Bloggerlife.blog

12/05/2025

Today’s blog

Lynn Murphy Mark

November immigration shenanigans

Ever since January 20, 2025, we immigration workers have had our world turned pretty much upside down. This is even more true for our clients who are trying to follow the legal paths to the immigration benefits to which they are entitled to apply. I have had clients who decided to drop out rather than contend with the changes. These are people who are frightened for their futures, who are uncertain if they will be snatched up and placed out of reach of friends, family, and any legal help. Living this way takes its toll on all involved.

I have a mother/son duo who have a very strong case for immigrants who are victims of a crime. We sent in their application, with all the required details showing how they had cooperated with the police to bring the perpetrator to justice. This program moves very slowly and in today’s environment, they decided to leave the United States and return to their home country of Colombia. They were too afraid of being swept up, detained, and separated. The sad part of this story is this: a couple of weeks ago they were granted Work Authorization Cards and given a “bona fide” status. Too late. They are gone. Yesterday I Fedexed their documents to them, but the chances of them being allowed to re-enter the United States are pretty slim, unless they can obtain a tourist visa. If so, I can resume work on their cases, and they have permission to work legally. 

I think I’ve written before that Green Cards and Work Cards are what people are seeking. There is no easy path to obtain either of these treasures. In the last 10 days, Stephen Miller – a rabid anti-immigrant member of 47’s inner circle – has orchestrated ways to attack both of these legitimately acquired items. For official Green Cards, the administration announced that there will be an effort to have a “vigorous reexamination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern.” This means all people from the 19 travel ban countries. In addition, there is thought being given to adding 11 more countries to the travel ban list. I have clients from Sierra Leone, one of the countries, who have legally acquired Green Cards and are now subject to review about their status.

As for Employment Authorization Documents (EAD’s, or work cards) they will be greatly affected as well. Instead of being good for 4 or 5 years, new cards will only be good for 18 months. This means basically that people must now apply to renew their permits about every 12 months. These are not free, either. Unless a person qualifies for a Fee Waiver, they will be paying $520 for the privilege of paying into Social Security – which they are not eligible for – and contributing significantly to our federal and state taxes.

Because USCIS is so slow in the renewal process for EAD’s, they have been issuing letters that extend the validity of the cards so that working folks can show their employers that they are still allowed to work legally. That practice has been halted, giving people a very tight turn-around time to apply for an extension.

Immigration officers have been told to all decisions about the granting of asylum to people who are here fleeing from dangerous, sometimes life threatening, conditions in their home country. Although it has not been publicly announced, the wording of this directive is pretty clear. Pause all aspects of asylum cases. These are cases that require going before an Immigration Judge and there are thousands of people waiting for a decision. And, 47’s administration has fired 90 Immigration Judges since the beginning of its term – adding more burden on the judges that have been spared. The word is that any judge who previously worked privately with immigration clients is on the list to be fired.

Next up are any “Afghan nationals” who are applying for legal status. All Visa and Immigration processing for these people has been halted. This due to actions of the lone gunman from Afghanistan here on a “Special Immigrant Visa” because he worked alongside of our troops in the Afghan conflict. He is being held for shooting two intelligence officers, as is appropriate. But to punish all Afghanis seeking legal status here seems excessive.

This ends today’s lesson about immigration in the United States. We who work in the field have to check almost on a daily basis if there have been any changes. Modifications are happening fast and furiously, with little or no advance warning. It is hard work, and especially hard on our immigrant friends and neighbors.