A federal judge in Washington D.C. has ordered the government to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and allow new applicants to apply, calling the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the program for the hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children “virtually unexplained” and “unlawful." In his decision, US District Judge John D. Bates writes that the Trump administration's decision “was arbitrary and capricious because the Department failed adequately to explain its conclusion that the program was unlawful" and that "each day that the agency delays is a day that aliens who might otherwise be eligible for initial grants of DACA benefits are exposed to removal because of an unlawful agency action.” Even so, Judge Bates has stayed his ruling for ninety days to give the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) time to provide a more detailed reason for ending the program; otherwise, the judge will rescind the memo that ended the DACA program and allow for new applicants.
Read moreUSCIS to Begin Using More Secure Mail Delivery Service
In a welcome move, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced last week that beginning April 30, 2018, the agency will begin phasing in the use of the US Postal Service’s (USPS) Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery service in order to mail Green Cards and other secure documents to recipients. The first phase will involve re-mailing documents—including Permanent Resident Cards (i.e., Green Cards), Employment Authorization Cards (EAD cards), and Travel Booklets—that have been returned as non-deliverable. USCIS states that applicants who have changed mailing addresses during the application process are more likely to have their secure documents sent with this new delivery service. USCIS plans to expand this signature confirmation mailing service to all secure documents in the future.
Read moreThey Believed
Paris Clouds
It seems like it's finally springtime not only in New York City but also here in Paris. Although I always find new things to do in Paris, I never get tired of the classics. Have you heard of the Eiffel Tower? It's a fairly well known local landmark. I passed it this week while on my way to find some escargots and a soufflé. (Look, I never said I was original!) Now I'm off to walk more and enjoy this beautiful springtime weather until 8pm when I will return here to get another picture of the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower!!
New York Times: “Justice Gorsuch Joins Supreme Court’s Liberals to Strike Down Deportation Law”
Last week the Supreme Court struck down a law that allowed the government to deport certain immigrants who have committed serious crimes, calling the law too vague to be properly enforced. This case was decided five to four with Justice Neil M. Gorsuch joining the court’s four more liberal members for the first time. In his concurring opinion, Justice Gorsuch writes: “Vague laws invite arbitrary power.”
Read moreNot the Way to Do It
Happy Earth Day and National High Five Day!
When we found out it was both Earth Day and National High Five Day this week, we didn't know what to do. How could we honor both the earth and high fives in one post? We didn't think it was possible. We would have to pick. And then the other would be left out, which isn't fair. There's no way that we could possibly combine the two, we thought. Oh, okay, maybe if Joseph gives high fives to trees. Yep, totally works. For more (and probably better) ideas on honoring Earth Day the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation has some wonderful recommendations, including volunteering for the Bronx River Cleanup and participating in the Tree Giveaway in Brooklyn. As for high fives, well you can give those for charity. Everyone wins!
US Passport Cards Q&A
Summertime is fast approaching and soon it will be time for, that’s right, vacation! Although many Americans will travel domestically this summer, some will set off for international destinations abroad or even to our northern neighbors in Canada or—despite the heat—head south to Mexico. For those traveling outside the US, it’s an excellent time now to check if your passport needs renewed, or to apply for your first one. Those applying for passports will see that there are actually two “passports” you can apply for: a US passport book and a US passport card. Wait, what’s a passport card? you may wonder. And what’s the difference between the two? And which one do I need? I have so many questions! It’s okay, let’s discuss.
Read moreThe Washington Post: “Justice Dept. to halt legal-advice program for immigrants in detention”
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), an agency within the Department of Justice (DOJ) that adjudicates immigration cases and oversees the country’s immigration court system, has announced its intention to halt the Vera Institute of Justice’s Legal Orientation Program (LOP) while it audits the program’s cost-effectiveness. Vera’s LOP program offers legal educational services to detained immigrants. During the audit, the Trump administration will also evaluate the Vera Institute’s information “help desk,” which provides tips to immigrants who are not detained but still facing deportation. This announcement comes as DOJ attempts to deal with the massive backlog of approximately 650,000 immigration court cases by 2020. Earlier this month, the DOJ announced case quotas for immigration judges.
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