Deportation of 300,000 undocumented immigrants is suspended

The U.S. government today announced that it will cancel the deportation of 300,000 undocumented immigrants currently in removal proceedings while it evaluates each case. Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the policy change in a letter to the ... Read more

How to change your address with USCIS and other government offices

The law requires most non-U.S. citizens to notify the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of address changes within 10 days of moving. It is the sole responsibility of the person applying for immigration benefits for himself or herself or his or her family that the USCIS ... Read more

Brother of actress deported to Colombia

The brother of well-known actress Sofia Vergara was deported to Colombia, his native country, due to his extensive criminal record. Julio Vergara, 34, was arrested more than 30 times over 10 years for marijuana and cocaine possession. In a recent interview, the actress shared that her brother has ... Read more

U.S. Government sues Alabama over anti-immigrant law

The Department of Justice yesterday filed a lawsuit to block implementation of Alabama's H.B. 56, claiming it violates the U.S. Constitution. The law, which is being challenged by the federal government, would take effect Sept. 1. H.B. 56 is considered the most restrictive of all ... Read more

Help for victims of human trafficking

Human trafficking or human smuggling is the illegal trade in persons for sexual or labor exploitation through prostitution or forced labor, involuntary servitude or any modern form of slavery. It is a serious problem with millions of victims around the world, thousands of them in the United States. In my column this week ... Read more

Governor Brown signs California Dream Act into law

During a community forum on the Dream Act held at the Los Angeles City Community College, California Governor Jerry Brown today signed into law AB 130, which allows undocumented students to receive privately funded scholarships for their college education. Effective January 1, 2012, this law will allow undocumented students to receive private scholarships for ... Read more

Mexican national sentenced to prison for human trafficking and forced labor

Simon Banda-Mireles, a 50-year-old Mexican national, was sentenced to nearly 4 years in prison for employing undocumented aliens for commercial purposes. The man, who owned several restaurants in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia admitted to having between 25 to 100 undocumented employees working at his businesses between 2006 and 2008. Banda-Mireles, who ... Read more

Judge Rejects Lawsuit; New Visa Lottery Results Announced

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of people who were wrongly shortlisted in May of this year for the Diversity Visa Lottery Program. Judge Amy Berman's decision cleared the way for the State Department to publish the results of the second lottery held ... Read more

UN declares execution of Mexican a violation of international law

Last night, July 7, Humberto Leal Garcia (Leal), a 38-year-old Mexican national was executed in the state of Texas. The man had been convicted of the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl in 1994. But there was a problem with Leal's execution. Texas authorities never informed Leal, a ... Read more

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