Hello Again! 👋🏼

Dear Readers,

Welcome back to the NawLaw Report! We’re excited to bring you the latest announcements from the firm and keep you up to date on the most recent developments in the immigration world. Let’s jump straight into it!

Immigration Among Top Issues for Voters Heading into 2024 Election

The upcoming presidential election will determine the future direction of U.S. immigration policy, with significant contrasts between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. President Biden advocates for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and has expanded healthcare benefits to DACA recipients. He has also eased citizenship qualifications for immigrants married to U.S. citizens. Conversely, Trump has sought to end DACA, supports mass deportations, and opposes automatic citizenship for children of immigrants, although he favors easier green card processes for U.S. college graduates. Regarding the U.S.-Mexico border, Biden emphasizes securing the border while welcoming immigrants, implementing stricter asylum rules, and shutting down the border during high crossing periods, similar to measures used by Trump. Trump’s plan includes further asylum restrictions, building a border wall, and possibly deploying the military. However, meaningful immigration reform ultimately requires action from Congress, which has not passed major legislation in nearly 40 years.

U.S. Immigration Officials Deport Record Number of Illegal Migrants

Recent official figures reveal a record number of illegal migrant deportations over the past two months, with removals exceeding annual totals since 2011. In the first two weeks of July, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported individuals to various countries, including South and Central America and China, bringing the annual total to 742,000. This marks a significant rise from the previous fiscal year's 142,580 deportations and 62,545 Title 42 expulsions. The removals include 111,000 family members, and about 31% of the 2,377,158 people encountered at the southwest border from July 2023 to May 2024. ICE screens all noncitizens to determine their eligibility to stay before deportation, and those in removal proceedings present their claims before immigration judges. Since 2021, deportations under the Biden administration have increased, reaching at least 1.1 million. The Department of Homeland Security recently initiated large-scale deportations, including the first charter flight to China, following an executive order restricting border entries. Amid ongoing political debate, Trump and the Republican party promise to intensify deportations if they regain power.

House Republicans Demand Info from Biden Administration on Migrants with Potential Terror Links

The House Homeland Security Committee, led by Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., has subpoenaed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for information on immigrants with potential terrorist links who crossed the southern border. This follows reports of individuals on the terrorist watchlist entering the U.S., including an Afghan migrant released by Border Patrol and an Uzbek man with ties to the Islamic State. Green criticized DHS for failing to adequately respond to the committee's previous requests and emphasized the need for detailed data on these migrants. The subpoena seeks all derogatory information on such migrants, their detention status, and handling procedures. Green aims to use this information to highlight terrorist threats linked to illegal immigration. The subpoena, enforced by the Justice Department, reflects ongoing tensions over the Biden administration's immigration policies.

Immigration Cases Down Since June Asylum Order Issued, Report Finds

New data shows a significant drop in U.S. immigration court cases in June following new asylum rules at the Southwest border. Nationwide, new immigration cases fell by 40,000 to about 100,000, according to Syracuse University's Transaction Records Access Clearinghouse. The new rules, issued by President Biden in early June, restrict asylum eligibility to those entering through legal ports or with an appointment via the CBP One app. Asylum seekers must demonstrate credible fear or face removal, with exceptions for unaccompanied children, acute medical conditions, or extreme human trafficking victims. Notably, cases involving Venezuelans dropped 76% from December 2023 to June, and Mexican nationals' cases dropped 63%. Despite the overall reduction, Republican politicians, like Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., criticize the ongoing numbers of inadmissible aliens entering the U.S.

Migrant Families are Now Banned from Sleeping in Boston’s Airport

Migrant families who have been sleeping overnight at Boston’s Logan International Airport are being relocated to a former state prison in Norfolk, Massachusetts, now converted into an emergency shelter. This move follows a new policy banning overnight stays at the airport due to a lack of shelter space in the state. Massachusetts officials, including Governor Maura Healey, have expressed concerns about the appropriateness of the airport as a shelter and have noted the state's overwhelmed shelter system, which reached capacity with 7,500 families last year. The decision to use the former Bay State Correctional Center, which can house 140 families, has sparked protests and concerns among local residents. State police and social workers have been escorting families from the airport to alternative shelters, emphasizing that Massachusetts is out of shelter space and urging incoming families to have housing plans.

Migrants Pause in the Amazon because Getting to the U.S. is Harder, Most Have No Idea what Lies Ahead

Dozens of migrants are staying in a mosquito-infested shelter in Assis Brasil, a small city in the Brazilian Amazon, due to President Biden’s halt on asylum. Migrants like Johany “Flaca” Rodríguez, a Venezuelan woman, are waiting in Brazil as the journey to the U.S. has become more difficult. Brazil allows residents of neighboring countries to stay visa-free for up to two years, leading to an increased migrant population. The city offers limited facilities, including a shelter and a school gymnasium for migrants to sleep in, while local communities struggle to meet their needs. Migrants, like Alexander Guedes Martinez and Miguel Hidalgo, hope to eventually reach the U.S. but are currently finding some solace in Brazil’s accommodating environment. Local officials, including Assis Brasil’s Mayor Jerry Correia, are concerned about the increasing number of migrants and are calling for more federal assistance.

Firm Announcement! 📣

Incase you missed it: Mia, The Official NawLaw Dog has been busy reading briefs and crafting memos to help our clients with their immigration cases.

Client Testimonials

“I am so very grateful for your best efforts, truly. Word are insufficient to express how thankful I am for your fastidiousness and the speed with which you’ve pored over my documents. So, so grateful to you and your team.” - Client from the Philippines.

“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all of you for your assistance to get an L1 visa in such short time. Mission accomplished to all.. It was a great experience working together!” - L-1A visa approved for client from India.

“Neil, thank you for the incredible work you and the rest of your staff did on my case! We truly appreciate your dedication and expertise.” - Conditional green card approved for client from China.

We Are Your Trusted Source for U.S. Immigration!

About NawLaw: NawLaw, a very established law firm, boasts over 40 years of experience providing winning legal solutions for U.S. immigration cases nationwide and globally assisting companies in the U.S. and abroad in transferring key personnel to the U.S. With a client-focused approach and a tremendous reputation for success, NawLaw is fully dedicated to helping its clients achieve the American Dream. We take U.S. immigration to the next level! At NawLaw, we think outside the box! All Immigration Law firms are not the same, NAWLAW is distinctly different!