Welcome to the Garfinkel Immigration news roundup, where every month we will summarize and provide links to the latest stories impacting U.S. immigration.
Below is the July 2024 edition of the Garfinkel Immigration news roundup:
‘Parole in Place’ program for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens to begin accepting applications on Aug. 19
President Biden’s policy initiative which will allow certain undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens, as well as their children, to apply for legal permanent residency via “Parole in Place” will begin accepting applications on Aug. 19, 2024, the White House announced in mid-July.
Further details about the program have still yet to be released. More information is expected to come available “in the near term” once a notice is published in the Federal Register, according to USCIS. The program may also be challenged through litigation.
President Biden’s policies related to ‘Parole in Place’ for undocumented spouses, work permits for ‘Dreamers:’ Catherine Magennis discusses benefits, eligibility criteria and more
Earlier this month, we spoke with Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm Senior Associate Attorney Catherine Magennis about President Biden’s policy announcements related to “Parole in Place” for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and work permits for “Dreamers.”
Magennis discussed the potential impacts on applicable foreign nationals, the benefits of the initiatives, the possible eligibility criteria and more.
Amid shortage, nurses abroad wait longer for visas
This story from Marketplace.org documents the growing delay foreign national nurses face to receive a visa.
“Visas for nurses are running out yet again — months before the end of the fiscal year. And for healthcare providers seeking talent abroad, this is a problem,” the story read. “Qualified and experienced nurses are in high demand, and the Health Resources & Services Administration projects a shortfall of tens of thousands of registered nurses annually. For U.S. healthcare providers and the foreign nurses who want to work for them, the wait to get a visa to the U.S. is growing.”
The story continued: “For a nurse applying today … the wait time has increased to roughly 2.5 years. Without creating more visa slots … wait times will grow by six months every year.”
Read the full Marketplace.org story here and find out more about Garfinkel Immigration’s Healthcare Specialty Practice Group, which focuses on developing legal solutions for the healthcare community.
Further reading: Immigration options for healthcare workers — Nonimmigrant visas, green cards, Conrad 30 waivers and more
Immigration attorneys question legality of H-1B and L-1 visa fee rule
This story, written by Forbes Senior Contributor Stuart Anderson, details the concerns of some immigration advocates about a new proposed rule “that would expand when companies pay an additional fee for H-1B and L-1 professionals under Public Law 114-113.”
The rule is commonly referred to as the “9-11 Biometric Fee or 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee” and applies to “companies with more than 50 employees and at least 50% of their workforce in H-1B and L-1 status.”
“Comments filed after the rule’s publication indicate a lawsuit is likely should DHS hold fast to a new legal interpretation of when companies pay the fee,” the story read. “The fee’s significant extra costs could be passed along to businesses that use the services of the companies affected by the rule.”
Find out more via Forbes here.
What is Kamala Harris’ record on immigration?
Earlier this month, Vice President Kamala Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee for President in the 2024 election.
This story from the Sacramento Bee examines Harris’ previous work on immigration policy.
“Harris’ changing views on the issue illustrate her willingness to adapt with the times and listen to plights of immigrants, according to advocates,” the story read. “They argue Harris, who is the daughter of immigrants, has a nearly 10-year record of proving herself to them.”
Harris served as the District Attorney of San Francisco, Attorney General of California and as a U.S. Senator from California before becoming Vice President.
“As attorney general, Harris issued bulletin guidelines to California law enforcement making clear ‘criminal justice policy should not be conflated with national immigration policy,’” the Sacramento Bee story read. “She also crafted legislation to ensure agencies help undocumented immigrants apply for U Visas, a form of immigration relief specifically set aside for victims of crime.”
Find out more via the Sacramento Bee here.
New ‘Heartland Visa’ proposed by America’s mayors
A bipartisan group of American mayors endorsed at a conference earlier this month the creation of a “Heartland Visa” to “revitalize local economies through high-skilled immigration,” according to a report from Forbes.
“A novel approach, the Heartland Visa, proposes leveraging the talent of skilled workers to rejuvenate areas affected by deindustrialization by redistributing skilled workers across the country,” the Forbes article read. “This visa would offer a new immigration pathway for highly skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and innovators and simplify their path to permanent residency in return for their commitment to live in participating communities experiencing economic decline.”
Read more about the “Heartland Visa” proposal via Forbes here.