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We trust this message finds you well and thriving. In this edition of the NawLaw Report, we bridge the gap between the evolving legal landscape and your questions. We bring you the latest updates in the legal world that matter most to you, ensuring you stay informed and empowered. Join us on this journey through vital legal updates and insightful client inquiries that shape our legal community and impact your life.

Ramaswamy Wants to End the H-1B Visa Program He Used 29 Times

2024 GOP Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy recently went on record saying that if elected, he would “gut” the immigration system of H-1B Visas. Between 2018 and 2023, USCIS had approved 29 H-1B visa applications for Roivant Sciences, the company Ramaswamy was the CEO of until 2021, and chairman of until February of this year. Ramaswamy states that the H-1B is “bad for everyone involved”, likening it to indentured servitude. He says that he would make the system more meritocratic based, and would end chain migration.

Latino Voters Want Biden to Take More Aggressive Action on Immigration, Polls Finds

Recent polls conducted by the Immigration Hub have found that a significant majority of prospective Latino voters in key 2024 states and districts want President Biden to take more aggressive action providing relief for migrants and to securing the southern border. The survey, conducted in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and two swing districts in New York and California, found that 85% of the 2,000 registered Latino voters support an expansion of the Temporary Protected Status program, and 77% support legalizing “Dreamers”. Among other findings, the polls indicate that while support of Biden’s presidency leads by a 22% margin, enthusiasm to reelect him dwindles by 9%.

Opinion: Biden’s ‘Catch and Release’ System for Illegal Border Crossers is a Failure

A recent report from the Inspector General found that Customs and Border Patrol did not get reliable address information from over a million border-crossers released in to the U.S. between March 2021 and August 2022. The Inspector General made four recommendations for obtaining and confirming accuracy of destination information; the Department of Homeland Security has rejected all recommendations on the grounds that it will not solve the problem. The article cites various statistics related to the details of the D.H.S. policy, such as the percentage of migrants released with a Notice to Appear or Notice to Report. Further, the author of the article raises the point that it’s most likely not feasible to salvage a record keeping system based on voluntary compliance from migrants who are desperate enough to incur significant expenses and risk their lives all just to come to the U.S. , and that there may be no good solution.

Illegal Border Crossings Are on the Rise: 7,500 Stopped on Sunday Alone

Officials from the Department of Homeland Security recently made a statement that illegal border crossings have been steadily rising since the beginning of September. In July, the most recent month with data available, the daily average was around 4,300. The recent rise has officials suspecting that Biden’s new border policy (put into place in May) is losing its impact, as it seemed initially to be keeping numbers low. Before the policy change, the average daily crossings were around 10,000.

House Republicans Prepare to Turn US Government Shutdown Into Immigration Clash

As major cities, such as Chicago and New York, are struggling to handle their respective migrant crises, House Republicans are preparing to turn an impending government shutdown into a clash with Democrats over border enforcement. The shutdown is expected to occur over various fiscal disagreements, such as where and how deeply to cut spending, and where to direct remaining funds. Currently there is still disagreement within the Republican rank and file over between hardliners and more moderate members over details of the plan they intend to propose, but closed-door meetings are being held to iron out a unified front. This comes in the wake of President Biden seeking $3.6 billion in emergency funding to address the migrant surge and combat fentanyl smuggling.

A New Court Ruling Deems DACA Illegal, but the Program Hasn’t Ended: Here Are 4 Things to Know

Federal U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Texas recently ruled that an attempt by the Biden administration to turn the Obama-era DACA program into a federal regulation were unlawful. The author emphasizes four main points. First, while DACA is technically illegal, the program hasn’t ended, as the roughly 580,000 recipients are still allowed to renew their status every two years. However, the program is closed to new applicants. Second, DACA recipients will NOT lose their status, so long as they renew it in a timely manner. Third, an estimated 400,000 who were previously eligible and have not had access to the program since 2021 will continue to be left out, and approximately 93,000 of that 400,000 remain in “legal limbo”. Lastly, the ruling will likely be appealed at the Supreme Court, and several House Democrats have been introducing and reintroducing bills to provide legal pathways for those effected.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Pitches Tough Immigration Policies to L.A. Latinos

On the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, Robert F. Kennedy delivered a speech in L.A. attempting to gain support for his 2024 presidential run, laying out his immigration policies. Kennedy has been criticized by fellow Democrats, saying his stance aligns closely with the Biden administration’s harshest critics, echoing conservative worries over violent cartels taking advantage of the current border policies to capitalize on the multi-billion dollar industries of human trafficking and drug smuggling. A particularly notable quote from the speech summarizes Kennedy’s position, “We need wide walls, but we also need wide gates.” Kennedy also mentions how he would appoint “more efficient” judges to address the growing backlog of asylum cases.

October Visa Bulletin

The October Visa Bulletin provides an updated visa availability chart, outlining the visa cutoff dates for family-sponsored and employment-based categories. It's a crucial resource for individuals waiting to adjust their status or receive immigrant visas, indicating when they can move forward in the immigration process based on their priority date. The bulletin helps applicants and immigration professionals track visa availability and plan accordingly for the month of October.