On Friday, September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” putting into effect a ban on H-1B specialty occupation employees from entering the United States as of September 21, 2025, unless their employer had paid a $100,000 fee for the sponsored employee. The announcement was unclear and seemed to imply that the newly imposed fee was applicable to all H-1B visa holders who were outside of the US on the 21st of September. As a result, a frenzy besieged the employment-based immigration community with many H-1B workers receiving “urgent e-mails…with travel advisories to remain in the US and asking those outside the country to return before the 12:01AM deadline on Sunday, September 21st.
Read moreThe Gold Card
“What’s so Funny About Peace Love and Understanding” by Adam Cvijanovic
This week, we visited the recently dedicated mural “What’s so Funny About Peace Love and Understanding” at the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the heart of New York City, a work named in reference to the song popularized by Elvis Costello. Created by Brooklyn-based artist Adam Cvijanovic, the mural marks the first major art commission at the cathedral since 1949.
Standing at roughly 21 feet tall and comprised of four segments that frame the cathedral's entrance, the mural is a sweeping visual narrative. It depicts the arrival of immigrants to New York City in the 19th century and today, alongside powerful imagery of first responders and traditional Catholic iconography.
Cvijanovic’s work is an artistic feat that seamlessly blends Catholic tradition with American pluralism. Drawing inspiration from Baroque drama, Byzantine iconography, and modernist abstraction, the mural honors the diversity of New York and the immigrants who have shaped the city’s identity. This vibrant addition to St. Patrick’s Cathedral is both a spiritual and civic celebration, one that will continue to inspire for generations to come.
Constitutional Rights
The Mosaic House
Tucked away on a charming, tree-lined street in the artsy neighborhood of Cobble Hill Brooklyn, one house instantly captures your attention. Among rows of classic brownstones, this home dazzles with a vibrant display of tiles, beads, shells, and gems, turning its façade into a joyful, eye-popping mosaic masterpiece. The Mosaic House is a beloved neighborhood treasure that’s as much a local icon as it is a delightful surprise for visitors. As a result of the diligent work of artist Susan Gardner, who started pasting things on the walls of her house in 2001, every inch of the home’s exterior tells a story, blending colorful elements into a whimsical scavenger hunt that brings smiles to everyone who passes by. Look closely and you’ll spot inspiring messages like “Celebrate Hope” and “Celebrate Life” amongst the images of nature and humanity crafted by Gardner. These words, combined with the house’s joyful design, radiate positivity and creativity. Whether you're in the neighborhood or intentionally seeking it out, the Mosaic House is sure to brighten your day. Let it be a reminder to celebrate the little things, embrace everyday beauty, and always keep an eye out for the hidden gems around you.
USCIS to Add Special Agents to Enforce Immigration Laws
On September 4, 2025, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that the agency will now be authorized to employ its own law enforcement agents with arrest powers in accordance with the final rule printed in the Federal Register on September 5, 2025.
Read moreHow to Navigate the End of Third-Country Visa Processing for Nonimmigrant Visas
On September 6, 2025, the US Department of State (“DOS”) announced the end of a decades-old practice that allowed nonimmigrant visa applicants to schedule interviews in third countries—places other than their country of nationality or legal residence. The change sweeps broadly, affecting students applying for F-1 and J-1 visas, visitors requiring B-1/B-2 visas, and professionals applying for H-1B, O-1, and other work categories. The announcement comes at the heels of a previous decision announced on July 25th that effective September 2, 2025, all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including applicants under the age of 14 and over the age of 79, will generally require an in-person interview with a consular officer putting an end to the visa drop box or Interview Waiver Program.
Read morePatriotism is Inclusion
Elevar La Cultura NYC” by Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez
Over the summer, we took in Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez’s “Elevar La Cultura NYC” which was housed at The Shed, an NYC cultural and artistic center in the heart of Hudson Yards, for a limited run through the end of August. Quiñonez, who is professionally known as Marka27, is a Mexican-born, Brooklyn-based artist, who fuses street culture with ancestral tradition in his bold “Neo Indigenous” style. From graffiti roots to large-scale murals, sculptures, and installations, his work pulses with cultural pride, social justice, and community spirit.
“Elevar La Cultura NYC” (or Elevate the Culture NYC) is no different and reimagines the iconic Mayan pyramids, which he built entirely from portable coolers. These humble containers honor NYC’s immigrant street vendors, the unsung heroes selling water, fruit, and tamales on city streets. The pyramid’s base displays the goods of these vendors along with symbols of the artist’s Mexican heritage. Summoning the sweet nostalgia of summer through sun-soaked memories of picnics and beach trips, Marka27’s installation isn’t just art; it’s a celebration of community, resilience, and playfulness, all wrapped in color, culture, and creativity.
