Visa Lawyer Blog

Articles Posted in White House

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airport-8081875_1280On Friday May 9, 2025, President Trump signed executive order “Establishing Project Homecoming,”a new White House initiative aimed at encouraging the voluntary departure of undocumented immigrants from the United States.

This new policy offers financial incentives and logistical support to those who facilitate self-deportation, with the stated goal of reducing the fiscal and social burdens associated with deportation to prioritize funding for Americans in need.

Key Provisions of Project Homecoming:

  • Free Government-Funded Flights:Undocumented immigrants are offered complimentary flights to any country willing to accept them, excluding the United States.This service is accessible through the government’s new “CBP Home” mobile application and at participating airport
  • $1,000 Exit Bonus: Individuals who voluntarily and permanently depart the U.S. under this program are allegedly eligible to receive a $1,000 “exit bonus” upon successful relocation.
  • Concierge Travel Assistance: A government-provided concierge service is available at airports to assist individuals, even those lacking valid travel documents from their home countries, in booking flights and navigating the voluntary departure process.

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pieter-van-de-sande-r6BdUpN_iSk-unsplash-scaledPresident Trump’s first 100 days in office have been marred by controversial actions targeting both legal and illegal immigration.

In its latest move, the Trump administration is going even further by targeting “sanctuary” cities which are state and local jurisdictions that limit their cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement officials. “Sanctuary” cities have been known to enact policies that prohibit the detention of individuals solely based on their immigration status and restrict the sharing of information about immigrants with federal authorities.

To force them into compliance, the Trump administration has begun filing lawsuits against sanctuary cities seeking to penalize them for their disobedience.

The first of these lawsuits targets Colorado and Denver for impeding federal immigration authorities from carrying out deportations. Denver is one of many states with state laws that prevent state and local officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. For instance, a Denver state law prevents the use of the city’s resources to assist with immigration enforcement, while a separate executive order establishes Denver as a “sanctuary city,” welcoming undocumented immigrants.

If Trump has it his way, the lawsuit would undo Colorado’s sanctuary state laws by declaring them unconstitutional and prohibiting their enforcement.

Interestingly, in responding to the lawsuit, the governor of Colorado Jared Polis denied Colorado’s status as a sanctuary state and said that Colorado regularly cooperates with federal law enforcement authorities.

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donald-trump-4921211_1280On April 28th, President Donald Trump signed two new executive orders that significantly impact U.S. immigration policy and enforcement.

These presidential actions are a continued effort to prioritize national security by enhancing law enforcement capabilities and imposes penalties on “sanctuary” cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

  • Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens

The first executive order entitled “Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens,” empowers state and local law enforcement agencies to take stronger action against crime by expanding their authority and increasing investment in prison infrastructure. It also holds state and local officials accountable for obstructing criminal law enforcement or violating civil rights.

Specifically, it directs the Attorney General to prosecute officials who

willfully and unlawfully direct the obstruction of criminal law, including by directly and unlawfully prohibiting law enforcement officers from carrying out duties necessary for public safety and law enforcement; or

unlawfully engage in discrimination or civil-rights violations under the guise of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” initiatives that restrict law enforcement activity or endanger citizens.

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arrested-8303916_1280In the latest clash between the Trump administration and the judiciary—Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan has been arrested by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for accusations of helping a man evade immigration authorities.

This all went down on Friday April 25th after allegations that the judge directed an undocumented immigrant and his lawyer to exit her courtroom through a side door after learning that federal immigration agents were waiting in the hallway to arrest him.

Upon being spotted by agents outside the courthouse, the man was pursued on foot and was ultimately taken into custody.

These actions have prompted a showdown over allegations of obstruction of justice amid Trump’s immigration crackdowns. The U.S. attorney general Pam Bondi has accused the judge of interfering with the government’s enforcement priorities claiming the arrest sends a “strong message” to judges that they will be prosecuted if they “escort a criminal defendant out a back door.”

The circumstances surrounding the judge’s arrest remain unclear. What is known is that six federal officers descended upon the Milwaukee County Courthouse to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national attending a court hearing to respond to battery charges in connection with a criminal complaint filed by his roommate.

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registration-7273476_1280Starting April 11, 2025, USCIS will begin requiring certain foreign nationals to register with the agency and submit to fingerprinting if they remain in the United States for 30 days or longer. Foreign nationals who remain in the U.S. for less than 30 days are not required to register.

Failure to comply may expose you to criminal or civil penalties, but registering also means providing sensitive personal information to USCIS that may be used in future enforcement actions.

This makes it important for noncitizens to seek the guidance of an immigration attorney. (See important warnings below.)

In this blog post you will learn what the registration requirement is about, who is required to register, the risks of registering, and information about the registration process.

What is the Alien Registration Requirement?

The requirement for foreign nationals to register with the U.S. government is not new—it began in 1940, when Congress first passed a law requiring all foreign nationals to register with the federal government, to provide biographic details (fingerprints), and carry proof of their registration.

Most foreign nationals have been unaware of this requirement because the vast majority are considered “automatically registered” when undergoing the routine visa issuance process and lawfully entering the United States through a port of entry.

However, the alien registration requirement had one glaring flaw. Those who entered the country unlawfully had no way to comply with the registration requirement and meet their obligations under the law.

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criminal-8444883_1280The unthinkable has now become a reality. In a recent court filing, the U.S. government disclosed that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has agreed to disclose protected tax records to aid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.

The existence of this agreement was initially reported by the New York Times and was revealed in response to a lawsuit brought by Centro de Trabajadores Unidos and Immigrant Solidarity Dupage two immigrant worker organizations, against the IRS to prevent them from engaging in the unauthorized disclosure of taxpayer information for purposes of immigration enforcement.

Under the terms of the deal, ICE officials can request information from the IRS about undocumented immigrants they are investigating for failing to leave the country after receiving a final order of removal from a judge.

This news has caused panic among undocumented immigrants who do not want to file their taxes for fear of being deported.

Many will certainly be discouraged from filing their taxes as they have typically done using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). An ITIN number is issued by the IRS to people who are not citizens and are not otherwise eligible to receive a Social Security number to comply with their tax obligations.

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america-41776_1280It has been quite a whirlwind in the two months since President Trump has taken office.

From mass deportations to interrogations at U.S. ports of entry, the White House has delivered on their campaign promises to limit immigration by any means necessary.

Now we are learning that immigration enforcement is about to get even tougher for those in removal proceedings.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is now cooperating with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to help officers verify the names and residential addresses of undocumented immigrants they are trying to deport from the United States.

Three government officials recently spoke with New York Times reporters revealing that the tax agency will be helping facilitate Trump’s mass deportations.

This shift in policy is extremely concerning given that thousands of undocumented immigrants provide information about where they are living when filing tax returns with the IRS using individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs) instead of Social Security numbers.

Initially, the IRS had refused Trump’s requests to hand over the residential addresses of undocumented immigrants in removal proceedings because federal law prohibits improper disclosure.

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This image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License Fibonacci Blue

Watch the Press Conference here.

On Wednesday February 26th House lawmakers reintroduced the American Dream and Promise Act of 2025—a bill that would create a legal pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children known as “Dreamers.” The bill would also include beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Enforced Departure.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was first created in 2012 by the Obama administration to protect eligible undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children from deportation, while allowing them to apply for work authorization for temporary, renewable periods.

After a lengthy legal battle, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit allowed the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to continue to accept and process DACA renewal applications and accompanying applications for employment authorization. However, USCIS is prohibited from processing initial requests for DACA.

In a statement accompanying the reintroduction of the bill, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, one of its authors said, “Dreamers are American in every way but on paper. For decades, they have contributed to and shaped the fabric of America. Yet, they are currently denied their place in the American story.

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american-flag-2054414_1280This week President Trump unleashed a fresh barrage of executive orders targeting illegal immigration and antisemitism in the United States.

Executive Order Expanding Migration Operations at Guantánamo Bay

Among these orders, on January 29th the President signed, “Expanding Migration Operations Center at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay,” unveiling his administration’s plans to use a migrant holding facility at the U.S. naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to house more than 30,000 migrants deported from the United States.

The White House has said the naval station will soon be operating at its full capacity to detain “high priority” criminal aliens unlawfully present in the United States, and to “address attendant immigration enforcement needs,” identified by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.

Immigration advocates have questioned the optics of this decision due to Guantánamo Bay’s sordid history. Once a processing center for asylum seekers and HIV-positive refugees, it has been well known for its detainment of notorious terrorists and unlawful enemy combatants such as the 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. This decision has raised alarm due to Guantanamo’s unfit conditions and frequent human rights violations reported to international human rights organizations.

Despite these criticisms, the White House has said that deported migrants held in Guantánamo will not be detained in the same U.S. military prison where foreign terrorists are being held. Instead, migrants will be placed in a separate holding facility previously used to detain migrants intercepted at sea.

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hollywood-4133249_1280Los Angeles has become the first of many cities to use its legislative powers to protect undocumented immigrants from the threat of deportation.

On November 19, 2024, the Los Angeles City Council passed a “sanctuary city” ordinance, prohibiting the use of the city’s resources and personnel to carry out federal immigration enforcement actions. This move was made ahead of the President-elect’s campaign promise to carry out mass deportations.

Los Angeles has long protected the rights of immigrants by refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Now that commitment has been codified by law.

More than 11 states have taken similar actions to reduce their cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Upon taking office, Trump could retaliate by issuing an executive order to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities like Los Angeles. His administration has also vowed to pass legislation to outlaw sanctuary cities.

While it is not yet known the degree to which Trump will deliver on his campaign promises, individuals close to his administration have spoken to the media about his plans on condition of anonymity.

According to a recent report by NBC news, on Day One of his presidency, Trump is expected to issue five executive orders delivering on his promise to put a stop to illegal immigration. Many other executive orders are expected to follow, designed to undo the Biden administration’s policies on subjects like abortion and gender affirming care.

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