“In August, the Board of Immigration Appeals — the nation’s highest immigration court under the Department of Justice — ruled that immigrants who have accrued more than 180 days of “unlawful presence” who then leave the country on advance parole would trigger a three- or 10-year bar on admissibility back into the U.S. ... 'The consequence is that it effectively is going to leave stranded many thousands of individuals who would otherwise have been able to get their green card

On May 21, USCIS issued a policy memo that aims to dramatically change who can apply for their green card. Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199 reframes the adjustment of status process (which is the green card process someone completes while in the US) as a form of "extraordinary discretionary relief" rather than a standard administrative step that is specifically provided for under the law. It directs USCIS officers to apply a heightened level of scrutiny to applications, activ

USCIS and Immigration Court (EOIR) are now requiring asylum seekers to pay an annual fee for each year that their application is pending. This fee is currently $102 per application. Please note this is not per person; if one person files an asylum application, and their spouse and children are included as derivatives, they still only need to pay one $102 for the year. . USCIS and the court are supposed to send a notice to people when they need you to pay the annual asylum f

DHS recently proposed a new rule regarding the issuance of EADs (work authorization) for asylum seekers. This new rule contains several different proposals that would affect those applying for their initial EADs, as well as those applying to renew their EADs. This rule has not yet gone into effect, and it is possible that it will not go into effect, or that only certain parts of it will be implemented. However, we wanted to make sure you were aware of the proposal so that y

The recent ICE surge in Maine has caused fear, trauma, and significant financial burdens for families, communities, and taxpayers. As Attorney Robin Nice told Maine Public and the Bangor Daily News, ICE's treatment of asylum seekers and those without criminal histories is inhumane and senseless.

We understand that this is a time of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty for all of our clients, particularly those in Maine. We are aware that in recent days, ICE has surged in Maine. If you witness a specific ICE-related incident, or know someone who has, please report it to the Maine ICE Watch Hotline at 207-544-9989 . This hotline helps document verified activity and supports community response efforts. We encourage individuals and families in Maine to familiarize themselves

Starting Oct. 30, 2025, USCIS will no longer issue 540 day extensions to people who apply to renew their work permit before their current card expires. There will be NO extension beyond a work permit's stated expiration date. Here is USCIS's official announcement. Please read the below CAREFULLY to see if you may need to take action. You MAY need to take action if (in the form of filing a renewal application) - You have a work permit, AND - Your current work permit e