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New USCIS Rule Alters Asylum Application Process for Late Filers, Emphasizing One-Year Deadline

New USCIS Rule Alters Asylum Application Process for Late Filers, Emphasizing One-Year Deadline

A new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rule, effective July 28, 2026, allows asylum officers to refer certain affirmative asylum applications directly to immigration court without an initial interview. This rule specifically targets applications that appear to have been filed more than one year after the applicant's last arrival in the United States. Federal law generally mandates that asylum applications be filed within one year of arrival, though exceptions exist for 'changed circumstances' or 'extraordinary circumstances.' USCIS implemented this change as part of an effort to reduce its asylum backlog. A referral to immigration court is not a denial but initiates removal proceedings, where an immigration judge will determine the asylum claim and assess any applicable exceptions to the one-year deadline.

Wilner and O'Reilly Guide Same-Sex Couples Through U.S. Marriage-Based Immigration Amidst Policy Changes

Wilner and O'Reilly Guide Same-Sex Couples Through U.S. Marriage-Based Immigration Amidst Policy Changes

Wilner and O'Reilly, an immigration law firm, is providing guidance to same-sex couples navigating the legal requirements and policy changes for marriage-based immigration in the United States. The firm emphasizes that U.S. immigration law recognizes same-sex marriages for immigration purposes, provided the marriage is legally valid in the jurisdiction where it occurred. This recognition extends to green card petitions and other benefits, aligning with the Supreme Court's decision to extend marriage rights nationwide. The firm assists couples in preparing necessary documentation, including certified marriage certificates and evidence of a bona fide relationship, such as joint financial statements, shared leases, and photographs. They also address potential legal hurdles, particularly for couples from countries where same-sex marriages are not recognized or where disclosing such relationships might be unsafe. Wilner and O'Reilly stress the importance of staying informed about policy shifts and new interpret...

USCIS Form I-130 Filing Guide Details Requirements for Family-Based Immigration Petitions

USCIS Form I-130 Filing Guide Details Requirements for Family-Based Immigration Petitions

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is a crucial document for individuals seeking to sponsor family members for immigration to the United States. The form requires the petitioner to provide detailed information about their qualifying family relationship, themselves, and the beneficiary. It is divided into nine parts, covering aspects such as the relationship, petitioner's and beneficiary's biographic information, marital history, and immigration history. Petitioners must use the current USCIS edition of the form and ensure all information is accurate and consistent with supporting documents. Specific instructions are provided for completing each section, including how to address questions that may not apply and how to provide additional information if needed. For spouse beneficiaries, Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary, is generally also required.

Springfield News-Leader

Missouri State University employee detained by ICE

Missouri State University employee detained by ICE

The employee, who is a native of Ghana, is a "valued, long-standing member" of the Missouri State University community, MSU said in a statement.

US freezes Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys green-card applications over alleged fraud

US freezes Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys green-card applications over alleged fraud

By Steve Holland and Akash Sriram WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - The Trump administration froze on Thursday some green-card filings by Microsoft, Adobe and major IT outsourcers and opened probes into nine elite universities, widening a visa crackdown it says targets fraud and American job losses.

Family of Silverio Villegas González Files Claim Against Federal Government After Fatal ICE Shooting

Family of Silverio Villegas González Files Claim Against Federal Government After Fatal ICE Shooting

The family of Silverio Villegas González, who was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during a traffic stop in Franklin Park, Illinois, a year ago, has filed a claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act against the federal government. This is the initial step towards a potential lawsuit seeking accountability for his death. The claim alleges that Villegas González was unlawfully killed and that federal officials misrepresented the circumstances of the shooting and failed to properly investigate it. The family's attorneys dispute the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) initial narrative that Villegas González drove at officers, citing video evidence and the medical examiner's report which suggest he was driving away and was shot from the side. The ICE officer involved has not been publicly identified, and federal authorities have been criticized for a lack of cooperation with state investigations.

Singer Steve Yoo Wins Third Appeal in South Korea Visa Denial Case

Singer Steve Yoo Wins Third Appeal in South Korea Visa Denial Case

Singer Steve Yoo has won his third appeal in a lawsuit against the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles regarding the denial of his visa to enter South Korea. The Seoul High Court’s Administrative Division 8-2 ruled in Yoo’s favor, upholding the lower court's decision. This marks another legal victory for Yoo, who has been barred from entering South Korea since 2002 after obtaining U.S. citizenship and avoiding mandatory military service. Despite previous Supreme Court rulings in his favor in two prior lawsuits, the Consulate General had continued to deny his visa applications, leading to this third legal challenge. Yoo expressed gratitude and regret on social media to his fans, acknowledging the passage of 24 years and his current status as a father of four nearing 50.

Refugees Face Deportation Risk Despite Status Following Criminal Convictions

Refugees Face Deportation Risk Despite Status Following Criminal Convictions

Refugees admitted to the United States can be deported, or 'removed' as per the official legal term, if they are convicted of a qualifying crime, even though their refugee status itself is not revoked by the conviction. U.S. immigration law, specifically INA § 237, applies deportability grounds to any noncitizen who has been admitted, including refugees. While refugee status is granted to individuals fleeing persecution and is generally protected unless obtained through fraud, a criminal conviction can trigger removal proceedings. The process for removal and the maintenance of refugee status operate on two separate tracks. Many refugees are unaware that they are required to apply for a green card one year after admission, and failure to do so can make them more vulnerable to removal if they commit a crime, as they may be placed directly into removal proceedings without their refugee status being terminated first.

Federal Judge Orders Release of Louisville Woman Detained by ICE

Federal Judge Orders Release of Louisville Woman Detained by ICE

A federal judge has ordered the immediate release of Armelle Bondonga, a Louisville woman who had been held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Southern Indiana for eight weeks. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt granted a writ of habeas corpus on Tuesday, mandating her release. Bondonga was arrested by ICE agents on August 12 during a routine interview for her marriage-based green card. An immigration judge had previously denied her bond in September, citing an 'administratively final' removal order that placed her case under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security. However, Judge Pratt's order noted that the 90-day removal period Bondonga faced had expired. Bondonga's legal team argued that ICE 'disobeyed the law' by detaining her, and she has initiated proceedings to reopen her removal case. Bondonga immigrated to the United States from the Democratic Republic of Congo with her family in 2013.

U.S. Rep. Mike Turner's Office Unable to Assist Ukrainian Family with Immigration Application Amid Red Tape

U.S. Rep. Mike Turner's Office Unable to Assist Ukrainian Family with Immigration Application Amid Red Tape

A Ukrainian family, led by Tetiana, who immigrated to the Dayton area two years ago from war-torn Kehrson, Ukraine, is facing significant challenges with their U.S. immigration application. Despite U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Dayton) having supported the extension of immigration programs like Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Tetiana's family reached out to his office in June for assistance in expediting their application process, but were informed that nothing could be done. Turner's office did not respond to requests for comment regarding the situation. The family came to the U.S. legally through a two-year renewable parole program, granted for urgent humanitarian reasons, and are among an estimated 240,000 Ukrainians who received parole before the 'Uniting for Ukraine' program was paused in 2025. They are now in legal limbo, struggling with the renewal process, which can be lengthy and expensive, costing about $1,000 per person for parole and $280 for a work permit. Tetiana's family filed on time in Januar...

Trump administration plans to charge international students $70,000 for work authorization

Trump administration plans to charge international students $70,000 for work authorization

By Susan Heavey WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed that international students pay at least $70,000 in training fees if they want to work in the country, according to a government notice posted online on Wednesday, part of the Trump administration's

U.S. ICE Facility Detainees Launch Hunger Strike Over Prolonged Detention and Conditions

U.S. ICE Facility Detainees Launch Hunger Strike Over Prolonged Detention and Conditions

At least 73 immigrants detained at the privately run Folkston D Ray James ICE Processing Center in Georgia have initiated a hunger strike. The detainees, many of whom are asylum seekers, are protesting prolonged detention and alleged poor conditions within the facility. They are demanding their release while their immigration and asylum cases proceed through the U.S. court system. An open letter signed by 45 detained men, some held since October 2023, calls on Congress, judges, and the public to intervene. The letter highlights that many have been detained for 16 months to nearly three years without being accused of a crime, questioning the fairness of prolonged detention without individual assessments of flight risk or danger. Allegations include inadequate medical and dental care, unhealthy food, cramped living quarters, limited access to sunlight and fresh air, and difficulty communicating with ICE officials. Some GEO Group employees are also accused of hostile and xenophobic behavior, with threats of s...