Supreme Court Jeopardizes Thousands of Migrants with Temporary Protected Status in Its Ruling in Sanchez v. Mayorkas

Jul07

By Taher Kameli and Chathan Vemuri   On June 7, 2021, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that unlawful migrants in the United States whose presence was permitted by having Temporary Protected Status (TPS) were not eligible to apply for green cards to become lawful permanent residents.[1] This ruling followed a case involving Jose Santos Sanchez and his wife, who had arrived in the US unlawfully during the late 1990s and both of whom were granted Temporary Protected Status after the 2001 earthquakes in El Salvador, when the US made El Salvadorian nationals eligible for that status.[2] In 2014, Jose Santos

July 7, 2021
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U.S. Senate Passes the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act (S.386)

U.S. Senate Passes the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act (S.386)
Jan07

Written by Taher Kameli & Chathan Vemuri   EB-5 and other professional green card applicants can finally breathe a sigh of relief while going through the immigration application process. Last week, on December 2, 2020, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed bill S.386, known as the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act.[1] If approved by the President (whoever that will be), it would be of immense benefit to green card applicants of different categories, for it would remove the “caps on the number of immigrants who can be approved for permanent residency permits (“green cards”)” and help

January 7, 2021
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Oregon Federal Judge Issues Nationwide Preliminary Injunction Against Trump Administration Policy Denying Visas to Immigrants Who Cannot Show Proof of Health Insurance

Oregon Federal Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction
Dec15

Written by: Taher Kameli, Esq. Among the 3 branches of the Federal government during the Trump administration, immigration policy generally has been characterized by inaction by the legislative branch, anti-immigration policies by the executive branch, and opposition to the executive branch by the judicial branch.  As another example of the opposition to the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies by the Federal judiciary, an Oregon federal judge has issued a nationwide preliminary injunction against the Trump administration policy denying visas to immigrants who cannot show proof of health insurance. On October 4, President Trump issued, “Presidential Proclamation

December 15, 2019
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New Study Ranks Chicago, Illinois as Number One City for Immigrants in the United States

Chicago is Number One City for Immigrants in the U.S.
Dec05

Written by: Taher Kameli, Esq. While the Trump administration has consistently adopted anti-immigration policies, the various states and cities in the United States vary greatly in their views and attitudes toward immigrants.  As a result, it is an important decision for immigrants in determining where to live in the United States and trying to reside in a favorable location for immigrants. To help immigrants in making this decision, a new study has ranked Chicago, Illinois as the number one city for immigrants in the United States. The study, released on November 13, was prepared by

December 5, 2019
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Despite Requests from Trump Administration, Many State Departments of Motor Vehicles Have Not Turned Over Driver’s License Records to Census Bureau

Driver’s License Records not Turned Over by State Department
Nov08

Written by: Taher Kameli, Esq. It has often been said that the only governmental authority that has generally blocked the anti-immigration actions of the Trump administration has been the Federal judiciary.  In fact, there is another possible governmental authority that has in certain cases resisted the anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration – the states. As an example of such state opposition to the anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration, despite requests from the Trump administration, many state Departments of Motor Vehicles have not turned over driver’s license records to the Census Bureau. In June,

November 8, 2019
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3 Federal Courts Issue Injunctions Against Trump Administration’s final “Public Charge” Rule

Federal Courts Issue Injunctions Against “Public Charge”
Nov04

Written by: Taher Kameli, Esq. U.S. immigration policy since Donald Trump became President in January 2017 has generally followed a consistent path – the Trump administration will issue a controversial anti-immigration policy, litigation will be filed against the policy, and no one knows for certain if the policy will take effect until the litigation is resolved.  Such is the case concerning the Trump administration’s final “public charge” rule, announced in August and due to take effect on October 15. However, on October 11, 3 Federal courts issued injunctions against the Trump administration’s final “public charge” rule.

November 4, 2019
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New California Laws Extend Certain Rights For Immigrants

Immigrants Rights Extend in New California Laws
Nov02

Written by: Taher Kameli, Esq. While most immigration law in the United States is Federal law, the states sometimes will get involved and enact laws on immigration issues.  Especially in the face of the Trump administration generally issuing Federal anti-immigration policies, it is noteworthy today when the states enact laws to expand immigrant rights.  Such is the case with respect to California, as new California laws have extended certain rights for immigrants. California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed 3 new laws expanding immigrant rights.  First, Governor Newsom signed a law that allows undocumented

November 2, 2019
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Federal Court in Texas Issues Ruling Against President Trump’s Funding of Border Wall

Texas Issues Ruling Against Trump’s Funding of Border Wall
Nov01

Written by: Taher Kameli, Esq. When the Federal judiciary has blocked anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration, it has most commonly been Federal judges in California (U.S. District Courts in California, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in California) that have issued these rulings.  As California is viewed as a “liberal-leaning, Blue state”, such results are not surprising. However, even Federal judges from “conservative-leaning, Red states”, such as Texas, can issue decisions that are adverse to the anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration. As one example of such a decision, a Federal

November 1, 2019
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Trump Administration Resumes “Medical Deferred Action” Program

Trump Resumes “Medical Deferred Action” Program
Oct23

Written by: Taher Kameli, Esq. Given the anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration, it has been the rare case when there is positive news coming from the Trump administration on an issue affecting immigrants.  Since Donald Trump became President, it seems that the only good news for immigrants is when a Federal court steps up to block a policy of the Trump administration. There are also very few instances of the Trump administration reversing course and changing its mind about an anti-immigration policy.  However, as an exception to the above, there is a favorable development for

October 23, 2019
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Lack of Competent Interpreters In Foreign Indigenous Languages Creates Problems In U.S. Immigration Courts

May29

Written by: Taher Kameli, Esq. Have you ever heard of Q’anjob’al, Mam, and K’iche’?  Probably not. They are 3 languages indigenous to the country of Guatemala.  What makes them significant for United States immigration law purposes is that they have become 3 of the 25 most common languages spoken in US immigration courts in recent years.  The lack of competent interpreters in Q’anjob’al, Mam, and K’iche’, and other foreign indigenous languages, is creating significant problems in the US immigration courts. Many of the migrants who have come to the United States in recent years

May 29, 2019
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