Editorial credit: Lyonstock / Shutterstock.com U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual that will enhance our capability to screen and vet family-based immigrant visa petitions. This update explains requirements and adjudication of these petitions, including eligibility criteria, filing, interviews, and decisions. Fraudulent, frivolous, or otherwise non-meritorious family-based immigrant visa petitions erode confidence in family-based pathways to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status […]
By Mary Campbell A controversial new travel fee—dubbed the “visa integrity fee”—was enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law on July 4, 2025. It imposes a $250 charge on top of existing visa application fees for most non‑immigrant visa holders, including tourist (B‑1/B‑2), student (F/M), work (H‑1B/H‑4), and exchange (J‑1/J‑2) categories. When […]
By Staff Writer | Editorial credit: Matt Gush / shutterstock.com Miami, FL, April 30, 2024 — A 44-year-old Haitian woman, Marie Ange Blaise, died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Broward Transitional Center (BTC) in Pompano Beach, Florida, on April 25, 2025. Blaise was pronounced dead by medical professionals at 8:35 […]
By Chris Tobias | Editorial credit: Tada Images / shutterstock.com The recent agreement between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to share tax information of certain undocumented immigrants represents a significant shift in the handling of confidential taxpayer data. This memorandum of understanding permits Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. | Editorial credit: Phil Pasquini / shutterstock.com As of March 12, 2025, the status of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Haitian community in the United States is undergoing significant changes due to recent policy shifts by the Trump administration. These changes have profound implications for Haitian nationals currently residing in […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. | Editorial credit: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com President Donald Trump has unveiled a proposal to replace the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program with a new “Gold Card” visa, priced at $5 million. This initiative aims to attract affluent individuals by offering permanent U.S. residency and a pathway to citizenship in exchange […]
By Mary Campbell For many non-citizens and green card holders in the United States, public assistance programs provide critical financial support, food security, healthcare, and housing assistance. However, receiving public benefits can also impact an individual’s ability to adjust status, naturalize, or petition for family members under U.S. immigration laws. Understanding how federal and state […]
By Dara Lind, Immmigration Impact | Editorial credit: Phil Pasquini / shutterstock.com The American Immigration Council does not endorse or oppose candidates for elected office. We aim to provide analysis regarding the implications of the election on the U.S. immigration system. From his first day in office, President Trump made clear that part of his […]
Editorial credit: Claudine Van Massenhove / Shutterstock.com An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but are not eligible for a Social Security Number (SSN). This includes nonresident aliens, resident aliens, and undocumented […]
By Chris Tobias | Editorial credit: Manoej Paateel / Shutterstock.com In a dramatic development that has drawn sharp criticism, several Indian nationals were deported from the United States back to India in the wake of the Trump administration’s ongoing push for mass deportations. The deportees, many of whom have been living in the U.S. for […]
