USCIS Forms Update Notice

Good afternoon, We recently updated the following USCIS form(s): Form I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status 08/28/2024 11:34 AM EDT Edition Date: 08/28/24. Starting Sept. 30, 2024, we will accept only the 08/28/24 edition. Until then, you can also use the 04/01/24 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

USCIS to Open International Field Office in Quito, Ecuador

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced the opening of an international field office in Quito, Ecuador on Sept. 10. The Quito Field Office will focus on increasing refugee processing capacity, consistent with USCIS commitments under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and helping reunite individuals with their family members already in the United States. “Opening the Quito Field Office expands USCIS’ international presence and expertise in a critical location and is part of our commitment to the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to facilitate safe and orderly lawful pathways and meet our humanitarian mission,” said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou. “USCIS is dedicated to fairness, integrity, and respect for all we serve, and our presence in Ecuador is part of an effort to expand USCIS’ footprint outside the United States to more effectively support that mission.” The Quito Field Office will be located in the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador and will support the U.S. government’s effort to resettle refugees from the Americas, as outlined in the June 2022 Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. The fiscal year 2024 Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions increased the target for Latin America and the Caribbean to a range of 35,000-50,000 admissions. With a field office in Ecuador, USCIS staff will be able to provide immigration expertise to U.S. embassy and regional partners in support of the Oficinas de Movilidad Segura, or Safe Mobility Offices, in Ecuador. The Safe Mobility initiative facilitates expedited refugee processing through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and provides information and referrals to other lawful migration pathways to the United States and other countries. In addition to supporting refugee processing in Ecuador and the region, USCIS staff will focus on family reunification work and resume other critical USCIS duties at the embassy. This workload includes interviewing and processing Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, fingerprinting beneficiaries of certain USCIS applications, overseeing collection of DNA samples, and performing essential fraud detection activities. Services at the office in Quito will be available only by appointment. USCIS will update its International Immigration Offices webpage to include information about the field office, its services, and appointments. The Quito Field Office will be the 12th USCIS international field office. Currently, there are USCIS international field offices in Ankara, Turkey; Beijing; Doha, Qatar; Guangzhou, China; Guatemala City; Havana; Mexico City; Nairobi, Kenya; New Delhi; San Salvador, El Salvador; and Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Understanding Kamala Harris' modified stance on the border

WASHINGTON (TND) — Vice President Kamala Harris is out on the campaign trail,powered by momentum and a modified message. During her speech at the Democratic National Convention, she said,“As President, I will bring back the bipartisan border security bill that he killed, and I will sign it into law," referring to Donald Trump's involvement in killing the border deal that was negotiated for months. It included $650 million to build new and fix existing portions of the border wall.It's a wall featured prominently in a recent campaign ad. Vice President Kamala Harris is out on the campaign trail, powered by momentum and a modified message. (TND) It’s a stance that’s changed drastically since she ran for president the last time. In a 2020 Facebookpost, she called Trump’s border wall "a complete waste of taxpayer money" that "won’t make us any safer." In a 2019 Town Hall-style interview with CNN, Harris criticized then-President Trump for his treatment of migrants. Promoted Links Can a Spray Really Control B.O. For 72 Hours? Mando “This Administration has decided to vilify them and to trade on them for the sake of this President’s medieval vanity project called a wall.” Her opponent and his supporters assert she had no role in negotiating the border bill and accuse her of lying about her position to try to win more votes. In an interview Tuesday on Fox News "Hannity," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. said. “Do you really believe she's going to build a wall? That's just bull****.She’s had four years to build a wall and she’s done nothing. For the last four years, they turned every Trump policy upside down that prevented illegal immigration and we’re being overrun with 10 million people.” Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Democratic National Convention Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Democratic National Convention Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) With a spotlight on migrant crime and a sharp increase in arrests of migrants on the terror watch list warnings about those large numbers of people now in the country have been mounting from top intelligence officials "I see blinking lights everywhere I turn.I've never seen a time where all the threats or so many of the threats are all elevated all at exactly the same time that's what makes this environment that we're in now so fraught,"said FBI Director Christopher Wray. Those new threats, along with shifts in voter sentimentcould be among the reasons for the pivot. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., was the lead Democrat negotiator and also spoke at the DNC. “We can be a nation of immigrants who love their country and a nation with a secure border," he said. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Republicans accuse Kamala Harris of changing her stance on the border

Republicans are accusing Vice President Kamala Harris of flip-flopping after she confirmed her support for an immigration plan that includes expanding the U.S. southern border wall. Last week at the Democratic National Convention, Harris said that she would sign such a bill if elected president. The deal, which faltered in the Senate earlier this year, was a collaboration between the Biden-Harris administration and congressional Republicans and represents one of the strictest approaches to illegal immigration in recent years. More:Exclusive: Kamala Harris surges ahead of Donald Trump in latest poll taken after DNC Senator James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma and a key architect of the deal, criticized Harris for what he called a “flip-flop.” He told Axios, “It requires the Trump border wall,” citing provisions in the bill that adhere to the standards set during the Trump era, including specifics on construction and design. Lankford’s office confirmed that the deal sets aside $650 million for the wall—a significant cut from the $18 billion that President Donald Trump had requested in 2018. Harris supported an expansion to the southern border wall while serving as Biden's vice president but did not beforehand. As a U.S. Senator from California, she denounced the wall as a "medieval vanity project" and vowed to block its funding. In 2019, she dismissed the project, and in early 2020, she criticized it on social media as a "complete waste of taxpayer money." Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team. Migrants walk along the Mexico-U.S. border wall in El Paso, Texas on March 19, 2024. Trumpworld follows Lankford’s lead, attacks Harris’ stance The Trump campaign has also seized on Harris' statement. Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for the former president’s campaign, criticized Harris for avoiding direct interviews and relying on staff to address the issue. “It’s DAY 37 of ZERO interviews, and Kamala’s anonymous campaign sources are now claiming she supports President Trump’s border wall—this is a preposterous and false claim,” Leavitt said in a statement. Trump senior adviser Jason Miller described it as “total bulls---” and said Harris “hasn’t flip-flopped on anything,” according to Fox News. “Harris opposes the wall, has always opposed the wall, and stopped wall construction as V.P.,” he said. Sens. James Lankford and Chris Coons pray with President Donald Trump at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 7, 2019. Former President Donald Trump has also made the U.S.-Mexico border a central issue, mainly due to his influence in shaping its narrative. Earlier this year, Senate Republicans, following Trump’s lead, rejected the bipartisan border security bill introduced by Senators James Lankford, Kyrsten Sinema and Chris Murphy. Trump commented on the bill’s defeat: “I think we killed it. I think it’s dead! But you can never say it because bad bills always come back to life because these guys make a lot of money with bad bills.” For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Meet the think tank planning a second Trump administration. (It’s not Project 2025.)

Planning for a second Donald Trump White House has been years in the making. Key members of the former Trump administration diaspora have been quietly poring over Biden administration regulations, interviewing hundreds of former officials, and drafting executive actions for the launch of Trump’s next term if he wins. The goal: Stand up a professionalized administration that can move quickly to undo President Joe Biden’s legacy, avoiding the chaos that bogged down the Trump team after 2016. It’s not the high-profile Project 2025 initiative from the Heritage Foundation, which has drawn condemnation from Trump — and become a bogeyman for the left. The transition planning is coming, instead, from a different conservative think tank: America First Policy Institute. That planning has taken place largely outside the official Trump campaign, whose own transition planning is months behind the schedule of his first bid for the White House. But Trump and top aides are aware of the outside effort, and many Republicans view it as a key supplement to the formal Trump transition effort, as long as it stays out of the spotlight — and avoids angering Trump. The America First Policy Institute, filled with Trump loyalists and insiders, was blessed by Trump before it was founded in 2021. Its CEO, Brooke Rollins, has had a close relationship with Trump for years and has discussed the think tank’s transition plans with him, according to two people familiar with the meeting; this month, the former president named the group’s board chair, Linda McMahon, to co-lead the official transition team. “For three and a half years, AFPI has focused on personnel and policy. It was formed by and is teeming with senior staffers from the first Trump Administration whose goal is to be ready on day one,” said Kellyanne Conway, the former Trump adviser who chairs AFPI’s Center for the American Child. “Linda McMahon, Brooke Rollins and the team have planned with precision and executed with put-your-head-down type humility.” Lobbyists have taken note and are directing their clients to meet with AFPI or suggesting policy. The think tank has an emphasis on deregulating the federal government and limiting its reach. It has been “drinking from the fire hose,” said one lobbyist who has been asked to advise AFPI and emphasized that the think tank sat “in the driver seat on transition.” (Like most others interviewed for this article, the lobbyist was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive dynamics in Trump’s orbit.) Compatibility check: Are Trump and Vance a policy match? SharePlay Video AFPI, as a 501(c)3 non-profit, cannot support a candidate for office. The group is careful to note that it is unaffiliated with any specific campaign or candidate, and so far, it has avoided a cardinal sin in Trump’s world: publicly asserting proximity to or influence with Trump it does not have. The group has sought to avoid public attention — or the kind of firestorm that has engulfed the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. AFPI staffers “have been quietly focused on helping current and future leaders at the local, state and national level enact policies to reverse the damage caused by the radical left and put the interests of the American people first,” the think tank said in a statement. “AFPI does not speak on behalf of any officeholder or campaign.” But the think tank’s connections — and access — to Trump and his allies run deep. And some Republicans see it as a key player in the potential preparations for 2025, especially as the campaign itself has not built out a robust transition plan. “AFPI is not becoming the transition,” said a person familiar with the Trump campaign’s transition prep, granted anonymity to discuss private plans. “But by virtue of how they are situated and that we are in a very late timeline for this work, AFPI and the transition may be a distinction without a difference.” The think tank has drawn criticism from the left for its association with 2020 election denialism, including its participation in a Georgia lawsuit over the power of local officials to contest election results certification. The group is well-funded, though as a 501(c)(3) “dark money” nonprofit, it does not disclose its donors. In 2022, it brought in $23.6 million in revenue, according to a recent tax filing, and paid a number of former Trump administration officials hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation. The Trump loyalists inside the group, sometimes dubbed the former president’s “White House in waiting,” include Rollins — Trump’s former Domestic Policy Council director — and Larry Kudlow, his former National Economic Council director. Trump has hosted fundraisers for AFPI at his Mar-a-Lago club, his PAC Save America donated to the group, and his first major speech in Washington since leaving the White House was at an AFPI event. “They got permission from Trump,” said Bryan Lanza, a lobbyist who served on Trump’s first transition team. “Linda’s a former Cabinet official, she’s now in the transition. I think that sort of shows that there’s some connective tissue.” AFPI has yet to release any final materials that will define its “America First Transition Project” for Trump’s next term. But the group’s broad publicly released agenda focuses on deregulation of the federal government, greater rights for religious groups and an aggressive crackdown on crime, among other issues. It supports greater oil and gas production, the completion of the border wall and the limitation of federal spending. It has also expressed support for declaring Antifa a domestic terrorist group and making Trump’s tax cut legislation permanent. Its staffers have conducted extensive research with a goal of going deep into what an early memo described as the “management, personnel, policy, financial, and administrative” strategies to run the federal government. MOST READ election-2024-harris-34253.jpg Harris gains on Trump in Sun Belt states where Biden struggled, Fox poll finds Democrats Are Already Buzzing About a Merrick Garland Successor ‘It Is Not the Job of the Pro-Life Movement to Vote for President Trump.’ Why Gavin Newsom lost star surrogate status under Kamala Harris Trump team involved in ‘incident’ with staff at Arlington cemetery AFPI has held more than 1,000 interviews with former administration officials and analyzed every Biden administration executive order, according to a person familiar with its work, and is drafting more than 100 proposed executive actions. Lanza said the group has compiled the titles of key jobs to prioritize filling in the next administration. As AFPI has worked to build its plans for a second Trump White House, lobbyists have seized on the opportunity to influence its agenda. Some said they have pushed clients to meet with its staff. One Republican lobbyist said they had pushed the think tank to focus on undoing Biden’s labor policy, an issue of particular import to their clients. There’s a common misconception, one lobbyist said, that the best way to influence a Trump White House is to get to Trump himself. But that’s actually not the case on detailed policy issues, the lobbyist said: “On economic issues, regulatory matters, policy issues, it’s not that straightforward, right? In fact, most of the time, you have to work bottom up.” One Republican lobbyist was asked to review detailed plans for federal departments. Another said AFPI had asked for recommended actions for their former office for Day 1, the first 100 days, and the first 200 days. “Their goal is … to get a structure in place that will allow for the correct formula of personnel and pursuing the right policy early on,” said one Republican lobbyist who worked for the Trump administration. “They have stuff ready to go off the shelf that they can present as options.” Its efforts are intended, in part, to ensure a smoother start to the next Trump administration. Trump’s unexpected win in 2016 scrambled a tumultuous transition project that was initially led by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — until Trump fired him days after he won the election. Trump thanks RFK Jr. for endorsement: 'He's a great guy' SharePlay Video “We have announced a transition leadership team and expanded the team this week,” said Trump campaign spokesman Brian Hughes in a statement. Both the transition team and campaign are preparing “for the hard work of undoing the failure and chaos” of the Biden-Harris administration, he said: “Transition efforts, as with the campaign, implement President Trump’s agenda, and after a victory in November it will be President Trump who leads the work to build the team for an historic next term leading our nation.” The current official transition effort is still being built out, according to a person familiar with the plans, who said that vetting for potential cabinet positions — or even the initial brainstorming of those names — has not begun in earnest, although Trump has already floated different names for certain positions. In mid-August, Trump announced that his transition team will be led by McMahon and Howard Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and long-time friend and donor of Trump. Trump’s two adult sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., along with Trump’s running mate Sen. JD Vance, were named honorary co-chairs of the transition operation. Trump this week added Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard as honorary co-chairs, although it is unclear exactly how much influence they will have on personnel or policy. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Project 2025 condemned by bilingual campaign aimed at Latino voters

Seven advocacy organizations that have been working to engage Latino voters ahead of the presidential election found that many of them are familiar with Project 2025, but few understood the specifics behind the 900-plus-page conservative policy plan and its potential impact if implemented. These groups, most of which are left-leaning or progressive, are coming together under a new coalition to launch a bilingual campaign condemning Project 2025 and its stances on specific issues that are important to Latino voters — such as education, health care access, reproductive rights, climate change and immigration, as well as jobs and workers rights. The “Defendiendo Nuestro Futuro, Latinos Against Project 2025” campaign aims to target millions of Latino voters in swing states through door-to-door canvassing efforts, phone-banking and social media. "The more we educate the community about this plan and its implications ... the more Latino voters will understand that Project 2025 is not in their best interest," Vanessa Cárdenas, executive director of the immigrant rights advocacy group America’s Voice, said during the campaign's launch Tuesday. Latino voters stand to reshape the presidential race in ways that are hard to predict since many of them are young people or newly registered voters, according to a memo on a recent Equis Research poll. “There’s a huge gap of information missing on Project 2025 in the Latino community,” said Yadira Sánchez, executive director of the Latino civic engagement organization Poder Latinx. Sánchez said her organization speaks to about 200 people weekly as part of their efforts to engage Latino voters in six states: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Washington, California and Texas. Based on the conversations they've had, she estimated that "less than 20% know what Project 2025 is," in part because there is little information about the project in Spanish. At the same time, TikTok posts about Project 2025 garnered millions of views on the social media platform earlier this year. TikTok is hugely popular among young Hispanic adults, most of whom prefer to get their news in English and from digital sources. A point that got a lot of attention on TikTok was Project 2025's plan to limit federal education policy and, ultimately, eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Katharine Pichardo-Erskine, executive director of the Latino Victory Foundation, argued this would ultimately cut "vital education programs that help break the cycle of poverty" in Latino communities. Pichardo-Erskine said her organization recently commissioned a national poll on Latino voters that included a question about Project 2025. "As a result of the poll, a plurality of Latinos are familiar with Project 2025," Pichardo-Erskine said. Of those who had heard about it, "almost 40% understand that it’s somewhat bad for them." She added that "there’s still a lot of education that we need to do" in order for people to understand how it could affect their daily lives. Developed by the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 is a transition project that includes a policy blueprint and a personnel database for the next Republican president and counts the support of more than 100 conservative organizations. Many of these organizations are led by close allies and top former advisers of former President Donald Trump, who is the Republican presidential nominee. Trump has publicly disavowed Project 2025 and redirected supporters to his own campaign platform named Agenda47. Recommended Vote Watch Texas voter purge may be sending a chilling message, lawmakers and advocates warn Still, the Latino groups believe there's not enough of a separation as they called special attention to overlaps on conservative views on issues, including immigration. Project 2025 calls for the "mass deportation" of undocumented immigrants by expanding the powers of immigration enforcement authorities and finishing the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Signs that read "mass deportation" were given out to attendees of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last month when Trump accepted the Republican nomination, said David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West, a labor union in California. "So, it's very clear what the agenda of a potential Trump presidency would be if he's elected in November," Huerta said. Impacts on health care and abortion access, climate legislation When it comes to health care access and reproductive rights, Project 2025 proposes limiting Medicaid through spending caps, moving away from the program's open-ended funding structure, which allows it to more easily adjust to the needs of the population, especially in times of crisis. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, research has shown that Medicaid expansion has contributed to a decrease in uninsured rates among Latinos from 2010 to 2022. Proposed Medicaid spending caps could affect health care access for the nearly 18 million Latinos enrolled in the program. The conservative policy road map also states that "abortion is not health care" and proposes strict limitations to it. Almost 6.7 million Latinas of reproductive age already live in states that have banned or are likely to ban abortions, making them the largest group of women of color in the nation affected by current or likely state abortion bans. Project 2025 policies would deprioritize efforts to fight climate change and roll back various environmental regulations considered burdensome for business development. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Latinos are more likely to experience the detrimental consequences of climate change and global warming since they face higher temperature-mortality rates compared with non-Hispanic whites and live in areas prone to inland and coastal flooding. The three states with the highest Hispanic populations (California, Texas and Florida) are also among the hardest hit by natural disasters such as wildfires, increasingly stronger hurricanes and extreme heat waves. Project 2025 also outlines ways to stop the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from collecting employment statistics based on race and ethnicity, which would make it more difficult to track discrimination in the workplace, as well as dismantle the National Labor Relations Board’s oversight role. Huerta said this move would erode workers' protections and their right to unionize. "Too often as a community, we choose not to vote, but this time we have to vote," Huerta said. "Never before have we seen the consequences of not voting as real as they are now." A spokesperson for the Heritage Foundation did not respond to an email and phone call seeking comment. But the organization's Project 2025 website states, "The Left has spent millions fearmongering about Project 2025, because they’re terrified of losing their power." Image: Nicole AcevedoNicole Acevedo Nicole Acevedo is a reporter for NBC Latino. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Biden administration may soon restart key immigration program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans

The Biden administration may soon restart a key immigration program that had been paused this summer over concerns of fraud, according to a source familiar with the matter. The program allows migrants of certain nationalities to apply to legally migrate to the United States and has often been credited by Homeland Security officials for driving down border crossings. But it’s also become the source of political attacks by Republicans. Former President Donald Trump and GOP lawmakers have often slammed the program, falsely claiming that it allows undocumented immigrants to fly into the United States. DHS is expected to implement enhancements to vetting procedures and new requirements for supporter applications for the program in the coming days, one source familiar with the plans said. The agency will begin by processing small batches of sponsor applications manually, the source added. The program is expected to run on a more fulsome scale in the coming weeks and months. Since the parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) was introduced more than a year ago, over 386,000 people of those nationalities have arrived. In addition to vetting, those who enter the US under that parole program are also required to have sponsors in the US. The purpose of the program is to keep people from crossing the border illegally by providing a legal pathway to the US. Homeland Security officials found that some applications included serial sponsors providing false information, prompting concern within the department and resulting in pausing the program. No issues have been identified at this point with the immigrants who were applying, though a review is ongoing. “Out of an abundance of caution, DHS has temporarily paused the issuance of advanced travel authorizations for new beneficiaries while it undertakes a review of supporter applications. DHS will restart application processing as quickly as possible, with appropriate safeguards,” a Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement. “CHNV beneficiaries are thoroughly screened and vetted prior to their arrival to the United States. The multi-layered screening and vetting for advanced travel authorizations is separate from the screening of U.S.-based supporters. DHS has not identified issues of concern relating to the screening and vetting of beneficiaries,” the spokesperson added. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Immigrant families in limbo after judge puts U.S. program for spouses on hold

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — After President Joe Biden this summer announced a new U.S. citizenship pathway for immigrant spouses, Oscar Silva rushed to apply and was elated Monday when an email arrived confirming his appointment for a required biometric exam. But hours later, Silva received a jolt: a federal judge in Texas was temporarily suspending the program that could benefit an estimated 500,000 immigrants in the U.S., freezing in place one of the biggest presidential actions to ease a path to citizenship in years. “I don’t know what is going to happen,” Silva said Tuesday. The 23-year-old college student arrived in the U.S. as a baby and lives in Texas with his wife, Natalie, an American citizen who provides for their family as a high school teacher. Although the Biden administration’s “Keeping Families Together” program only began accepting applications last week, families and immigration attorneys say confusion, uncertainty and frustration is already mounting following the order by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker. Couples who already applied say they are in limbo and those who haven’t yet must weigh whether to wait for Republicans’ court challenge over the program to play out. Advertisement Applicants must pay a $580 processing fee. Following Barker’s order, the Florida Immigrant Coalition said it was asking people “to weigh their options and to make the best decision for their families at this time.” RELATED COVERAGE Image No. 4 Texas opens the season against Colorado State with eyes and expectations already on the CFP Image CrowdStrike estimates the tech meltdown caused by its bungling left a $60 million dent in its sales Image What to know after Texas authorities searched the homes of Latino campaign volunteers The court order followed a challenge by 16 states, led by Republican attorneys general, who filed a federal lawsuit days after the program began taking applications on Aug. 19. Barker’s order, known as an administrative stay, will be in place for 14 days but could be extended. “That ruling is wrong. These families should not be needlessly separated,” Biden said in a statement. The states claimed the move would cause irreparable harm and accused the administration of bypassing Congress for “blatant political purposes.” Advertisement Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose office is helping lead the lawsuit, applauded the order. “This is just the first step. We are going to keep fighting for Texas, our country, and the rule of law,” he said in a statement. On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security said the government would continue to take applications and defend the program in court. Any applicants whose parole was granted prior to the order will be unaffected, according to the department. DHS did not respond to questions about how many applications were received or approved or how long it takes to determine the outcome of a case under the program. Fears of separation returned for Silva and his wife, Natalie. Under the traditional process to apply for a green card, spouses living in the U.S. illegally can be required to return to their home country — often for years — and they always face the risk they may not be allowed back in. “We thought this was finally our opportunity to be able to go through this process together and not fear the possibility of spending ten years away from each other,” Silva said. Now “I feel pretty heartbroken, very sad… because without it we face so much uncertainty.” Advertisement Immigration attorney Laura Flores-Perilla said it was “really unclear” what will happen with Silva’s appointment scheduled for September. “I cannot underestimate the impact that this temporary pause is having,” said Flores-Perilla, an attorney at the Action Justice Center. Gregory Chen, the director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said he had heard from lawyers affiliated with the association of at least hundreds of people who had applied since the program was launched, including some who applied and were approved the next day. Lawyers are rushing to understand what the order means for their clients, too. According to Chen, the organization’s listserv for lawyers interested in the Keeping Families Together program “blew up” after the judge’s decision late Monday with questions about what the decision means. Advocates are concerned the changes, even temporary ones, created by such litigation “creates chaos and uncertainty” for those looking to apply. Chen said he’s seen the effect litigation has had on other immigration-related programs. Advertisement His organization has held three webinars designed to educate lawyers about the program. One of those seminars had about 1,000 lawyers in attendance, an extremely high number for one of the group’s educational offerings, Chen said. Roberto García, 37, and his wife Maria in Los Angeles had just paid an attorney $3,000 to help them fill out the lengthy application for the program but the application wasn’t submitted yet because of Monday’s order. Now, they’re wondering if they should gamble their chances and pay the processing fee for a program on hold. “I didn’t think this was going to happen. It’s very hard,” said Roberto Garcia, referring to the order that halted the parole program. “We are not a priority. It is bad that they play with people’s feelings.” Advertisement Roberto is the sole provider for the family of five and earns a living through this construction business in California. He also sends money back home to family in Mexico. If approved, applicants have three years to seek permanent residency. During that period, they can get a work authorization. But Maria García said she is losing hope and considering moving to Mexico, where her husband has his parents and brothers. “We will never be able to buy a house here,” she said. “Here if you do things wrong, they reward you. If you do things right, they punish you.” For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Biden’s plan to shield undocumented spouses of Americans is on hold. Here’s what to know.

A federal court in Texas has put one of the biggest legalization programs in over a decade on hold temporarily, leaving more than half a million people in limbo. The program, announced by the Biden administration in June, allows undocumented spouses of Americans to apply for a green card without having to leave the country. Approximately 500,000 spouses and 50,000 stepchildren would be eligible for the program, according to senior administration officials. The attorneys general of 16 red states — including Texas, Florida, and Georgia — argued that the program was an illegal attempt to circumvent Congress and create a new pathway to citizenship. The court has given those states two weeks to provide evidence that they would be permanently harmed if the program resumes. Then, the court will rule whether blocking the program on a longer-term basis is appropriate. The individuals eligible for the new program were always technically able to apply for permanent residence through their US citizen spouse or stepparent but to do so, their families would have to separate, making applying impractical, if not impossible. That’s because undocumented immigrants would have to leave the country as part of the green card application process. They wouldn’t be legally allowed to reenter for 10 years if they had initially come to the US without permission and stayed for more than a year. Immigrants can apply for waivers of this 10-year bar, but the process faces major backlogs. If upheld, the new program would essentially allow noncitizen spouses and stepchildren to bypass that 10-year bar by offering them parole, which protects them from deportation and gives them work authorization. While the government won’t be able to process applications to the program under the court’s order, individuals can still file applications in the hope that the program will be allowed to resume. Critically, that might only happen after an appeals process that could extend beyond the November election. If former President Donald Trump is elected, he is expected to scrap the program because it conflicts with his campaign promise to deport undocumented immigrants living in the US. What are the chances that the program survives court challenges? Based on previous cases involving the legal authority Biden invoked to create the program, it should survive court challenges, said Jeremy McKinney, former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. The program relies on the president’s power to issue what’s called “parole in place,” which has been used for decades by both Republican and Democratic presidents to allow immigrants to remain in the US temporarily, as well as on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian reasons — or because it would significantly benefit the public. For instance, the US government has offered parole in place to undocumented relatives of US service members. Part of what could help the new program as it faces legal challenges is the fact it isn’t creating a new path to citizenship for immigrants, but instead relies on parole in place to make it easier for undocumented spouses to obtain legal status that they are already eligible for. “All it does is make it easier for mixed-status households to stay together while they are going through the legal immigration process,” McKinney said. “This is not a shortcut of the normal system.” He noted that the Fifth Circuit, the appeals court that might review this case, previously recognized the president has parole-in-place authority as recently as 2021 when it called it a “means of removing bars that stand between an [immigrant] and government benefits.” “I do think that the legal landscape looks favorable to these applicants,” he said. Should undocumented spouses still apply? Those eligible for the program can still move ahead with their applications. To be eligible for the new program, spouses must be present in the US without having been legally admitted to the US or previously provided parole. They must have also lived in the US for at least a decade and have a legally valid marriage to a US citizen as of June 17, 2024. And they must “merit a favorable exercise of discretion” and not pose a threat to public safety, according to a senior administration official. For stepchildren to be eligible, they must be unmarried and under 21. Their parent must have married a US citizen before the stepchild turned 18. The decision of whether to apply might ultimately come down to whether applicants are willing to take on the financial risk while the program is on hold. The application fee is $580 per person, excluding any fees associated with hiring a lawyer to prepare the application. “They are making a financial bet, so to speak,” McKinney said. “And so if money is tight, maybe they want to wait until the litigation is resolved.” For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

USCIS Forms Update Notice

Good afternoon, We recently updated the following USCIS form(s): Form G-1055, Fee Schedule 08/28/2024 09:34 AM EDT Edition Date: 08/28/24. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page of Form G-1055, Fee Schedule. Form I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status 08/28/2024 08:26 AM EDT Edition Date: 08/28/24. Starting Aug. 28, 2024, we will accept only the 08/28/24 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions. Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization 08/28/2024 08:20 AM EDT Edition Date: 08/28/24. Starting Oct. 28, 2024, we will accept only the 08/28/24 edition. Until then, you can also use the 04/01/24 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions. Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status 08/28/2024 08:18 AM EDT Edition Date: 08/28/24. Starting Oct. 28, 2024, we will accept only the 08/28/24 edition. Until then, you can also use the 07/27/24 and 04/01/24 editions. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions. Form I-485 Supplement J, Confirmation of Bona Fide Job Offer or Request for Job Portability Under INA Section 204(j) 08/28/2024 08:16 AM EDT Edition Date: 08/28/24. Starting Oct. 28, 2024, we will accept only the 08/28/24 edition. Until then, you can also use the 04/01/24 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions. Form I-485 Supplement A, Supplement A to Form I-485, Adjustment of Status Under Section 245(i) 08/28/2024 08:14 AM EDT Edition Date: 08/28/24. Starting Oct. 28, 2024, we will accept only the 08/28/24 edition. Until then, you can also use the 04/01/24 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions. Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status 08/28/2024 08:12 AM EDT Edition Date: 08/28/24. Starting Oct. 28, 2024, we will accept only the 08/28/24 edition. Until then, you can also use the 04/01/24 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions. For more information, please visit our Forms Updates page.

USCIS Updates Guidance for F/M Nonimmigrant Student Classification

We are updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding when students may be eligible for optional practical training (OPT) extensions for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. This guidance, found in Volume 2, Part F, of the Policy Manual, also provides clarifying guidance for F/M nonimmigrant students concerning online study, school transfers, the grace period, and study abroad. The Policy Manual update: Clarifies that students may count one class or three credits (or the equivalent) per academic session (or the equivalent) toward a full course of study if they take the class online or through distance learning not requiring physical attendance for any purpose integral to completion of the class. Explains that students may transfer between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified, schools at the same educational level, or move between educational levels. Explains that, during the 60-day grace period following an authorized period of post-completion of OPT, students may change their education level, transfer to another SEVP-certified school, or file an application or petition with USCIS to change to another nonimmigrant or immigrant status. Clarifies that students may be eligible for post-completion OPT after completion of an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree program. Corrects the period during which students may apply for STEM OPT extensions and makes other technical corrections. Clarifies that a student enrolled in a SEVP-certified school during a study abroad program may remain active in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System if the study abroad program lasts less than five months, but that the student will need a new Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, if the program lasts longer than five months. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to requests pending or filed on or after the publication date. For more information, see the Policy Alert.

Meza-Carmona v. Garland - filed Aug. 26, 2024

Immigration Law Under 8 U.S.C. §1409(c), a person claiming citizenship must show that the person’s mother stayed in the United States for one year without leaving. Meza-Carmona v. Garland - filed Aug. 26, 2024 Cite as 2024 S.O.S. 20-73293 Full text click here >http://sos.metnews.com/sos.cgi?0824//20-73293.

Texas, other GOP-led states sue over program to give immigrant spouses of US citizens legal status

Sixteen Republican-led states are suing to end a federal program that could potentially give nearly half a million immigrants without legal status who are married to U.S. citizens a path to citizenship. The coalition filed suit Friday to halt the program launched by President Joe Biden in June, saying in court filings that the administration bypassed Congress to create a pathway to citizenship for “blatant political purposes.” “This action incentivizes illegal immigration and will irreparably harm the Plaintiff states,” the suit filed in federal court in Tyler, Texas, says. Under the policy, which started taking applications Monday, many spouses without legal status can apply for something called “parole in place,” offering permission to stay in the U.S., apply for a green card and eventually get on a path to citizenship. But the program has been particularly contentious in an election year where immigration is one of the biggest issues, with many Republicans attacking the policy and contending it is essentially a form of amnesty for people who broke the law. Advertisement Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement Friday that the plan “violates the Constitution and actively worsens the illegal immigration disaster that is hurting Texas and our country.” RELATED COVERAGE Image Diddy seeks to have producer’s lawsuit tossed, says it’s full of ‘blatant falsehoods’ Image Man charged in Arkansas grocery store shooting sued by woman who was injured in the attack Image Defendant in Titan submersible wrongful death lawsuit files to move case to federal court The suit filed against the Department of Homeland Security, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and other Biden administration officials accuses the agency of attempting to parole spouses “en masse,” which the states contend is an abuse of power. The states also filed a motion asking for the program to be put on hold while the lawsuit proceeds. In a post on X, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said her state is challenging the parole in place policy because she believes the Biden administration “is illegally using ‘parole’ in a systematic way to advance their open-borders agenda.” Advertisement The conservative nonprofit America First Legal, which is headed by Stephen Miller, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, is serving as co-counsel in the lawsuit. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Mayra Alejandra said the agency will defend the Keeping Families Together program in court and continues to process already submitted applications as well as accept new applications. “Keeping Families Together is grounded in well-established legal authority, and its purpose — enabling the families of U.S. Citizens to live without fear of separation — is consistent with fundamental American values,” Alejandra said. White House spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández fired back against Republicans “playing politics” and characterized the lawsuit as another form of family separation. “This lawsuit is seeking to force U.S. citizens and their families, people who have lived in the United States for more than ten years, to continue to live in the shadows,” Fernandez said in a statement. The bipartisan immigration and criminal justice organization FWD.us said the program is in compliance with the law and noted the timing of the lawsuit — as Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for president. Advertisement “The only motivation behind this lawsuit is the cruelty of tearing families apart and the crass politics of hoping a judge might do the bidding of the anti-immigrant movement,” the organization said in a statement. Karen Tumlin, founder and director of the Justice Action Center, called the legal challenge “unsurprising yet extremely disappointing and cruel.” “However, it’s important to emphasize that nothing changes for now, and the process is still open and accepting applications,” she said. To be eligible for the program, immigrants must have lived continuously in the U.S. for at least 10 years, not pose a security threat or have a disqualifying criminal history, and have been married to a citizen by June 17 — the day before the program was announced. They must pay a $580 fee to apply and fill out a lengthy application, including an explanation of why they deserve humanitarian parole and a long list of supporting documents proving how long they have been in the country. Advertisement If approved, applicants have three years to seek permanent residency. During that period, they can get work authorization. The administration estimates about 500,000 people could be eligible, plus about 50,000 of their children. Before this program, it was complicated for people who were in the U.S. illegally to get a green card after marrying an American citizen. They can be required to return to their home country — often for years — and they always face the risk they may not be allowed back in. The lawsuit contends that states will bear the burden of additional immigrants staying in the country. Texas, the suit says, spends tens of millions of dollars each year on a program that provides health insurance for children, including those in the country illegally. It says that the state also spends millions each year “for increased law enforcement as its citizens suffer increased crime, unemployment, environmental harm, and social disorder due to illegal immigration.” Advertisement Because the program beneficiaries will be entitled to work authorization, those additional workers “will drive down the wages of Texas residents, directly harming the State and its citizens,” the lawsuit says. Evelyn Wiese, an immigration attorney at Americans for Immigrant Justice, described the lawsuit as an “attack” on mixed status families who have spent years contributing to their communities in the United States. “Trying to rip apart these families and prevent them from accessing a lawful pathway to status in the U.S. is cruel and reflective of anti-immigrant extremism,” she said. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Anti-immigrant activists draft bill requiring US citizenship proof to vote

A coalition of anti-immigrant and election-denying activists called Only Citizens Vote Coalition has joined forces with the powerful rightwing American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec) to draft a model bill requiring citizenship for voting in “all public elections”. Non-US citizens are already forbidden from voting in federal elections, and could face felony charges and even deportation if they attempt to do so. All evidence suggests non-citizens rarely attempt to cast a ballot illegally. But as the 2024 general presidential election approaches, a group of Donald Trump allies – among them, Only Citizens Vote Coalition – have joined together to elevate fears of non-citizens voting. The claim, peddled by figures on the right from the Republican US House speaker, Mike Johnson, to the tech billionaire Elon Musk, stokes doubts about the US electoral process that Trump raised after losing the 2020 election. It also provides a justification for draft legislation such as Alec has recently put forward, which voting rights advocates warn could make it harder to cast a ballot and result in large-scale purges that could remove eligible voters. “[They’re] just creating extra barriers with the real game of doing two things, in my opinion: one, creating doubt in the system as a whole, and; second, disenfranchising people,” said TR Edwards, a staff attorney with the elections-focused Wisconsin group, Law Forward. It’s not clear how certain aspects of the policy would affect voters. For example, the text of the model bill says that the state head of elections is required to confirm the citizenship status of voters by comparing voter rolls “with the citizenship data available from the state’s department of motor vehicles and the Help America Vote Verification (Havv) information system maintained by the Social Security Administration”. Anyone registering to vote through the DMV must already attest to being a US citizen, under penalty of perjury. But Jon Greenbaum, a voting rights attorney who has argued against proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting in Georgia, said the policy – if adopted – would probably require a higher standard of proof. “I don’t think Alec is proposing that the attestation that people make on their application is going to be sufficient – they want a document,” said Greenbaum, noting that many eligible voters simply don’t have documentary proof of citizenship, like a passport or birth certificate, on hand. “It would end up disenfranchizing people,” he added. symbol 00:00 02:24 Read More The push to bring Alec’s model bill to the states appears to have originated with Only Citizens Vote Coalition, a group that Cleta Mitchell, who assisted Trump in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, helped found. Members of Only Citizens Vote Coalition presented at Alec’s annual meeting at the end of July. According to an Only Citizens Vote Coalition newsletter, Mitchell; Chris Chmielenski, the head of the anti-immigration group Immigration Accountability Project; and Ken Cuccinelli, whose Election Transparency Initiative has advanced restrictive voting laws in the states, were among the coalition’s key voices at Alec. Chairing the taskforce that adopted the model policy, Rolling Stone has reported, was a powerful pharmaceutical industry lobbyist – illustrating the growing alliance between election deniers and corporate interests. Wisconsin state representative Scott Krug – who has often pushed back against election denial in the state legislature – also spoke there on behalf of Only Citizens Vote Coalition. “Our speakers,” the newsletter reads, “were a BIG attraction at ALEC as they packed the room with over 150 legislators and other interested citizens – teaching the OCVC mission and the details on how to get the mission done!” During Only Citizens Vote Coalition’s weekly calls with local activists around the country, the group’s leaders have claimed that US elections are vulnerable to mass fraud – an idea that has long fueled the passage of restrictive voting measures. According to the group’s official notes from a 15 August meeting, which the Guardian reviewed, Kerri Toloczko, a leader in Cleta Mitchell’s Election Integrity Network, told the group that she had evidence to suggest that 6% of non-US citizens cast ballots in the 2016 election. The idea that non-US citizens participated en masse in the 2016 election echoes Trump’s long-debunked claims that millions of undocumented immigrants voted for Hillary Clinton, costing him the popular vote. Toloczko did not respond to a request for comment. Only Citizens Vote Coalition has introduced similar legislation at the federal level in the form of a bill called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (Save) Act, which would require people to provide proof of citizenship before casting a ballot – a high bar to clear and one that many US citizens would probably struggle to meet, according to a 2024 analysis by the Brennan Center. “My grandparents, for instance, might be a great example,” said Edwards, of Law Forward. “Both of them were born in the Jim Crow south. My grandmother did not have a birth certificate until she was like 30.” The Save Act cleared the House but will almost certainly not be approved in the Senate, which is controlled by a slim Democratic majority. Joe Biden has indicated that he would veto the legislation if it made it to his desk, writing in a statement that the bill would do “nothing to safeguard our elections, but it would make it much harder for all eligible Americans to register to vote and increase the risk that eligible voters are purged from voter rolls”. The Only Citizens Vote policy goes further than the Save Act, specifying that it would ban non-US citizens from voting in “any and all public elections on any and all matters”. The bill would prevent local governments from adopting rules that certain cities – including Oakland; Takoma Park, Maryland; and Burlington, Vermont – have passed allowing residents without full citizenship to participate in local elections. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Vance dodges on whether Trump's immigration policy would lead to family separations

Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, former President Donald Trump’s running mate, evaded multiple questions Saturday about whether Trump’s proposed “zero tolerance” policy on immigration would lead to family separation. First, Vance told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that before he imposed mass deportations, Trump would need to “stop the bleeding.” “You have to stop so many people from coming here illegally in the first place, and that means undoing everything that [Vice President] Kamala Harris did practically on day one of the administration,” he added, later saying: “Before we even fix the problem, we’ve got to stop the problem from getting worse.” Asked again by moderator Kristen Welker about whether the Trump administration’s plan would include family separation, Vance dodged again. “I think that families are currently being separated,” he said, adding that “you’re certainly going to have to deport some people in this country.” He argued that mass deportations under Trump would “start with the most violent criminals in our country.” “Those people need to be deported,” Vance said. “That’s where you focus federal resources.” Vance went on to blast Harris again, baselessly accusing her of backing policies that led to family separations and to children living with criminals. Recommended Vote Watch Raids of Latino political, civil rights leaders' homes set up voting rights battle in Texas Live Updates Election 2024 live updates: Trump and Harris spar over debate rules; former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard boosts Trump When President Joe Biden and Harris first took office, Biden rescinded the Trump-era zero-tolerance policy and established a family reunification task force that found that more than 5,000 families were separated under the policy. More recently, the Biden administration worked with a bipartisan group of senators to craft a comprehensive immigration and border security plan that seemed to have buy-in from both parties on Capitol Hill. But GOP support for the bill tanked after Trump indicated his disapproval. Visiting the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona for a campaign event Thursday, Trump also dodged NBC News’ questions about whether his “zero tolerance” proposal would lead to family separations, instead saying “provisions will be made” for mixed-status families that may have some members who are U.S. citizens and some who are undocumented. Trump did not clarify what provisions would be made for those families. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Advocates decry Texas lawsuit to stop Biden’s ‘Parole in Place’ for immigrant families

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — Migrant advocacy groups denounced a lawsuit filed Friday by Texas and a coalition of other states to try to stop a new federal program that allows the undocumented spouses and children of U.S. citizens to apply for parole without leaving the country. The Department of Homeland Security on Monday opened applications for the Parole in Place program. If approved, spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens who have been in the country for at least a decade will be granted work authorization, permanent residency and eventually qualify for citizenship without having to leave the country. Bilingual hotline helps undocumented spouses, children apply for new parole program Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday led a coalition of 16 states that filed a lawsuit against Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and others to kill the program, which he calls “unlawful.” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led a coalition of 16 states in a lawsuit against the federal government to stop a new … Read More “I am suing the Biden Administration for their unlawful ‘parole in place’ policy that incentivizes and rewards illegal immigration,” Paxton tweeted. Paxton says the program would permit 1.3 million undocumented persons to apply for permanent residency without having to leave the country, including an estimated 200,000 living in Texas. ADVERTISING “This change would allow certain classifications of illegal aliens to gain permanent residency status while remaining in the United States in violation of federal law,” Paxton said in a statement. “Longstanding federal law prohibits aliens who entered the United States unlawfully from obtaining most immigration benefits. This includes obtaining lawful permanent resident status — without first leaving the United States and waiting outside the United States for the requisite time — based on an approved family-based or employment-based visa petition,” the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas Tyler Division. Other states joining Texas in the lawsuit include: Idaho Alabama Arkansas Florida Georgia Iowa Kansas Louisiana Missouri North Dakota Ohio South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Wyoming But migrant advocacy groups say the lawsuit is “politically motivated” by Republican-majority states, like Texas, and comes as the country is divided on immigration issues leading up to the presidential election in November. “Once again a cadre of red states, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, have tapped the anti-immigrant judicial pipeline in a cynical effort to kill an immigration program that’s designed to keep American families together,” said David Leopold, legal adviser to America’s Voice. CBP One app expands its reach, no longer requiring asylum-seekers to be at border Todd Schulte, president of FWD.us called the lawsuit a baseless legal attack against “a highly popular and lawful policy.” “The only motivation behind this lawsuit is the cruelty of tearing families apart and the crass politics of hoping a judge might do the bidding of the anti-immigrant movement,” he said. Visit BorderReport.com for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border The co-chairman of the American Business Immigration Coalition Action, Al Cardenas, called the Biden policy “morally right and economically crucial. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

DNC Platform Bill Aims to 'Permanently Increase' Immigration

he Democratic Party has pledged for immigration to "permanently increase" in the Democratic National Convention's 2024 party platform. The 92-page document is packed with policy proposals, and on page 68, under the heading "Expanding legal immigration & deterring illegal immigration," it says, "The U.S. Citizenship Act would permanently increase family-sponsored and employment-based immigration." At the beginning of his administration, President Joe Biden proposed the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, and it was pushed again in 2023. The bill, which did not make it through Congress, included a section called the "waiver for noncitizens previously removed" that said some immigrants who had been deported could have their applications waived for "humanitarian purposes." The Democratic Party's platform does not mention amnesty for already-deported migrants. And while the document mentions plans for a "U.S. Citizenship Act," it does not say whether it would be identical to the bill Biden proposed in 2021. It is therefore possible that key details have changed. DNC sign A sign featuring Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic presidential and vice presidential nominees, respectively, outside the United Center, the site of this week's Democratic National Convention, in Chicago. The... More Joe Raedle/Getty Images In its platform, the Democratic Party wrote: "America is a nation of immigrants. The legal immigration framework was last updated in 1990 and does not reflect the needs of our country in the 21st century. Many immigrants today are forced to wait years, and often decades, to immigrate lawfully to the United States. "A robust immigration system with accessible lawful pathways and penalties for illegal immigration alleviates pressure at the border and upholds our values. The U.S. Citizenship Act would permanently increase family-sponsored and employment-based immigration. The bipartisan border legislation would increase the number of immigrant visas that are available by 250,000 over 5 years." AdvertisementScroll to continue reading Sign up for Newsletter Newsletter The Bulletin Your Morning Starts Here Begin your day with a curated outlook of top news around the world and why it matters. Enter your email address I want to receive special offers and promotions from Newsweek By clicking on SIGN ME UP, you agree to Newsweek's Terms of Use & Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. Newsweek has contacted Harris campaign representatives and the White House via email for further comment. The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 has a string of clauses and subclauses, and the document has more than 300 pages. On page 37, the "waiver for noncitizens previously removed" section says: "With respect to a noncitizen who was removed from or who departed the United States on or after January 20, 2017, and who was continuously physically present in the United States for not fewer than 3 years immediately preceding the date on which the noncitizen was removed or departed, the Secretary may waive, for humanitarian purposes, to ensure family unity, or if such a waiver is otherwise in the public interest, the application … if the applicant has not reentered the United States unlawfully after January 1, 2021." Trump, who vowed before he took office in 2016 to build a "big, beautiful wall" at the U.S.-Mexico border, has promised a mass deportation of those who have no legal permission to be in the U.S. if he wins the 2024 election. His running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, recently said in an interview with ABC: "I think it's interesting that people focus on, 'Well, how do you deport 18 million people?' Let's start with 1 million. That's where Kamala Harris has failed. And then we can go from there." The idea has proved popular among Trump's supporters in the Make America Great Again movement, and "Mass Deportations Now!" signs are often spotted at the former president's rallies. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Half a Million Migrant Spouses of US Citizens Get Pathway to Green Cards

round half a million undocumented immigrant spouses of United States citizens, along with thousands of stepchildren, now have the ability to apply for permanent resident or "green card" status. The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that it was opening the pathway to permanent residency for some husbands and wives who entered the U.S. without admission or parole. Under the new pathway, which began August 19, the children of those noncitizens, also born outside the U.S., may also be eligible. "Too often, noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens – many of them mothers and fathers – live with uncertainty due to undue barriers in our immigration system." Ur M. Jaddou, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said in a press release. Ad Choices Sponsored Content Take adventure further in the off-road ready Mazda CX-50 By Mazda USCIS paperwork The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is opening up the pathway to permanent resident status for thousands of undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens. Getty Images DHS estimates that more than two thirds of noncitizens without lawful immigration status but who are married to U.S. citizens were previously not eligible to apply for what is known as adjustment of status. Instead, they have been forced to leave for their home country and apply there, often waiting many years for a visa to return to their spouse and family. Sponsored Content Conquering One of the Most Alluring Road Races in the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N By Hyundai Sign up for Newsletter Newsletter The Bulletin Your Morning Starts Here Begin your day with a curated outlook of top news around the world and why it matters. Enter your email address I want to receive special offers and promotions from Newsweek By clicking on SIGN ME UP, you agree to Newsweek's Terms of Use & Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. For those who fit DHS' new criteria, that will now not be necessary. Who can apply for adjustment of status now? Ad Choices Sponsored Content Discover rugged capability with the Mazda CX-50 By Mazda DHS said that spouses who have been present in the U.S. without admission or parole, and have been continuously present since at least June 17, 2014 through to the date of filing paperwork, would be allowed to apply. Exclusively Available to Subscribers Try it now for $1 They must also have a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen, which was entered into on or before June 17, 2024. Other criteria includes having no disqualifying criminal history and the government must not believe them to be a threat to public safety, national or border security. It is thought around 500,000 spouses will be able to apply, using the United States Citizenship and Immigration Serice's Form I-131F. Read more Immigration Democrats Show Rightward Shift on Immigration at DNC Doug Emhoff Secures 'Wife Guy' Status With Viral Speech IRS Issues Update on 401s and Student Loan Payments Map Shows How Much Immigrants Pay In Taxes In Every State Non-citizen stepchildren will be eligible if they were under the age of 21 and unmarried on June 17, 2024 and have also been continuously present in the country for the 10 years leading up to that date. Similar criteria on criminal history and public safety apply to noncitizen stepchildren, with an estimated 50,000 eligible currently. DHS said that those who lack legal status, but were admitted into the U.S. by immigration authorities, are not eligible to apply. Aiming to keep families together In 2021, President Biden asked DHS to investigate ways to remove barriers to immigration for groups like these. The department said that this new scheme would "promote family unity" while also removing hurdles to legal status. It is also hoped that the plan will enhance the U.S. economy, by allowing these spouses to legally work. DHS also argues the pathway will enhance diplomatic and foreign policy objectives, increase national security and ease pressure on limited government resources. "This process to keep U.S. families together will remove these undue barriers for those who would otherwise qualify to live and work lawfully in the U.S., while also creating greater efficiencies in the immigration system, conducting effective screening and vetting, and focusing on noncitizens who contribute to and have longstanding connections within American communities across the country." Jaddou added. The move was widely welcomed by immigration advocacy groups, as well as immigration lawyers. "As immigration attorneys, we see every day how outdated laws keep U.S. citizens' families in long-term legal limbo, enduring an arduous bureaucratic process to gain lawful residency," American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) President Kelli Stump said in a press release. "By taking this action, the administration is using its congressionally enacted authority to put families first and implement sensible solutions," Stump continued. "This program is overdue, and we are excited and hopeful to witness what meaningful change this will bring to our clients and their US citizen family members." The National Immigration Center for Enforcement, which campaigns for tougher measures on border security, said the program showed how Democrats had failed the American people. "Illegal aliens come first, American families come last in Kamala Harris's America," the group posted on X, formerly Twitter. Ad Choices Sponsored Content Discover rugged capability with the Mazda CX-50 By Mazda The scheme is similar to others initiated under the Biden administration which allow "parole in place", including for citizens of Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela. It means that USCIS can determine cases while an individual remains in the U.S. without fear of deportation but does not guarantee approval. Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com fairness meter Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair. Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Immigrants begin receiving relief from deportation under new Biden administration executive order

Cecilia sat in front of her computer repeatedly refreshing the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services webpage on Monday, waiting for the application for the Biden administration's "Keeping Families Together" program to show up on her screen. Minutes later, she clicked it open and submitted the form in less than 20 minutes. A little more than 24 hours later, she got an e-mail sharing the news that she had been waiting 20 years to hear. "I see that I got approved, and I'm like, oh that was quick," she told ABC News in an interview. "I was lost for words…a whole bunch of emotions were going on." Cecilia, who asked ABC News not to disclose her full name so she can freely disclose her immigration status, is one of the first immigrants to receive parole in place, a temporary relief from deportation under a new program that allows undocumented spouses and stepchildren of United States citizens to apply for permanent legal residence without having to leave the country. Advertisement The video player is currently playing an ad. You can skip the ad in 5 sec with a mouse or keyboard Noncitizen spouses are already eligible for legal status under current laws but often have to apply from their home countries and face up to a 10-year ban from returning to the U.S. On June 18, President Joe Biden announced an executive action launching the program, calling it a "commonsense fix" to keep families together. In this June 18, 2024, file photo, President Joe Biden delivers remarks at an event marking the 12th an...Show more Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images, FILE "This action is a better way. It doesn't tear families apart, while requiring every undocumented spouse to fulfill their obligations under the law," Biden said. It's estimated that half a million noncitizen spouses and 50,000 children could benefit from the program, according to the Department of Homeland Security. In order to qualify for the program, applicants must be in the country unlawfully and pass background checks. They also have to prove they've lived in the country for at least a decade and must be married to a U.S. citizen on or before June 17, 2024. Some noncitizen stepchildren under the age of 21 are also eligible. MORE: Homeland Security proposes change to asylum-seeking process Cecilia's family brought her to the U.S. from Mexico when she was a 4-year-old, she told ABC News. After unsuccessfully applying for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which continues to be paused pending a yearlong battle that could permanently end the program, she thought her dreams of finally being able to pursue a career as a chemist were over. For years, she said her parents worked to help her with paying out of state tuition because of her status. In 2018, she met her future husband when he was studying biology at the same school. "At the time I didn't really tell him about my status, because I was like, what if he doesn't like me because I'm not here legally," she told ABC News. However, she said her husband was overwhelmingly supportive of her despite her being undocumented. He has helped her get through school while raising their 3-year-old. He was working when she shared the news that her application was approved. "He was like, 'Are you not playing with me?'" she recalled. They went to celebrate as soon as he got home. "We always try to celebrate little moments in our lives, even if they're small, because we never know when one us might not be there and we try to be united as a family, she said. Cecilia learned about the new policy from American Families United, a nonprofit organization that advocates for legal pathways to citizenship for foreign nationals married to U.S. citizens. "Countless American families like Cecilia's have endured years of uncertainty, holding onto the hope that one day they could live without fear," said Ashley DeAzevedo, president of American Families United, in a statement. "We are encouraged to see the quick approval of Cecilia's application—she is American in every way that counts. Now, she will have the opportunity to contribute even more to her family and this nation that she calls home." MORE: DHS watchdog warns of 'urgent issue' after immigration officials allegedly lose track of unaccompanied children Cecilia believes that because she had already submitted biometrics and other information to USCIS as part of her DACA application, her case was expedited. A USCIS official told ABC News that the agency may prioritize applicants who already have other pending applications and have submitted accurate biographic information. Cecilia has already applied for her work permit and plans to apply for lawful permanent residence status as soon as she's able to, finally putting the frustration of living in limbo as an undocumented immigrant in the past for good. Her dreams of owning a home, launching her career and raising her child with her husband seem within reach. She's urging other undocumented immigrants to remain hopeful. "I feel like people should be more hopeful and that there are people advocating for them," she said. "Everyone deserves an extra opportunity." For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Philippines to host a US visa processing center for up to 300 Afghans resettling in America

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines has agreed to a request by the United States to temporarily host a U.S. immigrant visa processing center for a limited number of Afghan nationals aspiring to resettle in America, the treaty allies announced Tuesday. The Philippine government’s approval of the request, which initially faced local concerns over potential security and legal issues, reflects how relations between Manila and Washington have deepened under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office in 2022. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said the agreement was undergoing final domestic procedures and needs to be finally ratified by Marcos before it takes effect. It did not provide other details, including how many Afghans would be allowed to temporarily stay in the Philippines at any time while their special immigrant visas for resettlement to the U.S. are being completed. Advertisement A senior Philippine official, however, told The Associated Press that only 150 to 300 applicants would be accommodated in the Philippines under the “one-time” deal. The official who had knowledge of the negotiations agreed to speak on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to speak publicly. RELATED COVERAGE Image Chinese and Philippine ships collide again in disputed waters, and the countries are trading blame Image Philippines protests Chinese air force jets’ firing of flares in the path of patrol plane Image Philippine military says Chinese air force jets endangered its patrol plane with flares, risky moves Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Assistant Secretary Teresita Daza said Afghan nationals should secure a visa to enter the Philippines and would be subjected to “full security vetting.” Each visa applicant can stay not more than 59 days. The U.S. government will shoulder the costs for the stay of the Afghan nationals, including food, housing, security and medical and transportation expenses, Daza said. She added that the U.S. government and the International Organization for Migration as manager of the unspecified facility where the Afghan visa applicants would be billeted, would ensure they have adequate social, educational, religious and other support. Advertisement The U.S. thanked the Philippines in a statement by the State Department “for supporting Afghan allies of the United States” and added that it “appreciates its long and positive history of bilateral cooperation with the Philippines.” The Afghan nationals to be considered for resettlement primarily worked for the U.S. government in Afghanistan or were deemed eligible for U.S. special immigrant visas but were left behind when Washington withdrew from the country as Taliban militants took back power in a chaotic period in 2021. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken first relayed the request to his Philippine counterpart in 2022, and President Joe Biden discussed the request when Marcos visited the United States last year, Philippine officials said. Marcos said last year that he was told by American officials that a maximum of 1,000 Afghan nationals would be allowed to stay in the Philippines at any one time while their special immigrant visas are being processed. He said at the time there were difficult legal and logistical issues to address for the program to run as hoped. Some Filipino officials have expressed fears the Afghan nationals could become targets of attacks while in the Philippines. Others raised legal questions about an arrangement where U.S. authorities would have a say in vetting who could enter the Philippines. Advertisement One prospective problem is what to do with Afghan nationals whose U.S. special visa immigrant application is indefinitely stalled or rejected, Marcos said and expressed concern that thousands of Afghan nationals could be stranded in the country while awaiting relocation to the U.S. Marcos has rekindled relations with the U.S. since winning the presidency with a landslide margin two years ago. In February last year, he allowed an expansion of the American military presence under a 2014 defense agreement in a decision that China warned would allow American forces to gain a staging ground to intervene in the South China Sea and Taiwan issues and threaten regional stability. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Arizona measure to make border crossings a state crime makes November ballot

The Arizona Supreme Court cleared the way earlier this week for a Republican-led effort to make illegal border crossings a state crime to appear on the November ballot. The measure, known as Proposition 314, would make it a crime for migrants to cross into the Grand Canyon State from Mexico unless they go through an official port of entry. The proposal, if passed by voters, would also allow law enforcement to arrest those who violate the law and deport them. The proposal also makes selling fentanyl that leads to the death of a person a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. In addition, some government agencies may also be required to use federal databases to verify noncitizens’ eligibility for benefits. Latino advocacy groups claimed the measure was in violation of the constitutional provision that limits ballot measures to one subject. The complaint was rejected by Arizona Chief Justice Ann A. Scott Timmer, who said the measure satisfies the single subject rule. While other opponents of the measure argued that, if approved in November, the proposal could proliferate racial profiling and bring on additional costs for local law enforcement, proponents said it would curb illegal immigration in a border state since, in their view, the federal government has fallen short of preventing an illegal influx of migrants at the southern border. Proposition 314 was introduced in June in the GOP-led Arizona House of Representatives to circumvent Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) earlier this year, who vetoed a similar effort. If the state’s voters approve the measure on Nov. 5, Hobbs cannot veto it. The proposal bears similarities to Texas’s new immigration law that makes entering The Lone Star State outside of the port of entry a state crime. The new law, dubbed SB 4, would allow the state police to arrest those illegally crossing into Texas from Mexico. The Texas law, which makes violations punishable by up to six months in prison, briefly went into effect but is currently on hold pending challenges. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

Biden’s offer of a path to US citizenship for spouses leaves some out

MIAMI (AP) — As registration opened Monday for an estimated 500,000 spouses of U.S. citizens to gain legal status without having to first leave the country, Karen and Xavier Chavarria had nothing to celebrate. Like many others, Karen left the United States voluntarily — in her case, for Nicaragua — as the price of living in the country illegally, planning to accumulate enough time away to be able reenter and reunite with her husband, Xavier, on a path to citizenship. Joe Biden’s offer of a path to citizenship without having to first leave the country for up to 10 years is one of the biggest presidential orders to ease entry for immigrants since 2012, when the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program allowed temporary but renewable stays for hundreds of thousands of people who came to the United States as young children with their parents. Advertisement To be eligible, spouses must have lived in the United States continuously for 10 years as of June 17, 2024, and been married by then. The Biden administration estimates 500,000 spouses could benefit, plus 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens. “Without this process, hundreds of thousands of noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens are likely to instead remain in the United States without lawful status, causing these families to live in fear and with uncertainty about their futures,” the Homeland Security Department said Monday in a document that details the policy. Forcing spouses to leave the country “is disruptive to the family’s economic and emotional wellbeing.” RELATED COVERAGE Image What to watch as the Democratic National Convention enters its second day in Chicago Image Joe Biden’s exit, talk of the glass ceiling, a nod to Gaza protesters. Takeaways from DNC’s Day 1 Image DNC panelists discuss war in Gaza as Harris tries to ease tension with pro-Palestinian activists Spouses who fall outside the prescribed dates and other eligibility criteria face an agonizing choice: leave the country voluntarily for years for the right to reenter or remain in the United States without legal status. Karen Chavarria returned to Nicaragua in 2017 and reported to a U.S. consulate for an interview as part of her petition to reunite with her husband in the United States. She crossed the border from Mexico in 2002 and applied for legal status after marrying Xavier, 57, who works a building maintenance job in New York and lives in Garfield, New Jersey. They have two children, both U.S. citizens. Advertisement Xavier travels at least twice a year to see Karen, 41, and their 12-year-old son, who live in Jinotega, north of Nicaragua’s capital city of Managua. Xavier said he can’t live in Nicaragua because he can’t find work there, lacks treatment options for diabetes and fears for his safety because his family has been in the political opposition there for years. Their 20-year-old daughter lives in the U.S. Karen has missed big moments, including her daughter’s high school graduation and birthdays. The Biden administration’s offer to spouses who chose to remain in the U.S. filled her with despair. “It is something that we have been fighting for and after so much struggle, to get here without giving ourselves any hope,” she said while crying in a video interview from Nicaragua. It is unclear how many spouses left the U.S. voluntarily. But Eric Lee, an immigration attorney with offices in Michigan and California, said it is a “massive” number. Immigrants and advocacy groups have urged the White House to include them in the new policy. Advertisement “The only reason why so many are being punished is because they tried to step out of the shadow, they tried to follow the law,” Lee said. Homeland Security did not respond to questions about whether people who left the country voluntarily will qualify, saying only that they “may be eligible for continued processing abroad.” Groups favoring restrictions on immigration consider the policy overly generous. The Federation for American Immigration Reform said Monday that it is a disservice to those waiting to legally immigrate and that Biden is “clearly in a hurry” to enroll people before he leaves office, making it harder for a court to overturn their benefits once they are granted. The department said Monday that 64% of potential beneficiaries are from Mexico and 20% are from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. They become eligible to remain in the United States for three years under presidential authority known as parole for a $580 fee, which includes ability to apply for work authorization, a green card and, eventually, citizenship. Advertisement People deemed national security or public safety threats and those convicted of what are considered serious crimes, including felonies for driving under the influence, are disqualified, as are those found to belong to a gang. Juan Enrique Sauceda 47, is biding time in Piedras Negras, Mexico, across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas. He was deported in 2019 while married to a U.S. citizen and applied to reenter. His wife and two children live in Houston. “I want to return to the United States because I grew up there, I have my wife, my children, everything,” Saucedo said. “I don’t fit in here.” Spagat reported from San Diego. Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana in Rocklin, California, contributed. The headline has been rewritten to clarify that the policy puts people on path to citizenship but does not grant citizenship. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.

How growing up in the U.S. immigration system shapes how these young Americans vote

As Vice President Harris charts the course for a campaign that tries to avoid the missteps of her predecessor, President Biden, she may inherit some of his baggage with the groups she most needs to win over. Voters under 30, for example, backed Biden in big numbers in 2020. But, as polling reflected, he has struggled with the group throughout his presidency. Support from another major part of Biden’s winning coalition — voters of color — had also frayed in differing amounts for different reasons. One such group that has struggled with Biden’s policies are those who have experienced the U.S. immigration system. Sponsor Message Former President Donald Trump has made immigration the cornerstone of his platform, publicly disparaging and attacking immigrants since he first announced in 2015. He’s vowed to carry out historically large deportations, but how those pledges would be implemented is unclear. Republicans have repeatedly criticized Biden for upticks in border crossings during his presidency. But Biden’s immigration policy has been complicated. In June, the president restricted border crossings, including for people seeking asylum, via executive order. Weeks later, he took steps to increase relief for undocumented people and recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Lucero Lopez, 29, poses for a portrait at The Leroy and Lucile Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Houston. Lucero Lopez, 29, is a college student studying political science. As a main support for her parents in the U.S., she's concerned about rising prices. "I'm the one who basically helps my parents," she said. "I see how everything is racing." Joseph Bui for NPR/NPR In February, the White House and congressional leaders also came close to agreeing on a bipartisan bill that would have increased restrictions on the border, but it failed after Trump urged Republicans to reverse course and oppose it. Biden’s willingness to work with Republicans on the legislation alarmed immigrant advocates and organizers, including Nicole Melaku of the National Association of New Americans. “It's going to be a really hard recovery to build back the trust of the immigrant constituency,” she told NPR in an interview before Biden announced he would be dropping out of the presidential race. As part of its focus on new voters, NPR spoke to five young people under the age of 30 who have all existed within the immigration system and discussed how their upbringings affect their politics today. Lucero Lopez, 29, is a natural-born citizen whose parents came to the U.S. undocumented. Her father has since become a citizen, and her mom has legal status, but Lopez also has two older sisters who haven’t been able to leave Mexico. This has placed a financial and emotional burden on her. Sponsor Message “I never understood, why always me?” she explained. “I didn't understand that I was the one who had to take care of [my parents] and still is taking care of them.” Josue Rodriguez, 28, immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico when he was a child. He is a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Rodriguez now dedicates his work to helping people who are homeless, something he experienced with his family. “That really has been what's driven me,” he said. “How can we look at public policy and understand their impacts? Make sure that we have lived experiences within that space.” Raneem Le Roux, 27, and her family immigrated to the U.S. from Syria. She was able to get naturalized as a child but also went on to help her father, who struggled to pass the citizenship test. “I would burn CDs for him, telling him the questions in English and the answers in English, and then translating them in Arabic,” she recalled. “He used to do trucking, so he used to drive at night and just listen to them.” Raneem La Roux, 27, poses for a portrait at The Leroy and Lucile Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Houston. Raneem Le Roux, 27, works at a youth-led immigrant advocacy organization. She divided her family into "two immigrant stories," describing it as the "family I come from — their story — and the family that I hope to create." Joseph Bui for NPR/NPR Jasmine Parish Moreno, 23, is the child of Iranian and Mexican immigrants who both spent more than a decade navigating the U.S. immigration system before eventually becoming citizens. Her father was able to vote for the first time in 2020, which was also the first year Parish Moreno was eligible to cast a ballot. “I think for years afterwards [he] carried his ‘I voted sticker’ like on his phone case because he was so proud of it,” she said. Jossue Ureno, 22, is a natural-born citizen whose parents first immigrated from Mexico more than 20 years ago. They are still undocumented, and he spoke about how their status has limited their ability to be with family back in Mexico, describing when his dad had to watch a family funeral over the phone. Sponsor Message “Seeing the heartbreak in his eyes of him wanting to be there but not being able to be there,” he said. “Not being able to have one last goodbye, especially since he hadn't seen them for like over ten years, was definitely something that, it still sticks with me.” Read more of their conversation below. These responses have been edited for clarity and length. On voting this year Of those in the group eligible to vote in 2020, all cast their ballots for Biden, though several were disappointed in aspects of his leadership and cautioned Harris to set a different path. Some argued that Biden’s handling of issues related to immigration and the U.S. response to the Israel-Hamas war have made it difficult to immediately support Harris. But for these young people, voting is essential. Le Roux: As someone who voted for [Biden] in hope of protecting my community, my family and immigrants in the U.S., he failed. … I can only hope that Harris at least learns from those mistakes … I'm very torn because part of me doesn't want to vote for a nominee that continues to profit and encourage foreign policies that result in human costs and dead bodies that look like me. But at the same time, I don't want the minimal protections I do have for me and my partner, both in terms of her immigrant status and LGBT protections, to be lost. Moore: I've talked to folks around the country, young people who lean Democratic, … who were debating sitting out of this race when it was Biden versus Trump. … How does the idea of skipping an election or skipping the top of the ticket feel to you? Parish Moreno: We can't afford to sit this out. We're in a unique situation because we've seen already what the Trump presidency was like. … And so to sit this race out would be to kind of gamble with it and risk returning to that. Jasmine Parish-Moreno, 23, poses for a portrait at The Leroy and Lucile Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Houston. Jasmine Parish Moreno, 23, is a graduate student aiming to work in immigrant advocacy and policy. It's a goal influenced by her own family's immigration story. Joseph Bui for NPR/NPR Moore: Raneem, I see you nodding. Sponsor Message Le Roux: Yes, I am nodding because I do agree for the most part with you, Jasmine … It's our responsibility and in our community's interests, all our communities, immigrants, as women, as members of the LGBT community, to ensure that Trump doesn't get elected. On Trump and his political impact While these young people generally don’t support Trump, they come from families who have different political opinions on how another Trump presidency could affect their communities. Parish Moreno: Just because my parents are now citizens doesn't take away the fact that they were immigrants, doesn't take away the fact that my dad's a Muslim man in America, doesn’t take away the fact that under the Trump presidency, my family wasn't able to come visit because of the Muslim ban that Trump enacted. … I'm a first-generation American. So I try to tell in my head that I have every right to take up space and to speak and have my voice heard as someone who is like a 10th-generation American, but it’s hard. Ureno: I find this to be a very tough question. … After now going through a Biden presidency, my parents themselves have actually said to me and my brothers, … ‘When Trump was in office, inflation was down. Everything was cheaper. It seemed to be like the world, the United States was more at peace.’ … My parents feel that because of the situation that's going down in the southern border, that that's actually hindering them. And so because of that, they're like, honestly, Trump, he handled it better. … Now that Harris is running, I don’t know what their stance is. Moore: Your parents are still trying to become citizens here. They're not. Trump has threatened to deport millions of people. And how does that square with them? Sponsor Message Ureno: My parents are like, he's just fear mongering, he's just pandering. He's trying to get the vote. They don’t really – they're like, ‘You said it the first time you didn't do it with the unified Congress. How are you going to do it this time?’ Jossue Ureno, 22, poses for a portrait at The Leroy and Lucile Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Houston. Jossue Ureno, 22, works for a Latino voter advocacy organization. Watching the national debate about immigration since the 2016 election has affected his professional goals. "It's what's making me want to pursue becoming an immigration attorney in the coming years," he explained. Joseph Bui for NPR/NPR On what they want from politicians moving forward Lopez: They always use [immigration] as a pawn. We are not pawns. We are people. Rodriguez: We know that there's more asylum claims coming through the border. What are their stories? They don't talk about their stories. They just talk about the numbers. … I wish the Democrats would call the bluff that the Republicans are doing so that we can start humanizing people. Moore: If you had to meet with [Harris,] what would be your message to her? Lopez: Call for a cease-fire. Immediately. That's the one thing that I will say. Parish Moreno: I know, especially with Joe Biden, there was a lot of minority communities that were mobilizing to get him elected. So, just don't forget who got you into that power seat. Ureno: Bipartisanship. That’s how you get stuff done in Congress. If you want to see real results, sometimes, you may not like it, but that's how politics works. You got to work with the other party to get stuff done. Moore: Was there an issue that we didn't hit on? Rodriguez: I would just mention like, with deferred action, DACA. The program itself is technically ending and we're waiting on a court ruling. So, just kind of putting that at the forefront, too, that I could become undocumented tomorrow if the court goes against it. So I just kind of want to make sure that that's still at the forefront of the conversation. Josue Rodriguez, 28, poses for a portrait at The Leroy and Lucile Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Houston. As a DACA recipient, Josue Rodriguez, 28, is not able to vote. But he urged the group to vote against a second Trump term. "It really doesn't matter who [the Democratic nominee] is," he said. "As long as [Trump] is not voted back into office, because that will solidify the new version of the Republican Party." Joseph Bui for NPR/NPR On what voting means to them Lopez: For me, it's such a weight. I have my aunt, she's an immigrant, and she's the one who's always, like, go vote for me. You – I know, sorry. But just hearing it from her because she can't do it. That's why it carries so much weight for me. Sponsor Message Rodriguez: The one link I have on my Instagram is how to register to vote. So that tells you that, yes, voting is very dear and near to me. … I know in my bones that one day, I'll be able to vote. But even now, I mean, it's getting to the point where friends come to me for suggestions or for just insights into people running for office. And I'm blessed to be an asset to them. And I like to think that through me and my opinions and my standpoints, they've been able to be educated. And I'm comfortable with that for now. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.