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Immigration Watch: Updates as of February 12, 2026

February 12, 2026
We will examine growing differences among states in their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, the unprecedented rise in habeas corpus petitions challenging immigration detention, and a new lawsuit targeting the Trump Administration’s Gold Card immigration program. These developments reflect increasing legal, political, and constitutional tensions across the immigration system. State Responses to ICE Enforcement Vary Read More »

One Year of the Trump Administration: Some of the Major Changes We’ve Seen in Immigration

January 27, 2026
On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump was sworn into office as the 47th President of the United States. He immediately began signing executive orders focused on many controversial political topics, including immigration.  Over the past year, immigration policy, procedure, and legislation have gone through major shifts. Now that we are one year into his presidency, here are a few of the top changes President Trump has made to Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of January 15, 2026

January 15, 2026
We will examine several major developments shaping U.S. immigration policy in 2026. These include the Department of Homeland Security’s shift to a weighted H-1B cap selection process, ICE’s plans to expand immigration detention capacity, an indefinite pause on immigrant visa processing for certain countries, and renewed scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement practices. Below is a Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of January 30, 2026

January 02, 2026
We will examine three significant developments in federal immigration enforcement: new internal ICE guidance on warrantless home entries, the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, and leadership changes involving Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino. These events have intensified national debate over constitutional protections, federal enforcement tactics, and oversight of immigration operations. ICE Memo on Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of December 22, 2025

December 22, 2025
We will examine several major developments shaping U.S. immigration policy. These updates include the introduction of the new Trump Gold Card program, expanded visa screening and vetting procedures by the Department of State and USCIS, and changes reducing the validity period of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). Below is a breakdown of what these changes mean Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of December 8, 2025

December 08, 2025
Immigration policy continues to shift rapidly as federal agencies tighten screening procedures, pause certain asylum applications, and face new legal challenges. This week’s Immigration Watch covers increased vetting of Afghan nationals, USCIS’s immediate hold on certain asylum and immigration benefit applications, and a multistate lawsuit challenging USDA SNAP restrictions for humanitarian immigrants. Below is a Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of November 25, 2025

November 25, 2025
This issue of Immigration Watch examines two significant immigration policy developments: the expanded authority of U.S. consular officers in visa adjudications and the impact of the new $100,000 H-1B application fee on the already strained U.S. public education system. Both changes could have far-reaching consequences for immigrant families, employment-based visa applicants, and school districts across Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of October 10, 2025

October 10, 2025
U.S. immigration policy continues to evolve rapidly, with major developments affecting federal agencies, employment-based visas, and DACA recipients. This week’s immigration update covers what happens to immigration agencies during a government shutdown, the latest lawsuit challenging the new H-1B visa fee, and the potential reopening of DACA applications. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of what Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of September 26, 2025

September 26, 2025
Immigration policy in the United States continues to shift rapidly, with significant changes proposed and enacted in recent weeks. From an updated naturalization civics test to new restrictions on student visas and sweeping changes to H-1B policy, these developments could impact individuals, universities, and businesses nationwide. Below is a breakdown of the key updates and Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of March 20, 2025

March 20, 2025
Upstate New York has recently found itself in national immigration news. From significant cuts in immigration court staffing to a new military deployment at the southern border, the latest developments reflect the ongoing shift in the U.S. approach to foreign nationals. Immigration Courts Down 85 Court Employees Since the beginning of the Trump administration, a Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of March 18, 2025

March 18, 2025
President Trump Invokes the Alien Enemies Act The Trump administration has taken an unprecedented step in immigration enforcement by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelan migrants alleged to be members of the Tren de Aragua prison gang. This rarely used wartime authority allows a president to detain and remove citizens of Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of March 11, 2025

March 11, 2025
In early March, we're seeing major changes in immigration procedures. Here is the latest: Updates to Immigration Forms The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made unannounced updates to three immigration forms: I-485, I-131, and N-400. The most notable change is that these forms now ask for an applicant’s “sex” rather than “gender,” aligning with Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of February 27, 2025

February 27, 2025
More updates this week as President Trump continues to cut legal immigration pathways and additional lawsuits are brought against his administration. Here is the latest: 1. ICE Entering Certain Sensitive Spaces — Temporarily Blocked A federal judge has issued a temporary block restricting ICE agents from entering certain places of worship. The lawsuit, brought by Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of February 21, 2025

February 21, 2025
Immigration has continued to be a prevalent topic in the news this week as President Trump initiates further policy changes and deportations. Here are the latest updates: 1. Trump Administration Working to End Federal Benefits for Undocumented Migrants On February 19, President Trump signed an executive order intending to eliminate federally funded benefits for undocumented Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of February 6, 2025

February 06, 2025
Since my last update on January 30, we’ve continued to see several major developments in U.S. immigration policy. Below is the latest: 1. First Migrants Flown to Guantanamo Bay On February 4, the first U.S. military plane transported migrants from El Paso, Texas, to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - marking the first time the U.S. government Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of January 27, 2025

January 27, 2025
As an immigration attorney, I understand how quickly policies can change and the significant impact they can have on individuals and families. While new developments continue to unfold daily, here are the latest updates. 1. Expedited Removal and Maximal Enforcement of Immigration Laws President Donald Trump signed an executive order that calls for maximal enforcement Read More »

Immigration Watch: Updates as of January 30, 2025

January 02, 2025
Throughout the week, we’ve continued to see significant updates to U.S. immigration policies - here’s a summary of what we know. 1. Threats of Migrant Detainment at Guantanamo Bay At the signing of the Laken Riley Act on January 28, President Trump announced that the “worst criminal aliens” would be sent to a detention center Read More »

USCIS Introduces Online Scheduling Tool for Local Field Appointments

October 17, 2023
This summer, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) expanded options for applicants and attorneys to schedule appointments online with local USCIS field offices in two significant ways. Biometric Service Appointments Can Now Be Rescheduled Online In June 2023, USCIS began allowing applicants and attorneys to reschedule most biometrics appointments (appointments for fingerprints, photograph, or Read More »

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Expands Stampless Entry Program

August 14, 2023
In April 2022, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") piloted a "stampless" entry program, that is now expanding to all airports, seaports, and land ports of entry. This new program means that CBP has discontinued using ink stamps in passports to document entry into the United States. While this new process should streamline entries Read More »

Significant Changes to Naturalization Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions

February 06, 2023
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released updated policy guidance and revisions to Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions.   Form N-648 is used by U.S. citizenship applicants requesting an exception to the English and civics testing requirements for naturalization due to a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment. The form is Read More »

DHS Final Rule to Preserve Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

January 26, 2023
On October 31, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented a final rule aimed to preserve and strengthen the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The implementation of the final rule means that DACA is now based on a formal regulation, rather than just a policy memorandum. The DACA program has allowed over Read More »

USCIS Extends Temporary Waiver of the Requirement that Form I-693 Be Signed No More than 60 Days Prior to Submission

October 17, 2022
USCIS has extended the temporary waiver of the requirement that civil surgeons must sign Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, no more than 60 days prior to submission. The waiver took effect on December 9, 2021 and has been extended to March 31, 2023, to further ease processing delays and difficulties completing Read More »

Automatic Extension of Permanent Resident Cards for Pending I-90 Applicants

October 17, 2022
Effective September 26, 2022, USCIS is automatically extending the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards) to 24 months for lawful permanent residents (LPR) who file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.  Previously, the extension was for a period of 12 months. LPRs who properly file Form I-90 to renew an expiring or Read More »

Clarification of How USCIS Determines the Appropriate O-1B Classification for Those in the Film, Television and Media Industry

June 06, 2022
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") recently updated the USCIS Policy Manual to explain how officers should determine whether a potential O-1B beneficiary should be evaluated as someone with extraordinary ability in the arts ("O-1B Arts") or extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry ("O-1B MPTV"). While the visa category is the same, Read More »

New Immigration Policies and Initiatives for Attracting and Retaining STEM Workers in the U.S.

March 21, 2022
On January 21, 2022, the Biden Administration announced several agency actions to attract and retain international science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) talent.  Attracting STEM talent is one of the administration's key strategies for U.S. technological and economic global competitiveness. The administration set forth new policies to provide clearer and more predictable pathways for international Read More »

New York Paid Sick Leave Legislation

September 14, 2020
Following New York's enactment of temporary COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave benefits in March, New York enacted permanent paid sick leave legislation on April 3, 2020. Governor Cuomo signed the State Budget (Senate Bill S7506B) into law, which includes a provision that amends the New York Labor Law to require employers to provide paid sick Read More »

Dual Citizenship Client Testimonial

March 13, 2018
I came to Bousquet Holstein PLLC with a complicated Italian Dual Citizenship matter - I needed to get a “one and the same” court order for a living relative in Massachusetts for an appointment coming up at the Consolato Italiano in New York. One of the attorneys at Bousquet Holstein PLLC, Rebecca Cohen, is admitted Read More »