Page 21 - Us Immigration

Hearing held for judge accused of allowing immigrant to escape ICE custody

A hearing began Monday for a Massachusetts judge facing civil charges over allegations that she allowed an immigrant in her court to evade an immigration enforcement agent. The case stems from a 2018 incident in which Shelley Joseph, a district court judge, is accused of colluding with the immigrant's attorney and a court officer to allow him escape out a back door of the courthouse after a hearing on charges that included drug possession. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer had been waiting outside the courtroom to detain the defendant, Jose Medina-Perez. "This case is about the integrity, impartiality and independence of the Massachusetts judiciary and the appearance of the integrity, impartiality and independence every judge must uphold," Judith Fabricant, special counsel for the commission, told the hearing. A lawyer for Joseph, Elizabeth Mulvey, said the case had been distorted over time and that everyone had come to believe that her client "let an illegal immigrant

Trump's new travel ban takes effect amid immigration enforcement tensions

President Donald Trump's new ban on travel to the US by citizens from 12 mainly African and Middle Eastern countries took effect Monday amid rising tension over the president's escalating campaign of immigration enforcement. The new proclamation, which Trump signed last week, applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. It also imposes heightened restrictions on people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela who are outside the US and don't hold a valid visa. The new ban does not revoke visas previously issued to people from countries on the list, according to guidance issued Friday to all US diplomatic missions. However, unless an applicant meets narrow criteria for an exemption to the ban, his or her application will be rejected starting Monday. Travellers with previously issued visas should still be able to enter the US even after the ban takes .

Trump's travel ban on 12 nations set to take effect from early Monday

The countries affected by the latest travel ban are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen

US immigration authorities detain family of man charged in Colorado attack

The wife and five children of an Egyptian man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at people in Boulder demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages, injuring 12 of them, was taken into custody Tuesday by US immigration officials who are investigating whether they knew about his plan. The family of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and could be deported as early as Tuesday night, the White House said in a post on X. Soliman, who was disguised as a gardener, had 18 Molotov cocktails and had planned to kill all of the roughly 20 participants in Sunday's demonstration in downtown Boulder but apparently had second thoughts and threw just two while yelling "Free Palestine," police said. Soliman, who federal authorities say has been living in the US illegally, didn't carry out his full plan because he got scared and had never hurt anyone before," police wrote in an affidavit. The two incendiary devices he threw were enough to

Trump gives Harvard 30 days to reply on foreign student enrolment ban

The Trump administration has given Harvard 30 days to respond to a notice that could stop it from enrolling foreign students, a move the university says would impact a quarter of its student strength

20 Democrat attorneys sue Trump admin over conditions on federal funding

A coalition of 20 state Democratic attorneys general filed two federal lawsuits on Tuesday, claiming that the Trump administration is threatening to withhold billions of dollars in transportation and disaster-relief funds unless states agree to certain immigration enforcement actions. According to the complaints, both Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have threatened to cut off funding to states that refuse to comply with President Donald Trump's immigration agenda. While no federal funding is currently being withheld, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said during a news conference on Tuesday that the threat was imminent. President Donald Trump can't use these funds as a bargaining chip as his way of ensuring states abide by his preferred policies, Bonta added. Department of Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that the lawsuit will not stop the Trump Administration from ...

Trump admin says will pay immigrants in US illegally $1,000 to go home

The Trump administration says it's going to pay immigrants in the United States illegally who've returned to their home country voluntarily USD 1,000 as it pushes forward with its mass deportation agenda. The Department of Homeland Security said Monday that it's also paying for travel assistance and that people who use their CBP Home app to tell the government they plan to return home will be deprioritised for detention and removal by immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump has made immigration enforcement a centrepiece of his campaign. But that is a costly, resource-intensive endeavour. The Republican administration is pushing Congress for a massive increase in resources but also aggressively pushing people in the country illegally to self-deport.

Indians worst hit by US student visa cancellations, shows AILA data

Trump administration has revoked visas of over 1,000 students since March

US Army to take over border land for base, may detain migrants: Officials

A long sliver of federal land along the US-Mexico border that President Donald Trump is turning over to the Department of Defense would be controlled by the Army as part of a base, which could allow troops to detain any trespassers, including migrants, US officials told The Associated Press. The transfer of that border zone to military control and making it part of an Army installation is an attempt by the Trump administration to get around a federal law that prohibits US troops from being used in domestic law enforcement on American soil. But if the troops are providing security for land that is part of an Army base, they can perform that function. However, at least one presidential powers expert said the move is likely to be challenged in the courts. The officials said the issue is still under review in the Pentagon, but even as any legal review goes on, the administration's intent is to have troops detain migrants at the border. The corridor, known as the Roosevelt Reservation

Trump admin to check for antisemitism before granting immigration benefits

US President Donald Trump's administration will immediately start considering antisemitic activity on social media and physical harassment of Jewish people as grounds for denying immigration benefits, according to a federal agency announcement on Wednesday. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin screening the social media activity of immigrants that request benefits, including those who apply for lawful permanent resident status, foreign students and people affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemitic activity. The guidance takes effect immediately, according to the release. The announcement followed a notice last month about a Department of Homeland Security proposal to collect social media handles from people applying for benefits such as green cards or citizenship, to comply with an executive order from Trump. The public and federal agencies had until May 5 to provide feedback. The proposal notice raised alarms from immigration and free speech ..

Canada updates US travel advisory: Expect phone, laptop inspections

Canada's notice follows growing concerns over the authority of US Customs and Border Protection agents to inspect personal devices without warrants

Deportation threats & fake fees: Indian Embassy in US warns of fraud calls

The Indian Embassy in the United States warns Indian nationals and visa applicants about fraudulent calls from scammers

US immigrants may soon need to share social media details with USCIS

USCIS estimates this proposal would affect over 3.5 million applicants annually

US green card: EB-4 visa applications suspended - what happens next?

No further EB-4 green cards will be issued until the new financial year begins on October 1, 2025

US firms can buy Gold Card for $5 million to hire top Indian grads: Trump

Defending the move, Trump said the new scheme would allow American businesses to recruit top graduates from Ivy League and other leading universities

Illegal immigrants must register or face jail: What Trump's order means

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a branch of DHS, said it would soon release a registration form and process

End of EB-5 visa: Why the $5 mn US 'Gold Card' blow hits rich Indians hard

The "Gold Card" will replace the employment-based EB-5 visa programme. This comes as a blow for Indians who had started seeing the EB-5 visa as an alternative to the H-1B visa

335 Indians deported since Feb 5: Trump says 'cheaters, liars sent packing'

"The fraudsters, liars, cheaters, globalists, and deep state bureaucrats are being sent packing," Trump said

H-1B, F-1, B-2 visas and more: Legal ways for Indians to enter the US

While legal migration pathways exist, individuals who attempt to enter the US through illegal means face long-term consequences

NYC mayor Adams to allow immigration officials to operate at Rikers jail

New York City Mayor Eric Adams says he will allow federal immigration officials to operate at the city's Rikers Island jail following a meeting Thursday with President Donald Trump's border czar. Adams said he will issue an executive order reestablishing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence at the complex one of the nation's largest and most notorious lockups as had been the case under prior administrations. The Democrat said ICE agents would be focused on assisting the correction department's intelligence bureau in criminal investigations, particularly those focused on violent criminals and gangs. As I have always said, immigrants have been crucial in building our city and will continue to be key to our future success, but we must fix our long-broken immigration system, Adams said in a statement. That is why I have been clear that I want to work with the new federal administration, not war with them, to find common ground and make better the lives of New ...