We have all seen the chaos and heartbreak at the U.S. southern border this last week, caused by terrible policies, incoherent strategy, and a lack of human kindness. We pray, like all Americans, that this week, as we celebrate our great nation’s birth, that we will remember why we are as a country, not just who we are. Liberty, Truth, Justice, Mercy, and brotherly (and sisterly) kindness, are essential to our continued success. A little more of each of these, and we can yet live up to the ideals found in Declaration of Independence.
At Kuck Baxter Immigration, we are dedicated to providing you up to the minute information through our Twitter feed, Facebook, our blog, and our podcast. Don’t forget to check these out, and don’t hesitate to send your questions or comments. Information, and knowledge, are power.
Upcoming Events and Kuck Baxter Immigration Media
We regularly speak at community events, continuing legal education seminars, Human Resource conference, and at universities and colleges around the US. Check out our website and come on out to the event! We also do a Facebook live every week, in both English and Spanish, every Friday at 2 pm. Follow us on our Facebook page and catch the action! You can also follow us on our YouTube page, which has hundreds of videos encompassing every immigration topic.
Have You Checked Out Our Blog and our Podcast?
Our Blog is updated each week with information, breaking news, and answers to questions you need to know! During May and June we are blogging every day, so check out our Partner Danielle Claffey’s blog on the next immigration bill Congress will consider:
You can also listen to our Top 50 rated podcast, “The Immigration Hour” podcast, that we post each Tuesday. Download it and listen at your leisure! If you have comments on the podcast, or topics you would like us to talk about on The Immigration Hour, let us know!
Here is the Immigration News You NEED to Know Now
IMMIGRATION NEWS
USCIS Expands ‘FIRST’ Digital FOIA System – USCIS said FIRST is the only system in the U.S. government that allows users to submit and track FOIA requests and receive documents digitally.
USCIS Extends Parole and Work Authorization for Certain CNMI Residents – USCIS will automatically extend parole, and employment authorization if applicable, for certain residents.
Acting CBP Commissioner To Step Down After Two Months – John Sanders, Acting Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), announced he is resigning effective July 5, 2019.
Don’t Accept Restricted Social Security Cards for I-9 Verification, E-Verify Warns – E-Verify recently reminded employers not to accept restricted Social Security cards as List C documents on the I-9 work authorization verification form.
USCIS Expands ‘FIRST’ Digital FOIA System
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expanding its digital Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Immigration Records System, FIRST. USCIS said FIRST is the only system in the U.S. government that allows users to submit and track FOIA requests and receive documents digitally.
FOIA entitles every person access to certain information from the federal government. FOIA requests can be critical in cases where the full picture of an applicant’s history matters to the success of their immigration petition/application.
FOIA requestors with a USCIS online account can submit requests online for their own records. Soon, they will be able to submit online requests for non-A-file materials.
Details: USCIS announcement, https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-expands-first-a-fully-digital-foia-system
USCIS Extends Parole and Work Authorization for Certain CNMI Residents
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on June 28, 2019, that it will automatically extend parole (i.e., permission to lawfully remain), and employment authorization if applicable, for certain residents of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). This extension of parole will provide relief while USCIS establishes procedures for obtaining the new CNMI Resident status created by the Northern Mariana Islands Long-Term Legal Residents Relief Act, signed by President Trump on June 25, 2019.
USCIS noted the following points:
- Parole for individuals under a previous CNMI categorical parole program expired on June 29, 2019. DHS automatically extended parole for those individuals without interruption through October 28, 2019. USCIS said this automatic extension of 120 days will provide an opportunity for individuals to submit a re-parole request.
- For parolees with an employment authorization document (EAD) expiring at the same time as their parole (June 29, 2019), USCIS is automatically extending their employment authorization through October 28, 2019.
Details: USCIS announcement, https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/northern-mariana-islands-long-term-legal-residents-relief-act-guidance-certain-individuals-present-commonwealth-northern-mariana-islands-cnmi
Acting CBP Commissioner To Step Down After Two Months
John Sanders, Acting Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), announced he is resigning effective July 5, 2019, after only two months on the job. He took on the role in April after Kevin McAleenan, former CBP Commissioner, became Acting Secretary of Homeland Security after Kirstjen Nielsen’s departure. The announcement follows reports of substandard conditions for migrant children being held in detention.
Mr. Sanders reportedly is expected to be replaced by Mark Morgan, who has been directing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for several months. He was formerly chief of the Border Patrol.
Details: News reports, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/25/acting-customs-and-border-protection-commissioner-john-sanders-leaving/1559520001/ ; https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/25/trump-acting-cbp-commissioner-john-sanders-resigns.html ; https://www.axios.com/john-sanders-customs-border-protection-commissioner-resignation-ec1bc5f7-8d93-4544-a411-b28a32cbdf3d.html
Don’t Accept Restricted Social Security Cards for I-9 Verification, E-Verify Warns
E-Verify recently reminded employers not to accept restricted Social Security cards as List C documents on the I-9 work authorization verification form. Form I-9 List C documents verify an employee’s authorization to work.
Employers should not accept a restricted Social Security card that is stamped with one of the following:
- Valid for work only with DHS authorization
- Valid for work only with INS authorization
- Not valid for employment
Details: E-Verify announcement, https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCISEVERIFY/bulletins/24dfc6b;
List C documents that establish employment authorization, https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/133-list-c-documents-establish-employment-authorization;
Form I-9 acceptable documents, https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/acceptable-documents/list-documents/form-i-9-acceptable-documents?topic_id=1&t=c
Government Agency Links
Follow these links to access current processing times of the USCIS Service Centers and the Department of Labor, and the Department of State’s latest Visa Bulletin with the most recent cut-off dates for visa numbers:
USCIS Service Center processing times online: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplay.do
Department of State Visa Bulletin:https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/law-and-policy/bulletin.html
Visa application wait times for any post:https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/general/wait-times.html/
Kuck Baxter Immigration — In The News
We have changed the location of our podcast–The Immigration Hour— to Stitcher. We are entering our 11th year of continuous broadcasts. Listen here each week for our latest take on immigration and immigration law!
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Feel free to reach out with any questions or for help in your immigration case at 404-816-8611 or [email protected].
