration date of August 31, 2019 has passed.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today ( August 15, 2019) dismissed a federal government appeal and ruled that detained migrant children must have access to soap and toothpaste, and cannot be deprived of sleep. A Justice Department lawyer earlier this year argued before a panel of federal judges that the requirement that children be afforded "safe and sanitary" conditions did not necessarily mean they needed to be given basic hygiene products. The government attorney claimed that the nationwide standard for the treatment of migrant children in custody — was vague and therefore, "it was left to the agencies to...

The Internal Revenue Service urged taxpayers to resolve their significant tax debts to avoid putting their passports in jeopardy. They should contact the IRS immediately to avoid delays in their travel plans later. Under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, the IRS notifies the State Department (State) of taxpayers certified as owing a seriously delinquent tax debt, which is currently $52,000 or more. The law then requires State to deny their passport application or renewal. If a taxpayer currently has a valid passport, State may revoke the passport or limit a taxpayer’s ability to travel outside the United States....

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today, August 9, 2019, plans to maintain operations at its international field offices in Beijing and Guangzhou, China; Nairobi, Kenya; New Delhi, India; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Mexico City, Mexico; and San Salvador, El Salvador. While retaining these seven international offices, USCIS plans to close the remaining thirteen international field offices and three district offices between now and August 2020 on a staggered schedule.

On Wednesday, July 24th, 2019, the new EB-5 program federal regulations were published in the Federal Register. The new rules go into effect on November 21, 2019. EB-5 investors will be grandfathered under the $500,000 investment amount if the petitions are submitted prior to the effective date. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/24/2019-15000/eb-5-immigrant-investor-program-modernization Some of the key developments under the final rule include: Raising the minimum investment amounts ($900,000 for TEA and $1.8 million for non-TEA); Revising the standards for certain targeted employment area (TEA) designations; Giving USCIS responsibility for directly managing TEA designations; Clarifying USCIS procedures for the removal of conditions on permanent residence;...

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan announced Tuesday, July 23, 2019, that the department will be invoking and applying the expedited removal process to those who entered the U.S. illegally and are apprehended within two years of their entry. "The new designation adds one more tool for DHS—utilizing specific authority from Congress—to confront the ongoing security and humanitarian crisis on the Southwest border and throughout the country," McAleenan said in a statement. Historically, the expedited removal process has been used only at ports of entry and also within 100 miles of the border. This new directive will expand the expedited...

On July 17th, a documentary, The Deported, hosted by Rosario Dawson, will stream for free on YouTube Originals. It follows four families where at least one loved one in each family, all of DACA age and long-term residents of the US, are fighting an order of deportation. The producer of the film is authorizing the use of the documentary for fundraisers, for education, etc. Trailer:

The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security adopted an interim final rule related to asylum which went into effect on Tuesday, July 16, 2019. The interim rule purports to change the law for processing asylum claims in the context of aliens who enter or attempt to enter the United States across the southern land border and establishes a new mandatory bar for asylum eligibility. According to the new rule, an individual who enters or attempts to enter the United States across the southern border after failing to apply for protection in a third country outside the alien’s...

The proposed ICE raids previously scheduled before the 4th of July are now being reported by NYTimes as starting this Sunday 7/14. Reports indicate this massive enforcement action could impact 2,000 or more families in ten major cities. These cities include: Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington D.C., Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles and San Diego, Miami, New Orleans, New York City, and San Francisco. Please stay tuned for more notices, emails, resources, sign ups, etc. in the next hours and days.

Every day that we exercise our rights and freedoms in America, we celebrate Independence Day. We wish you a great Fourth of July and every other day of independence throughout the year. Happy 4th of July! Please note that our law offices will be closed Thursday July 4 in observation of Independence Day.