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Dear Readers,

Happy New Year and Welcome back to NawLaw Immigration News, where we bring you the latest updates and announcements from the Firm, as well as the latest news in the rapidly changing U.S. immigration world. With President Trump’s second term, there’s been no shortage of activity, including frequent policy changes and ongoing legal battles. Let’s get you caught up!

Table of Contents

1. Welcome Back! 👋🏼

   1. Dear Readers,

   2. Happy New Year and Welcome back to NawLaw Immigrat …

2. ICE Memo Allows Agents To Enter Homes Without Judi …

3. Expanded Visa Bond and Entry Restrictions Imposed

4. Changes to H-1B Lottery System

5. Trump’s Golden Ticket

6. H-1B Fee Upheld by a Federal Court

7. Legal Challenges to Policy Rollbacks

8. Mandatory Biometric Checks

9. Large Scale Enforcement Operations lead to killing …

10. Justice Department Subpoenas Minnesota Officials A …

11. DHS Remove’s Somalia’s Designation for Temporary P …

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ICE Memo Allows Agents To Enter Homes Without Judicial Warrant

A whistleblower group has revealed that a US Immigration and Customs (ICE) Memo issued in May authorizes agents to forcibly enter the homes of those suspected of being in the US illegally with an administrative warrant alone. Previously, a judicial warrant issued and signed by an independent judge was necessary to authorize ICE Agents to enter or search nonpublic areas including private residences.

The Memo was shared with a Democratic Senator from Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal. The Memo’s official guidelines state that ICE officers must “knock and announce” and state their identity and purpose. Officers must also give the people inside time to comply with an order, they should not enter a residence before 6 a.m. or after 10 p.m. and “should only use a necessary and reasonable amount of force” to enter a home.

This memo was not published for officer training but delivered verbally. Sen. Blumenthal was told by the whistleblower group that anyone who openly spoke out against this new directive would be fired.

The constitutionality of this memo and its application by ICE agents is yet to be seen, as it could be held as a breach of the Fourth Amendment rights provided in the US Constitution.

Expanded Visa Bond and Entry Restrictions Imposed

The U.S. Government has expanded its visa bond policy, requiring certain B-1 and B-2 tourist and visa applicants from 38 designated countries to post refundable bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance. The policy is intended to deter individuals from overstaying their visas and tightens visa issuance standards. The bonds are applied on a discretionary, case-to-case basis and are determined at the time of visa interview. The full list of affected countries can be found here, and includes Cuba, Dominica, Nigeria, Senegal and Venezuela.

As a condition of the bond, all visa holders who have posted a visa bond must enter and exit the United States through the designated ports of entry (DPE). Additional DPE may be added on a rolling basis. The current DPE are listed below:

• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) (August 20, 2025)

• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) (August 20, 2025)

• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) (August 20, 2025)

• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) (January 1, 2026)

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) (January 1, 2026)

• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) (January 1, 2026)

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) (January 1, 2026)

• Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) (January 1, 2026)

• Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) (January 1, 2026)

Changes to H-1B Lottery System

The Trump administration has changed the long-standing H-1B cap selection process. The previous system conducted a random lottery when registrations exceeded the annual limit of 85,000 applications, with all applicants having an equal chance of selection. The new system requires a heavier weight for jobs that require more experience, meaning applicants’ offered wages and skill levels will determine their selection odds. Those with higher wages and higher skill levels will receive greater weight in the selection pool, increasing the likelihood of being chosen.

The rule will take effect on February 27, 2026, and will apply to the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration season, which begins with registration in March 2026. Businesses and university groups are expected to challenge the rule in court.

Trump’s Golden Ticket

In December 2025, the Trump administration officially launched the “Gold Card” program. This program is a new U.S. immigration pathway that offers a fast-track route to lawful permanent residency in exchange for substantial financial contributions.

Individual applicants may apply by paying a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee and making $1 million contribution to the U.S. Government, while employers may sponsor workers through a Corporate Gold Card by contributing $2 million per sponsored employee in addition to applicable processing fees.

Participation does not exempt applicants from standard admissibility requirements, though it offers prioritized processing and relief from numerical visa caps. It is effectively a form of wealth-based immigration rather than employment or family-based immigration.

H-1B Fee Upheld by a Federal Court

On December 23, 2025, a U.S District Court in Washington D.C. upheld the Trump administration’s $100,000 supplemental fee for certain new H-1B visa petitions, ruling that the presidential proclamation imposing the fee fell within the president’s statutory authority to regulate the entry of nonimmigrant workers under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Although the lower court upheld the fee, the legal battle is far from over. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, representing businesses, universities, and research groups, filed a notice to appeal, arguing that the fee exceeds presidential authority and conflicts with fee-setting framework under the INA established by Congress. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to fast-track the appeal, with oral arguments scheduled as early as February 2026, aiming for a decision before the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration and lottery process beings in March.

Legal Challenges to Policy Rollbacks

A U.S. Federal Judge blocked the administration’s attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 60,000 migrants from Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua, citing evidence that the terminations were driven by discriminatory intent. As a result, TPS protections and employment authorization for beneficiaries from those countries remain in effect while litigation proceeds.

Mandatory Biometric Checks

Beginning December 26, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented a new program requiring foreign nationals, including visa holders and green card holders, to complete biometric identity checks upon both entry to and departure from the U.S.

Under the rule, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will primarily use facial recognition technology to photograph non-U.S. citizens, with the authority to collect additional biometrics such as fingerprints or iris scans when necessary. The biometric collection will be collected at airports, land border checkpoints, seaports and other authorized departure points. The program applies to all noncitizens regardless of age, removing previous exemptions for diplomats and most Canadian visitors.

Large Scale Enforcement Operations lead to killing of a U.S. Citizen

On January 6th, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched what it calls "its “largest immigration enforcement operation ever” in Minnesota. DHS deployed roughly 2,000 federal agents, including personnel from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other DHS components.

Officials have indicated that both workplaces and communities may be targeted. The surge has drew strong criticism from state leaders, local law enforcement, and immigrant advocacy groups, who warned that the operation would foster fear within immigrant communities, disrupt local businesses, and strain community trust.

On January 7th, during the course of this operation, an ICE agent shot and killed a U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good. Good was the mother of three children and was described as “one of the kindest people” and “extremely compassionate”. Her death has lead to widespread protesting across the U.S.

Justice Department Subpoenas Minnesota Officials As Part of Investigation Into Potential Obstruction of Law Enforcement

Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have served grand jury subpoenas to Democratic officials, seeking to establish whether the individuals subpoenaed obstructed or impeded law enforcement during the above mentioned immigration operation in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The subpoenas are focused on potential violation of a conspiracy statute. The officials involved include Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her.

Both Walz and Frey have called the probe a bully tactic, with Walz going on to say that the probe is a “partisan distraction” and that the Justice Department “does not seek justice” in the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent.

At the same time in Minnesota, the Trump administration has asked a federal appeals court to block an order by a federal judge from January 16 that stops agents from arresting or detaining peaceful protestors, using certain crowd control measures and detaining drivers when there is “no reasonable articulable suspicion” they are obstructing or interfering with operations.

DHS Remove’s Somalia’s Designation for Temporary Protected Status

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has terminated Somalia’s designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The termination will be effective on March 17, 2026. The Secretary for Homeland Security determined that Somalia no longer meets the conditions for TPS Designation. As a result, as of March 17, 2026, nationals of Somalia who have

been granted TPS under Somalia’s designation will no longer have legal status and will be forced to leave the U.S.

The State Department currently has a travel advisory in effect, warning people not to travel to Somalia due to “crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, kidnapping, piracy” and other issues. The Secretary for Homeland Security did not go into detail about the conditions that have changed in order for Somalia to no longer meet TPS eligibility.

Congratulations to our NawLaw Clients who’ve recently received their Citizenships, Green Cards, and Work Permits! 🎉 

We’re so proud to be part of your U.S. immigration journey and celebrate this huge milestone with you!

Here’s to new beginnings and endless opportunities!

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