Articles Posted in Immigration News

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing using facial-recognition technology at all points of entrance and exit from the United States, including on U.S. citizens. DHS has proposed changing regulations to allow them to do just that. Facial recognition technology matches an image of a person from a photo or video with a still image of them in a database.

Michael Hardin, director of exit/entry policy for DHS, stated that the rule was in the “final stages of clearance.” If the rule is approved, it would have to be published for public comments for a period.

For further details please review the CNN News Article, “Homeland Security wants to use facial recognition on traveling US citizens, too”.

USCIS announced November 12^th on their Twitter Account (@USCIS) that they are looking for help shaping the future design and features of their official web site. How can you help? USCIS is looking for users to register for Website Feature Testing using the following link to their web page, “Help Us Test Website Features”. After submitting your email address, a new window will indicate that you have successfully subscribed and that they have received your information. If you want to have an input, here is your chance.

Source of Information:

USCIS Twitter Account – @USCIS / November 12, 2019 at 11:45am: Help Us Test Website Features

Six couples have joined a class action suit against the USCIS for allegedly luring them to marriage interviews but when they arrive the immigrant spouse were detained for deportation. A couple from Baltimore, Alyse and Elmer Sanchez arrived for their marriage interview when moments later Elmer was detained and taken away. Alyse Sanchez stated, “We feel it was a trap, a trick, to get us there,”.

For further details please review the SFGate News Article, “Suit says feds using immigration marriage interviews as trap”.

Source of Information:

Several Hispanic Americans tell the story of their heritage. They reflect on immigration, culture, and their identity. The first story is about Julián Castro and the American Dream.

For further details please review the CBS News Article, ““There is a story to my heritage”: Hispanic Americans reflect on immigration, culture, and identity”.

National Hispanic Heritage Month was Celebrated from September 15^th – October 15^th.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr has issued a new rule for the Department of Justice (DOJ), that will allow federal authorities to start gathering DNA information on the approximately 748,000 immigrants annually that present themselves at legal ports of entry. The federal officials said they would create a huge (criminal) database of information of individual migrants. Barr has stated that they just want a “genetic fingerprint” that can uniquely identify a person but without other personal information being disclosed.

Naureen Shah, Senior Advocacy and Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stated, “It’s the most intimate information that you can take from someone. It is information you can use to find their family members, to know their histories,”. She also stated, “And we’re going to be taking it from people against their will.”

The Rule: DNA-Sample Collection from Immigration Detainees (.PDF)

This article examines an analysis of American Community Survey* data by Brookings Institution demographer William Frey, a leading expert in the geography of immigration. The data shows that the foreign-born population has declined within the United States in areas that voted Democratic in 2016 and increased in states and metro areas that voted for President Trump. Immigration to the U.S. has slowed in coastal states but increased in Trump-voting states and metropolitan areas. President Trump’s crackdown on immigration is having some unexpected outcomes!

 
For further details please review the CITYLAB News Article, “The New Geography of American Immigration”.

*American Community Survey

UPDATE – Kevin McAleenan, Trump’s Homeland Security secretary, resigns *CBS News, 10/11/19

The Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Kevin McAleenan was shouted off the stage by protesters at the annual immigration policy conference at Georgetown University Law Center. The Acting Secretary was scheduled to be the keynote speaker for the conference.

The moment the Acting Secretary took the stage, protesters started shouting, “When immigrants are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!”. The protesters continued shouting until McAleenan gave up and left the stage.

UPDATE – DHS Public Charge Final Rule – Court Ordered Delay

A District Court has ordered the DHS and USCIS NOT to enforce or apply the new DHS Public Charge Final Rule, including Form changes!

 
On October 11, 2019, the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York enjoined and restrained the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and USCIS from “enforcing, applying, or treating as effective” the DHS Public Charge Final Rule. In addition, the court specifically enjoined the government from implementing the use of any new or updated forms whose submission would be required under the Final Rule, including the Form I-129, Form I-485, Form I-539, Form I-864, Form I-864 EZ, Form I-944, and Form I-945. As of 5:00 pm (ET), USCIS appeared to have removed the new/revised forms from its website.*

UPDATE – DHS Public Charge Final Rule

A District Court has ordered the DHS and USCIS NOT to enforce or apply the new DHS Public Charge Final Rule, including Form changes!

USCIS has published new versions of Forms I-485, I-129, I-539, I-864, I-864EZ and I-944 and released them late on Wednesday, October 9^th! These new versions of forms have been updated to comply with the new Public Charge Rule. The new Public Charge Rule takes effect on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 and these new versions of the forms must be used on and after that date.