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New Trump plan gives foreign workers no grace period after job loss

New Trump plan gives foreign workers no grace period after job loss

A DHS proposal could force visa holders and their families to leave the U.S. immediately after a job ends, reversing a policy in place since 2017.

Post-9/11 'War on Terror' Tactics Militarized U.S. Immigration Enforcement, Says Advocate

Post-9/11 'War on Terror' Tactics Militarized U.S. Immigration Enforcement, Says Advocate

The 9/11 attacks significantly reshaped U.S. immigration policies, leading to a militarization of enforcement tactics, according to Maria Mitri of the Friends Committee on National Legislation. Mitri argues that the 'War on Terror' conflated immigration enforcement with counterterrorism, creating a paradigm where foreign nationals were viewed as potential terrorists rather than newcomers. This shift led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), consolidating various federal offices, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), under one umbrella. The PATRIOT Act, enacted post-9/11, granted the federal government extensive powers to surveil, search, and detain individuals, and amended immigration law to allow deportations based on alleged connections to 'terrorist groups' or support for 'terrorist activity.' Additionally, programs like the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) required tens of thousands of immigrant men, primarily from the Middle East, North A...

Trump Administration Proposes Cutting 60-Day Grace Period for H-1B and Other Visa Holders After Job Loss

Trump Administration Proposes Cutting 60-Day Grace Period for H-1B and Other Visa Holders After Job Loss

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the Trump administration has proposed eliminating the 60-day grace period that currently allows certain foreign workers, including H-1B visa holders, to remain in the U.S. after losing their jobs to find a new sponsor. This proposal, which has received White House approval, would mean that some foreign workers would be considered immediately removable from the U.S. if they are no longer employed by the employer linked to their visa status. According to a notice in the Federal Register, the proposal aims to 'restore a direct relationship between an alien’s nonimmigrant status and the specific employment or activity that formed the basis of his or her admission or grant of status in the United States and reduces administrative burden.' Public comments on this proposal will be accepted for 60 days. If adopted, this policy would represent one of the most significant changes to immigration policy regarding foreign workers in nearly a decade, reversing a grace peri...

DHS Proposes Elimination of 60-Day Grace Period for H-1B and Other High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers

DHS Proposes Elimination of 60-Day Grace Period for H-1B and Other High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new rule to eliminate the 60-day grace period currently afforded to H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1, E-1, E-2, E-3, and TN nonimmigrant workers. This grace period, established in 2016, allows these workers and their dependents to remain in the U.S. for up to 60 days after their employment ends without being considered out of status. The proposed rule, DHS Docket No. USCIS-2026-0364 (RIN 1615-AD22), would remove 8 CFR 214.1(l)(2) from regulations. If finalized, nonimmigrant workers would be deemed to have failed to maintain status the day after their employment ceases, necessitating immediate departure unless they have separate authorization to remain. DHS justifies this change by citing statutory alignment, arguing that lawful status should end with employment, and administrative burden, as adjudicators spend resources assessing the grace period's applicability on over 1.9 million petitions and applications between FY 2018 and May 2026. The agency acknowledges...

American Immigration Lawyers Association Highlights Unchecked ICE Abuses and Calls for Congressional Accountability

American Immigration Lawyers Association Highlights Unchecked ICE Abuses and Calls for Congressional Accountability

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has released a policy brief detailing what it describes as 'unlawful and violent abuses' committed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since the start of the current administration. AILA asserts that these actions have led to serious injury and death, affecting immigrants, U.S. citizens, and individuals with legal status or those applying for it. The brief highlights recent incidents of abuse and proposes solutions for reforming the immigration system. AILA is urging Congress to demand accountability and implement reforms to ensure that the nation's immigration agencies operate in a fair, lawful, and humane manner, aiming to bring order and safety to American communities.

Representative Adam Gray Introduces Bill to Extend El Salvador's Temporary Protected Status Amidst Uncertainty

Representative Adam Gray Introduces Bill to Extend El Salvador's Temporary Protected Status Amidst Uncertainty

Representative Adam Gray, a Democrat from Merced, California, has introduced the El Salvador TPS Act of 2026, which aims to direct DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to designate El Salvador for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an additional 18 months beyond September 9, 2026. This legislative effort comes as more than 170,000 Salvadorans in the U.S. face continued uncertainty regarding their legal status, despite the Trump administration appearing to maintain protections for now. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that a decision on Salvadoran TPS would be made 'at the appropriate time,' leaving beneficiaries in limbo. Mendota Mayor Víctor Martínez, whose city hosts a large Salvadoran community, expressed concern over this lack of certainty, highlighting the impact on families who have resided in the U.S. for over two decades. The TPS program, initially granted to Salvadorans in 1990, has been renewed by successive administrations, but President Trump sought to terminate it in 2018, with ...

Former DHS Secretary Suggests Major Overhaul of U.S. Homeland Security Structure

Former DHS Secretary Suggests Major Overhaul of U.S. Homeland Security Structure

A former Secretary of Homeland Security has proposed a significant restructuring of the U.S. homeland security apparatus, suggesting the elimination of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as it currently exists. The proposal advocates for the creation of a new Cabinet-level department that would consolidate a majority of federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, ICE, Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, the Marshals Service, the Federal Protective Service, and the Federal Air Marshal Service. This new department would be led by a secretary empowered to streamline and deconflict law enforcement missions. The recommendation stems from the belief that the current federal law enforcement landscape is fragmented, leading to overlaps, competition, and inefficient use of resources. The former Secretary argues that domestic law enforcement and security should be under the purview of a single Cabinet-level official, similar ...

Congresswoman Delia Ramirez Calls for Accountability and DHS Dismantling on Midway Blitz Anniversary

Congresswoman Delia Ramirez Calls for Accountability and DHS Dismantling on Midway Blitz Anniversary

Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03), alongside fellow Congressmembers Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), as well as local officials and immigration advocacy groups, held a press conference in Chicago. The event marked the one-year anniversary of 'Operation Midway Blitz,' a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) enforcement action in Chicago. Congresswoman Ramirez stated that DHS 'REMAINS the biggest threat to our collective safety' and called for holding accountable those who permitted and profited from DHS's violence, abolishing ICE, and dismantling DHS. The coalition demanded concrete action on immigration reform, including a vote on the Dream and Promise Act, and full accountability from local and federal authorities for the terror inflicted on communities during the operation. Other speakers, including Congressman García, highlighted the community's resilience against what they described as the Trump administration's attempt to 'break us and take away our di...

Representative Gwen Moore Visits ICE Facility, Sparks Debate Over 'Constituents' Term

Representative Gwen Moore Visits ICE Facility, Sparks Debate Over 'Constituents' Term

Wisconsin Democratic U.S. Representative Gwen Moore recently visited the Midwest Regional Reception Center, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Leavenworth, Kansas. During her visit, Moore spent over two hours touring the facility and met with two detained women from Milwaukee, which is part of her congressional district. She referred to these individuals as her 'constituents,' a term that subsequently drew significant criticism online. Moore stated that the detainees reported being treated well but questioned their continued custody, describing them as asylum seekers and mothers with no criminal records. She also highlighted ongoing construction at the facility, suggesting an expansion of capacity, which she linked to President Trump's immigration policies and financial incentives for ICE detention. Moore's office noted that the Leavenworth facility was recently sold to the Department of Homeland Security for $238 million, with CoreCivic continuing its operation.

Trump Administration's Silence on Salvadoran TPS Protections Elicits Relief and Uncertainty

Trump Administration's Silence on Salvadoran TPS Protections Elicits Relief and Uncertainty

The Trump administration has remained silent on the future of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 170,000 immigrants from El Salvador, allowing a deadline to pass without a public announcement. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated it would make an announcement "at an appropriate time" and that TPS for El Salvador would remain in effect until then. This lack of a decision has been met with relief by some, including Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3) of Northern Virginia, who expressed gratitude that protections and work eligibility are holding fast. However, it also creates uncertainty for TPS holders, their families, and employers. Critics, like Ben Johnson of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, argue that the administration is leaving these individuals in limbo. TPS was initially granted to El Salvador due to the aftermath of a civil war and natural disasters in 2001. While El Salvador has become significantly safer under President Nayib Bukele's crackdown on gangs, rights activists crit...

DHS Delays Decision on Salvadoran TPS, Leaving Thousands in Limbo

DHS Delays Decision on Salvadoran TPS, Leaving Thousands in Limbo

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not yet issued a definitive announcement regarding the renewal or cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador, despite the designation period expiring on September 9, 2026. This lack of clarity affects an estimated 170,000 to 232,000 Salvadorans who have resided, worked, and paid taxes in the U.S. for decades. Federal regulations require DHS to announce any modification or cancellation of the program at least 60 days in advance. Since no formal notice was published in the Federal Register by July, federal law provides for an automatic six-month extension of protections. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun sending notices to beneficiaries, temporarily extending expired Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) to allow continued employment. This situation leaves many Salvadoran TPS holders, some of whom have lived in the U.S. for over 25 years, in a state of uncertainty regarding their legal status and future in the c...

Senator John Hickenlooper Opposes Increased Federal Immigrant Detention Capacity in Colorado

Senator John Hickenlooper Opposes Increased Federal Immigrant Detention Capacity in Colorado

Senator John Hickenlooper, alongside Senator Michael Bennet and Representative Brittany Pettersen, has formally requested the Department of Homeland Security to abandon a proposed 77% increase in capacity for detaining immigrants under federal custody in Colorado. The lawmakers' opposition stems from concerns regarding the difficulty detainees face in accessing legal counsel and contacting family members. This issue was highlighted when Senator Hickenlooper was denied entry to a detention center during a supervisory visit in May. The proposed expansion has generated immediate resistance within legislative circles, with the Democratic lawmakers emphasizing the importance of due process and humanitarian considerations for those in federal custody. The initiative aims to significantly expand the number of immigrants that can be held in federal detention facilities within the state.