Law Offices of Patricia D. Castorena

A new era begins! https://www.cnn.com//pete-buttigieg-alejandro-/index.html

In addition to creating a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented population, the Biden administration’s bill also contains three other legislative pillars.

WATCH AILA National Executive Director Ben Johnson hit some of the highlights of today's immigration actions by the new administration and what he looks forward to in the coming days

Familia, a prepararnos! Acuerden, lo más importante es estar bien informados!

"While the recent court decision is good news, DACA is still on shaky ground. The next hearing in a separate lawsuit against the initiative will go to federal court in Texas on December 22. The case, filed by 10 state attorneys general, argues that DACA is illegal."

DACA Stands! The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Trump administration cannot carry out its plan to shut down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which has allowed nearly 800,000 young people, known as "Dreamers," to avoid deportation and remain in the U.S.

CONTACT: George Tzamaras, [email protected] Belle Woods, [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... January 27, 2020 WASHINGTON, DC Today, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) expressed disappointment and concern at the 5-4 Supreme Court decision to stay the current nationwide injunction of the public charge rule. The administration can now, temporarily at least, implement the Public Charge Final Rule while the underlying litigation continues. AILA Director of Federal Litigation Jesse Bless stated, As soon as the rule is implemented, AILA expects a rapid and glaring increase in the number of immigrants deemed inadmissible and thus ineligible for various immigration benefits, including applicants for lawful permanent residence (known as ‘green cards’) due to the use of certain government services, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid, which their family members are legally entitled to claim. With limited exceptions, the final rule allows USCIS to deny admission to a foreign national who has received or is likely to receive certain public benefits for more than 12 months within any 36-month period. This policy contravenes Congressional intent and provides the latest attempt to construct an invisible wall blocking the pre-existing rights for legal immigrants. The rule will undoubtedly result in the separation of tens of thousands of families seeking to reunite in the United States. The one exception is Illinois, where the litigation, led by Cook County and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, led to a state-specific injunction. There, the district court enjoined the public charge rule within Illinois and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has so far rejected the government’s requests for a stay of the injunction. Since the administration did not file for a stay of the 7th Circuit’s order with the Supreme Court, the rule is still enjoined in Illinois for now.

Lista! Acompáñenos para el segmento de inmigración en Telemundo Área de la Bahía!

FB Familia! Acompáñenos para el segmento de inmigración hoy a las 5pm!

AILA: "The proposed fee hikes, coupled with the elimination of vital fee waivers, would price many individuals and families out of our legal immigration system. If the rule is implemented, application fees for green cards, along with associated work and travel authorization, would surge by 79%, and for citizenship by 83%. The rule would also eliminate fee waivers for those form types as well as for numerous others. Moreover, the rule would significantly raise fees for DACA renewal requests. Taken together, these changes constitute yet another brick in the Trump Administration’s invisible wall restricting legal immigration."

AILA: "The proposed rule would force USCIS customers to pay more for less. USCIS is proposing a 21% overall fee hike without offering evidence that this increase will reverse the ongoing deterioration of the agency’s immigration benefit services. In fact, in key respects the rule would further weaken USCIS’s case processing standards. If implemented, families, protection seekers, and American businesses throughout the country would face the dual burden of increased fees and decreased services."

"The cost for becoming a citizen would rise above $1,000 for the first time in history. In another first, USCIS proposed a new fee for asylum seekers, which would make the United States only the fourth country in the world to charge for humanitarian protection. Advocates decried the fee increases as an attack on legal immigration."

On November 12, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on the termination of DACA and decide whether to uphold the highly successful program or put immigrant youth at risk of deportation in 2020. Over 98,000 individuals could see their #DACA protections expire if they do not renew by the end of 2019. As we head to SCOTUS on 11/12, recipients can and should continue to renew their protections. For more resources, visit homeishere.us/

PRESS CONTACTS: Justice Action Center: Christine Chen, [email protected] American Immigration Lawyers Association: Belle Woods, [email protected] Innovation Law Lab: Ramon Valdez, [email protected]... Civil Rights Coalition Halts Implementation of Presidential Proclamation Requiring Health Insurance November 2, 2019 Today, litigators from the Justice Action Center (JAC), the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and the Innovation Law Lab, with Sidley Austin LLP providing pro bono assistance, successfully halted implementation of the administration’s attempt to ban immigrants based on their ability to obtain health insurance upon arrival to the U.S.

"Following an agreement between the governments of the United States and El Salvador, Salvadorans with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will be able to extend their status for another year into early 2021."

From the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC): Public Charge: Core Messages to Share with Community Members On August 14, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule related to public charge in the Federal Register. The rule will not take effect until October 15, 2019. Some counties immediately filed a lawsuit to block the new rule, and additional litigation is expected. Thus, legal challenges could delay implementation. ...Continue reading

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted for public inspection in the Federal Register a final "public charge" rule that will dramatically expand the number of immigrants that DHS could deem ineligible for green cards and admission to the United States on account of income level and prior use of certain public benefits. The rule will be officially released on August 14, 2019, and will take effect 60 days later. Lawsuits against this rule are pending to block implementation...

"USA Today reports that federal immigration officials agreed to a court settlement that prohibits them from randomly checking the papers of passengers on domestic flights, ending a lawsuit that was filed after CBP officers did just that on a flight from San Francisco to New York City. Per the settlement, CBP must instruct all of its officers working at airports that they cannot have a policy of "suspicionless document checks" or conduct any operations that violate the Fourth Amendment."https://www.usatoday.com//customs-officers-ca/1700254001/

While there's no realistic way that the president can accomplish his goal of deporting "millions" of people immediately, his threats are nonetheless terrorizing communities. Targeting families who are fleeing persecution is not a solution. Mass family detention is a campaign slogan that is inhumane and wastes hundreds of millions in American taxpayer dollars. AILA's 16,000 members will stand with these vulnerable families to ensure they are treated fairly and in keeping with the Constitution and laws of this nation--something we can no longer count on under current policies.

In response to the incredible demand from local government agencies and the community, AILA has compiled local and national resources to assist those at risk and responders: www.aila.org/raids. Those wanting to help, both AILA members and non-AILA members, can volunteer to assist targeted families and donate to the efforts to help them through the Immigration Justice Campaign at www.ImmigrationJustice.us