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Dear Readers,

🎉 Welcome Back to the NawLaw Report! 🎉

We are thrilled to have you back with us for another exciting edition of the NawLaw Report! As we embark on this journey together, we are delighted to bring you crucial updates from our esteemed law firm, NawLaw, along with the latest developments in the ever-evolving landscape of immigration law.

Migrant Crossings at U.S. Southern Border Reach Record Monthly High in December

U.S. Border Patrol agents processed more than 225,000 migrants in the first 27 days of December, a tally that eclipses the previous monthly record. This figure does not include legal entries at ports of entry, where around 50,000 migrants are being processed a month under a smartphone-app-powered process. Entries for the month peaked the week right before Christmas, averaging around 10,000 daily. The increasingly difficult situation at the border adds fuel to the fire of the already tense debates/negotiations in Congress over border security.

Speaker Johnson, GOP Visit Border to Pressure Biden, Democrats on Immigration Deal

Speaker Johnson and House Republicans are visiting the southern border as pressure builds on lawmakers and the Biden administration to reach a deal on immigration policy. Speaker Johnson was quoted that when it comes to immigration, “America is at a breaking point.” Continuing, “The situation here is truly unconscionable,” slamming it as a “disaster of the President’s own design.” President Biden has suggested that the ball is in the GOP’s court when it comes to immigration and that they have to come to the table for a bipartisan deal/compromise, instead of trying to strong-arm Democrats.

USCIS Announces New Premium Processing Fees

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a final rule that will increase the filing fee for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, to adjust for inflation. The adjusted cost reflects the amount of inflation measured between June 2021 through June 2023 according to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. Certain processing fees will increase from $1,500 to $1,685, from $1,750 to $1,965, and from $2,500 to $2,805. The fee changes will go into effect February 26, 2024.

As Migration Surges, Immigration Court Case Backlog Swells to Over 3 Million

There are now more immigrants in the U.S. with a pending immigration case than people living in Chicago. The backlog increased to over 3 million in November, jumping over a million from the 1.9 million in the backlog as of September 2022. Republicans blame President Biden over the judges, arguing the courts can only handle so much with the President’s border policies “flooding” the system. President Biden has attempted to address the issue by hiring 302 new immigration court judges and has also made a budget request to hire 150 more.

Trump Says He Didn’t Know His Immigration Rhetoric Echoes Hitler. That’s Part of a Broader Pattern

Donald Trump is facing criticism for repeatedly harnessing rhetoric once used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country." Trump has insisted, in a conversation with Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, that he is ignorant of similarities in rhetoric between him and Hitler, stating “I have no idea what Hitler said other than (what) I’ve seen on the news. And that’s a very, entirely different thing than what I’m saying.” Critics see these statements from Trump as merely an attempt to distance himself from uncomfortable/disadvantageous storylines rather than profess a true lack of awareness, citing a similar instance in 2016 where he denied knowing (and accepting the endorsement of) KKK grand wizard David Duke.

Chicago Suburbs Seek to Restrict Migrant Drop-offs

At least four communities outside the city are weighing proposals that would require bus operators to seek approval before they unload people. This comes as a response to Texas Governor Abbot’s recent policy move of sending migrants that show up in Texas to Democrat-run States and cities, like Chicago and New York. Mayor of Woodstock Michael Turner stated, “Mayors are looking at this for the same reason the city of Chicago did, which is that the chaotic nature of having buses just coming in and dropping people off at a train station or some other place within the city is not a good solution.”

Biden Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow Border Patrol to Cut or Move Razor Wire At Texas Border

The federal government is locked in a dispute with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who installed the wire to prevent illegal border crossings. Solicitor General Prelogar has argued that Border Patrol officials have authority under federal law to access private land to carry out their duties and that the wire prevents them from reaching migrants who have already crossed the border. Attorneys for the state of Texas sued when Border Patrol Officials cut through a section of razor wire, claiming the agents trespassed and damaged state property.

GOP Pushes For Major Changes to US Immigration Policy

You don't have to live near the border to be concerned about the border: Migrants are showing up by the busload in major cities like New York, Chicago, and Denver. So what are Republicans doing to change border policies? Primarily, all the GOP hopes and dreams concerning immigration policy are all-encompassing bill HR 2, the Secure the Border Act. Included in the bill, which passed the House in May, would require the continued construction of a border wall, new technology at ports of entry, and increase the difficulty of qualifying for asylum, among other changes. Negotiations in the Senate are still underway, and any legislation that passes there is presumed to be bipartisan and likely not contain Republican hardline stances.

California Becomes First State to Offer Health Insurance to All Undocumented Immigrants

On Jan. 1, California will become the first state to offer health insurance to all undocumented adults by expanding access to the state-run insurance plan, Medi-Cal. Previously, undocumented immigrants were not allowed to receive comprehensive health insurance, only emergency and pregnancy-related services if eligibility requirements were met. Now, about 700,000 migrants between 26 and 49 will be eligible. State Senator Durazo stated, “This historic investment speaks to California's commitment to health care as a human right.”

U.S. Officials Describe ‘Productive’ Meeting with Mexico as Biden Feels Pressure Over Migrant Crises

Senior US officials held a “very productive meeting” with their Mexican counterparts Wednesday, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said. Mayorkas wrote on X, “The regional challenge of migration requires regional solutions and we appreciate Mexico’s commitment to continue its efforts alongside us and with others.” While mentions of details were light, officials from both countries say the talks went well, mainly discussing the migrant caravan currently heading to the U.S.-Mexico border and Mexico’s enforcement plan.

For Many Migrant Families at the Southern US Border, Going Back is not an Option

A mother who fled her native country with two children after one was kidnapped; a woman who was forced to strip down by thieves looking for money; an activist made unemployable by speaking out against her country’s government: These are some of the stories CNN heard outside a shelter for migrants in Eagle Pass, Texas. Ninth grader Yolani stated in a brief conversation “I don’t want to go back to Honduras. There’s too much corruption, crime, and things like that.” She remains uncertain of her family’s future.

Hundreds of Migrants Dropped Off in New Jersey, Bypassing New York City Restrictions

Transit points in New Jersey have been used by buses to evade new rules aimed at curbing the massive numbers of arrivals in New York City. The city order being evaded requires bus charters to inform city emergency management officials of their passenger manifests at least 32 hours before they arrive. By dropping migrants off at a NJ train station and having them take a train into the city, the bus charters have found a loophole. The order requiring charters to inform city officials of their drop-off details is an attempt to help the city mitigate its struggles with accommodating the recent migrant influx. The loophole does not make the situation easier.

Firm Announcement 📣

Our New Website is Live!

We are thrilled to unveil our latest website! Explore it to discover how we can effectively support you in your immigration journey and delve deeper into insights about our firm. We look forward to assisting you!

Meet Our New Legal Intern!

Introducing Alannah, our newest Legal Intern at NawLaw! Coming to New York from Dublin, Ireland, Alannah brings four years of dedicated university study to her role, culminating in a Bachelor of Law degree from Maynooth University. With previous experience at Corrigan & Corrigan Solicitors, Alannah is a valuable addition to our legal team. We are thrilled to welcome her aboard as we continue to deliver excellent care to our outstanding clients!

Happy New Year 🎉

At NawLaw, we extend our warmest wishes for a healthy and joyous New Year! May 2024 bring you happiness and a bright start to the year ahead!

Thank you for being a part of the NawLaw Community! Stay tuned for more important immigration updates and special announcements!

About NawLaw: NawLaw, an established law firm in New York City, boasts over 40 years of experience providing expert legal solutions for U.S. immigration cases nationwide & globally assisting companies abroad in transferring key personnel to the U.S. With a client-focused approach and a reputation for success, NawLaw is dedicated to helping its clients achieve the American Dream.