Immigration

2018 was a tumultuous year by virtually any measure. U.S. immigration law and policy continued to be a mishmash of greater restrictionism, heightened enforcement, and devastating family separations at the Southern Border.

In a development which took the much of the immigration law community by surprise, a Federal trial court in Northern California has issued an injunction against the Executive Branch, breathing new life into the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. On January 9, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup issued a 49-page decision, ruling as follows:

We have just learned that the current administration has terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for citizens of El Salvador, effective September 9, 2019. While not surprising in light of the rhetoric and action coming from the White House, the Attorney General, and the Department of Homeland Security, this is a disappointing decision for the citizens of a country ravaged by natural and other disasters, many of whom have been in the United States working, paying taxes, and otherwise...

Moments ago, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, commonly known as DACA. The rescission of DACA has been billed as a necessary way to enforce the "Rule of Law", and has been promoted as an "orderly winding down" of the generally popular program established by President Barack Obama in 2012.

While gift-givers everywhere brave long lines to find and buy presents for their friends, families, co-workers, and others, our thoughts turn to a different sort of line. One that seems to snake endlessly around virtual bureaucratic blocks, and which - for too many people - never move fast enough to make a difference. That would be the "approved visa petition" line, which is a real doozy.