Shoulder by Shoulder
Leaders Moving Business Forward with Lance Bartholomeusz of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
Firmwide response to travel bans
Late Friday evening, June 6, 2025 – right after we posted TPS Twist: Court Halts DHS Action on Certain Venezuelan Work Authorization-For Now – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its website with a...more
In a 7–2 decision issued by the U.S. Supreme Court on May 30th (with Justices Jackson and Sotomayor dissenting), the Court granted the federal government’s request to stay the district court’s injunction that had blocked the...more
In a pivotal immigration development, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has effectively granted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) permission to proceed with the termination of the 2023 Temporary Protected Status (TPS)...more
At A Glance - President Trump’s first week in office provided a clear roadmap of his policy priorities and the beginning of a significant overhaul of immigration policies. His “Protecting the American People Against...more
The Trump Administration executed a number of Executive Orders related to immigration in its first day. These orders include a return to the “extreme vetting” policy of the previous Trump administration, limitations on...more
On Monday, January 20, the first day of the new presidential term, President Donald Trump issued a flurry of new executive orders related to immigration action items. Many of these orders address humanitarian and southern...more
The Order suspends the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Effective January 27, 2025, entry under the USRAP is suspended and decisions on applications for refugee status are suspended. The Secretary of State and...more
On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders significantly altering U.S. immigration policy. These actions, aimed at strengthening border security and redefining citizenship criteria, have...more
This order directs federal agencies to refuse to recognize U.S. citizenship for children born in the United States to mothers in the country illegally, or who are present in the United States on non-immigrant visas, if the...more
The 540-day automatic extensions of expiring employment authorization documents (EADs) will be permanent policy, according to a DHS final rule scheduled to be published on Dec. 13, 2024. The new rule will become effective on...more
September 2023 saw major changes and updates in the United States and around the world. The Cozen O’Connor Immigration Catch-Up this month highlights these changes and provides the details you need to determine how or if...more
On September 27, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an update to the USCIS Policy Manual to increase the maximum validity period to five years for initial and renewal Employment Authorization...more
USCIS is increasing the maximum validity period to five years for initial and renewal Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain categories of applicants, including noncitizens with pending adjustment of status...more
Section 8 U.S.C. 1157 of the U.S. Code grants employment authorization for eligible individuals awarded refugee status, stating in part that these individuals “ … shall be eligible for resettlement assistance, entitlement...more
On August 15, 2021, the Taliban overthrew the Afghan government shortly after the United States announced it would withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. In the weeks that followed, the US government evacuated over 120,000 US...more
Since our previous article on March 28, 2022, approximately 5.1 million Ukrainians have left the country and another 6.5 million have been displaced from their homes, but are still in Ukraine. The United States has taken some...more
On April 21, 2022, the Biden Administration announced "Uniting for Ukraine," which provides a streamlined process for displaced Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are outside the United States to come...more
Secretary Of Homeland Security Mayorkas Has Designated Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status for 18 Months, Commencing April 19, 2022 and Concluding on October 19, 2023....more
The US Supreme Court ruled on January 27 that the administration can begin to implement the public charge rule while the issue is still being litigated in the federal court system. ...more
Over the last week, we have been looking at various changes in policy and procedure related to immigration law. We have covered the travel ban, changes to advance parole, and deference to prior determinations and today, we...more
The Revised Version of Travel Ban to Take Effect Next Month - On Sept. 24, President Trump issued a proclamation that indefinitely bans certain citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea from...more
USCIS has recently enacted two policy changes in regards to permanent residency applicants applying for Adjustment of Status (AOS). These changes impact applications for Advance Parole Travel Authorization (AP) as well as...more
On August 28, 2017, the USCIS announced that beginning October 1st, the USCIS will begin to phase-in “in-person” interviews for Employment-Based, Adjustment of Status applicants (Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent...more
Government Confirms New Guidelines -- Interview Requirement for Those Seeking Permanent Residence - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) issued a Press Release, which confirms the implementation of a new policy...more
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that, effective October 1, 2017, it will begin expanding in-person interviews for certain immigration benefit applications that currently do not require...more