Current Events, News, Alerts and More

DOS Announces Temporary Pause on Certain Visas for Nationals of 75 Countries – The Department of State announced a temporary pause on the issuance of immigrant visas (green cards from overseas) for nationals of 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026.

DHS Reduces Wait Times for Certain Religious Workers Abroad – The Department of Homeland Security has issued an interim final rule, effective immediately, to eliminate the one-year foreign residence requirement and allow thousands of religious workers in R-1 status, who previously were required to remain outside the United States before returning, to resume their essential services.

DHS Finalizes H-1B 'Weighted Selection' Rule Without Changes   – Under the new process, instead of a random lottery, registrations for unique beneficiaries or petitions will be assigned to the relevant Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics wage level and entered into the selection pool on a weighted basis according to those levels.

Trump Administration Plans to Build Seven Large Deportation Facilities Across United States   – The Trump administration plans to seek contractors to build seven large detention centers, including converted warehouses, to hold 5,000 to 10,000 detainees each, for a total of more than 80,000 detainees across the United States. Sixteen smaller processing facilities will hold up to 1,500 people each.

President Expands Full and Partial Travel Ban List –   President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation  expanding travel restrictions. The new proclamation applies to individuals who are outside of the United States as of January 1, 2026, and do not have a valid visa.

Full Ban

Added to the original list of countries named in the earlier ban (Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen) are the new countries under the "full" ban (Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Syria) and individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued or endorsed travel documents.

Partial Restrictions

The proclamation also continues "partial" restrictions for immigrants (green card applicants) and nonimmigrants (temporary visa applicants) in the visitor/tourist category (B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2), student categories (F and M), and exchange visitor category (J) for several countries (Burundi, Cuba, Togo, Venezuela, and Turkmenistan (nonimmigrant Turkmenistan nationals on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas no longer face any travel restrictions, but entry to the United States of Turkmenistan nationals as immigrants remains suspended).

President Suspends Diversity Visa Program After Shootings –  President Trump suspended  the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program  (green card lottery) following shootings at Brown University and of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor by a Portuguese national who immigrated to the United States in 2017 under that program.

USCIS Unveils New Naturalization Civics Test   - USCIS is reintroducing a revised civics test that will apply to applicants filing on or after October 20, 2025.

DOS Ends Third-Country Nonimmigrant Visa Appointments   – Nonimmigrant visa applicants, with a few exceptions, must schedule their appointments at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence.

USCIS Updates Guidance to Consider 'Anti-Americanism' in Adjudicating Immigrant Benefits and 'Good Moral Character' for Naturalization Applicants   – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced updates to its guidance related to considering "anti-Americanism" in adjudications of immigrant benefits and expanding what constitutes "good moral character" for naturalization applicants.

ABIL: Tips for International Travelers Entering the United States   – Travel to the United States has gotten trickier in recent months.  Below is a summary of tips recommended by the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers for international travelers to the United States:

·        Make sure all of your documents are in order and have not expired, and that you do not have a renewal application pending. Consult with an immigration attorney before traveling for advice in specific situations.

·        Consider not entering the United States now if your country is on a proposed "red" list of travel ban countries, which includes Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

·        Remember that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers have wide leeway at ports of entry to decide who enters and who does not, regardless of visa status, and to conduct electronic searches. They can require travelers to unlock cell phones, reveal laptop passwords, or give officers their digital cameras, for example. U.S. citizens and green card holders can refuse to answer questions (other than those establishing identity and status) and still enter the country (although this could lead to delays or seizure of devices), but those with visas do not have the same rights. The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California advises not giving up your green card voluntarily. Some advise turning off phones and wiping data from all devices before passing through a port of entry.

·        If your device is confiscated, request the name, badge number, and agency of the officer, and ask for a receipt or call the agency to request one.

·        Keep your immigration attorney's contact information handy, along with contact information for a local friend. If it appears that you might be going into secondary inspection, you can text your friend and ask them to get in touch with your immigration attorney.

·        Keep in mind that in the past, rejected travelers were often put on the next plane out, but more recently, some have been detained for days, weeks, or more.

·        Check your home country's travel advisories and warnings before traveling. Consider deferring travel to or from the United States if not necessary.

·        If you are referred to secondary inspection, request an interpreter if needed and available. There ordinarily will be a transcript (official record) of the questions and answers also.