Shoulder by Shoulder
Leaders Moving Business Forward with Lance Bartholomeusz of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
Firmwide response to travel bans
USCIS has announced the reduction of the maximum validity period from five years to 18 months for employment authorization documents (EAD) for certain categories of aliens or foreign nationals beginning Dec. 5, 2025. The...more
On December 2, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a significant new policy memorandum PM-602-0192, titled “Hold and Review of all Pending Asylum Applications and all USCIS Benefit Applications...more
On December 4, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued policy guidance shortening validity periods for certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). Specifically, effective December 5, 2025, the...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued policy guidance, published on December 4, 2025 and effective December 5, 2025, that reduces the maximum validity periods for Employment Authorization Documents...more
Foreign nationals from 19 countries and all asylum applicants and refugees are facing severe restrictions on their ability to enter, live, and work in the United States. Employers should take note since it impacts the ability...more
In the wake of the shooting of two members of the National Guard in Washington D.C. on November 28, 2025, the Trump Administration has announced a number of significant changes to the processing of certain immigration cases...more
The UK government recently published a statement outlining its intention to move to an “earned settlement” system based on a “time adjustment” model whereby the baseline residence period for settlement for most migrants will...more
After temporarily pausing a recent Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) interim final rule, the U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. has taken the additional action of granting an emergency stay order over the rule. ...more
The federal appeals court in the District of Columbia has placed a temporary administrative stay on implementation of a recent Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) interim final rule that would limit issuance...more
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have released its plan outlining detailed admission targets and substantial shifts in immigration strategy. ...more
As of September 6, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) appears to be limiting the ability for applicants to make nonimmigrant visa appointments outside of their country of nationality or residence (limitation does not apply...more
The news relating to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans continues to shift as court battles continue. As we wrote last week, the Ninth Circuit recently affirmed a March 2025 district court order pausing the...more
On September 5, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a prepublication version of the Federal Register Notice officially terminating the 2021 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Venezuela. The...more
In a critical ruling that preserves stability for many Venezuelan nationals in the U.S., the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court’s order that prevents the abrupt termination of Temporary Protected Status...more
As we have covered in prior blog posts on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) as it continues to evolve, this week brings significant developments. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of TPS...more
Late Friday evening, June 6, 2025 – right after we posted TPS Twist: Court Halts DHS Action on Certain Venezuelan Work Authorization-For Now – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its website with a...more
In a 7–2 decision issued by the U.S. Supreme Court on May 30th (with Justices Jackson and Sotomayor dissenting), the Court granted the federal government’s request to stay the district court’s injunction that had blocked the...more
In a significant development for Venezuelan Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, a federal district court in California has issued an injunction preventing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from invalidating...more
In a pivotal immigration development, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has effectively granted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) permission to proceed with the termination of the 2023 Temporary Protected Status (TPS)...more
President Donald Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14204, “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa,” on Feb. 7, 2025, creating an exception to the refugee ban, driven by concerns over South Africa’s...more
Date Issued: Jan. 20, 2025 This executive order suspends the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) until it is determined that the further entry of refugees aligns with the interests of the U.S. ...more
At A Glance - President Trump’s first week in office provided a clear roadmap of his policy priorities and the beginning of a significant overhaul of immigration policies. His “Protecting the American People Against...more
The Trump Administration executed a number of Executive Orders related to immigration in its first day. These orders include a return to the “extreme vetting” policy of the previous Trump administration, limitations on...more
On Monday, January 20, the first day of the new presidential term, President Donald Trump issued a flurry of new executive orders related to immigration action items. Many of these orders address humanitarian and southern...more
On January 20, 2025, President Trump issues six executive orders covering immigration policy decisions. A summary of these executive orders follows. This executive order ends birthright citizenship for those infants who: (1)...more