In what I find to be troubling news, Fox News reports that the Trump Administration is moving to decertify the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ). Although the move to decertify the immigration judge’s union involves technical labor law issues, the administration’s message is clear, and its effect would be deleterious for noncitizens in removal proceedings and the attorneys who represent them.
On July 5, 2019 The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released its monthly Visa Bulletin August 2019 – the penultimate month of FY 2019. The August 2019 Visa Bulletin contains the dates for filing and application final action dates for beneficiaries of approved immigrant visa petitions in the family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories. On July 16, 2019, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that most family-sponsored adjustment of status applicants must rely upon the August 2019 Visa Bulletin’s dates for filing to determine eligibility to file for adjustment during the month, while all employment-based adjustment of status applicants must use the less favorable final action dates.
On July 24, 2019, the United States Citizenship and immigration Services (USCIS) published its new final rule on the EB5 immigrant investor program, titled “EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Modernization..” The rules, which take effect on November 21, 2019, represent arguably the most significant changes to the EB5 program since its inception in 1993.
On August 2, 2019, the USCIS announced its intention to terminate the Flipino World War II Veterans Parole program and the Haitian Family Reunification Parole program.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a reminder that on August 5, 2019, it has implemented a policy rejecting Form I-129 petitions that do not include the petitioner’s or applicant’s name and primary U.S. office address on Part 1 of the form.
On July 23, 2019, the U.S. Senate confirmed Mark Esper as the new Secretary of Defense by a vote of 90-8. Esper had been serving as the Acting Secretary of Defense since June 23, 2019. He had previously served as Secretary of the Army since November 20, 2017. The Defense Department had been without a Senate-confirmed Secretary since former Secretary James Mattis departed on December 31, 2018.
On July 19, 2019, Alexander Acosta resigned as the Secretary of Labor, leaving Deputy Secretary Patrick Pizzella as the Acting Secretary of Labor. One day earlier, President Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Eugene Scalia to be the next Secretary of Labor.
On June 28, 2019, the U.S. Department of State advised prospective adoptive parents and adoption service providers of potential delays in the processing time to complete intercountry adoptions from South Africa. The cause for delay is the South African Department of Home Affairs’ changing its process on how Hague Convention adoptions are noted on birth certificates.
On July 16, 2019, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it was discontinuing its E-Verify Listens public contact channel.
