Latest in Immigration Policies
Feb. 6, 2020
It is no surprise that immigration continues to be a hot topic under the current White House administration. Just in recent weeks, there have been two major announcements that affect immigrants and their families. These major announcements are discussed below.
Public Charge Enforcement
In January 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States voted to allow the government to expand its policy of denying green cards or visas to legal immigrants who depend on public assistance. Also known as “public charges,” these immigrants are often the poorest immigrants and are the most likely to use Medicaid and food stamps. This policy is to go into effect on February 24, 2020.
The policy of denying visas and green cards to public charges are part of the White House administration's latest attempt to curb legal immigration to the United States, and the issue has been stopped by several states' lower courts. However, in his written opinion on the matter, Justice Neil Gorsuch criticized federal judges who issue nationwide blocks on White House administration rules.
Advocates for immigrants say that the new policy will:
discourage poor immigrants from seeking necessary services; and
drastically curtail visas for immigrants.
Anyone who thinks they may be affected by this new policy should contact immigration lawyer Attorney Vilena Ramini to discuss their situation.
New Visa Restrictions Announced
Federal officials also announced last week that immigrants from Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Eritrea, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania will face new restrictions in obtaining certain visas to come to the United States because they had failed to meet minimum security standards. Critics of this measure say there is no foundation and “even less of a rational basis than all its prior iterations," which is in reference to the administration's previous other bans on travel from certain Muslim countries.
David Brier, an immigration policy analyst with the Cato Institute, said,
It's just another arbitrary exercise designed to keep out legal immigrants.
What You Can Do to Protect or Obtain the Immigration Status You Want
If you or a loved one are facing unproductive and unfair biases because of your immigration status, you should speak to a knowledgable and experienced immigration attorney to learn about your rights and how you can fight to stay in this country.
Regardless of your immigration status, the Constitution affords you guaranteed rights while you are in this country. If you are stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials or by the police, you have the right to remain silent and to refuse to answer any questions until you have spoken to an attorney.
Hiring an attorney is the best way to ensure that your case will be a success, even if it takes an extended period of time. Attorney Vilena Ramini is compassionate about each and every case she takes on, and she will fight for the best possible outcome for you. Contact her office today to learn more.