Monthly Archives: April 2020
NYPD Targeting Poor Neighborhoods for Social Distancing ‘Crimes’ & Other Low-Level Arrests
At a time when governments and officials are modifying a number of practices around the country, including directing police to use discretion and only make arrests when absolutely necessary due to the dangerous and highly contagious nature of the coronavirus, the New York Police Department (NYPD) does not appear to be slowing down at… Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court Makes Monumental Decision Opening Door for Immigrants with Criminal Convictions to Have Deportation Orders Reviewed by The Courts
The U.S. Supreme Court recently made an important decision that will allow a number of immigrants—including those convicted of crimes—to challenge deportation orders. The case – Guerrero-Lasprilla v. Barr (consolidated with similar case Ovalles v. Barr), involved an appeal from two immigrants whose reviews were denied by the Fifth Circuit, which claimed that it… Read More »
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Once Again Found Illegally Denying H-1B Petitions
In three additional decisions handed down between March and April, federal judges once again found that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) illegally denied H-1B petitions to foreign professionals by changing the definition of what a specialty occupation is. The conglomeration of these decisions should bring change to the H-1B petition review process within… Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court Rules That Police Officers Can Pull Over Cars Simply Because Car Owner’s Driver’s License Is Suspended or Revoked
In April, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on a traffic stop case that was of supreme importance to Fourth Amendment rights, finding that police can pull over a driver simply because the car is registered to someone whose driver’s license is suspended or revoked. In doing so, the Court overturned the state supreme court,… Read More »
Thousands of Skilled Immigrants, Including Doctors, Wait Decades for Green Cards, While The U.S. Desperately Needs Their Help to Combat the Coronavirus
Issues involving immigration, visas, green cards, and citizenship are especially contentious at the moment, not only due to the panic over borders and virus transmission, but also due to the current administration’s policies on immigration in general, which have reflected attitudes opposing skilled workers coming into the country for years; even though these workers… Read More »
Criminal Charges Related to Actual & Potential Coronavirus Transmission
With the coronavirus pandemic reaching epic proportions here in the U.S. and around the world, anxiety levels are heightened to the point where, in some cases, criminal charges are being brought against individuals who fail to comply with stay at home orders in a number of states. Even New York recently announced that fines… Read More »
Administration Proposes Significant Changes to Deportation Orders & Delaying Path to Citizenship
A number of proposed and permanent regulations released in late February will affect the ability for immigrants to obtain citizenship green cards and visas. First, one proposed regulation would increase the cost to go to court to challenge deportation orders by nearly tenfold to $1,000, making deportation appeals much more difficult. The same proposal… Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court Weighs Definition of Serious Drug Offense & Criminalization of Immigration Advocacy
In late February, the Supreme Court ruled on and heard very important criminal cases; one involving what is considered to be a serious drug offense under the Armed Career Criminal Act, while the other (which has not yet been ruled on) could determine whether those engaging in immigration advocacy could be arrested and prosecuted… Read More »
