Compliance Management

USCIS Restores Deference in EB Petition Extension Adjudications

A revision to USCIS Policy Manual 2 USCIS-PM A.4.B. restores a certain amount of deference to employment-based petition extension adjudications, and requires adjudicators to "obtain supervisory approval before deviating from a prior approval in their final decision." USCIS Policy Alert PA-2021-05

DHS Takes Steps to Implement Preferred Use of Immigration Terminology

A pair of memos from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provide guidance to the respective DHS bureaus on "the preferred use of immigration terminology within the federal government. The Administration’s view is also reflected in the U.S

USCIS Seeks Comments on Improving Its Regulations, Policies, and Services

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a request for information at 86 FR 20398 (April 19, 2021), titled Identifying Barriers Across Benefits and Services, with a 30-day comment period. "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking comments from the public on how U.S

Basics of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

June 28, 2025

TPS: Temporary Protected Status Congress created a limited remedy called Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to address the needs of people whose countries are going through emergency situations such as famine, natural disaster, and civil war. The statute creating TPS was signed into law on November 29

DOL Final Rule on OES-Based Prevailing Wage Determinations

Rulemaking status: Withdrawn. On January 14, 2021, the Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule titled Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States, at 86 FR 3608 (January 14, 2021). This was the Trump administration's

Archived ECA-EVP COVID-19 FAQs Issued Under the Trump Administration

Archived for research and reference purposes.

CIS Ombudsman Annual Report To Congress

8 USC 272(c), added by Section 452(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, requires the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman to make an annual report to Congress. The CIS Ombudsman's Annual Report to Congress page states: "By statute, the Office of the Citizenship and

Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel

February 4, 2021

Executive Order 13988 of January 21, 2021, Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel. Published in the Federal Register at 86 FR 7205 (January 26, 2021). President Biden's Executive Order 13988 of January 21, 2021, Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety

Cuba Placed Back on List of State Sponsors of Terrorism

Cuba was added back to the U.S. Department of State's list of State Sponsors of Terrorism effective January 12, 2021, in the final days of the Trump administration. It had previously been removed from the list on May 29, 2015, under the Obama administration. Currently there are four countries

COVID-19 Liability Waivers for Participation in Education Abroad

The resumption of some education abroad offerings in fall 2020 prompted institutions to add new, COVID-specific language into participation liability waivers or notifications for students. Education abroad offices should always consult with their legal counsel and risk management offices on