Here are some recent U.S. immigration news, an essential source to keep you up to date with changes and opportunities that may affect your life.
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IMMIGRATION NEWS IN THE UNITED STATES
Five young Mexicans make history developing projects with NASA
Univision News - September 15, 2024
Five Mexican students have made history by participating in research projects at NASA, thanks to an agreement promoted by Mexican government agencies. These young people are being trained in the United States and their knowledge will be applied to scientific projects in Mexico. This achievement not only highlights Mexican talent, but also strengthens international collaboration in science and technology, with a view to promoting innovations in both countries.
Online Tool Interruptions
USCIS - September 13, 2024
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will perform CRIS system maintenance on September 18 from 11:50 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on September 19 (Eastern Time). During this period, various online tools such as "My Case Status," "Online Consultation," "Online Change of Address," "Processing Times," "Physician Locator," "Office Locator," "File Online," "My my USCIS Online Account," and "Service Request Management Tool" may experience technical difficulties. USCIS apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause users.
USCIS to Celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
USCIS - September 13, 2024
USCIS will commemorate Constitution Week from September 17-23, celebrating Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. More than 400 naturalization ceremonies will be held, welcoming 17,000 new citizens. Director Ur M. Jaddou highlights USCIS' commitment to eliminating barriers to immigration benefits. Among the accomplishments highlighted are: 60% reduction in the backlog of naturalization applications, new Form N-400 with Social Security updates, and a mobile app for studying for the civics exam. USCIS encourages new citizens to share their experiences on social media with the hashtags #NewUSCitizen, #ConstitutionWeek and #WeThePeople.
New California Service Center Location
USCIS - September 11, 2024
The California Service Center (CSC) has moved to 2642 Michelle Drive, Tustin, CA 92780. New post office boxes and addresses have been established for specific correspondence. The previous post office box in Laguna Niguel will close on September 30, 2024, with a grace period until October 15. Form I-865 is now filed at the Texas Service Center. A new address for Form I-751 exemption inquiries has been implemented. The service centers do not offer in-person services and only process applications submitted by mail, online or through secure USCIS locations.
Annual Limit Reached in Category EB-2
U.S. Department of State - September 9, 2024
The Department of State, in collaboration with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, announced that all available visas in the Second Labor Preference (EB-2) category for fiscal year 2024 have been exhausted. These visas facilitate legitimate travel for individuals with exceptional skills and professionals with advanced degrees, contributing to various industries that benefit the U.S. economy. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the annual cap for EB-2 visas is 28.6% of the worldwide labor cap. Since all available EB-2 visas for FY 2024 have been used, embassies and consulates will not be able to issue any more visas in this category until the end of the fiscal year. The annual cap will be reinstated with the start of the new fiscal year 2025 on October 1, 2024.
Do you have a delayed immigration case? Here's how you can check its status from home
Univision News - September 14, 2024
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has 9.2 million pending cases, including asylum and permanent residency. Attorney Jose Guerrero explained how to use an online tool to check the status of an immigration case and get an estimated resolution time. This tool allows applicants to monitor the progress of their case from home, which is crucial given the volume of applications in process.
EOIR Launches Language Access Plan
Executive Office for Immigration Review - September 13, 2024
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has launched its Language Access Planin accordance with the Executive Order No. 13166which requires each federal agency to examine the services it provides and develop a system for individuals with limited English proficiency to meaningfully access those services. This plan provides valuable guidance to immigration judges and EOIR staff, reinforcing the Department of Justice's mission to ensure meaningful language access. EOIR, an agency within the Department of Justice, is dedicated to the adjudication of immigration cases, conducting judicial proceedings, appellate review, and administrative hearings.
New type of immigrant fraud: criminals set up fake virtual immigration court
Univision News - September 15, 2024
A group of immigrant women were victims of a fraud by a fake lawyer who promised to arrange their residency in the United States. The scammer, identified as Gustavo Cortés, confessed that the scam was set up from a prison in Venezuela. The victims, who paid thousands of dollars, were duped by setting up a fake virtual immigration court. This case highlights the vulnerability of immigrants to new scams and the importance of verifying the authenticity of legal services.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Participation in Human Trafficking Ring
U.S. Department of Justice - September 13, 2024
Fermin Montilla, a 45-year-old Dominican national, pleaded guilty to his role in a human smuggling ring that resulted in the deaths of 11 migrants. Montilla was charged with bringing 48 people into the U.S. illegally on May 12, 2022. The investigation, conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan with the assistance of other agencies, is part of the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, which focuses on human smuggling rings that present national security or public safety risks. Montilla faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and will be sentenced later this year.
Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia, Co-Founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Indicted in Brooklyn on International Drug Charges
U.S. Department of Justice - September 13, 2024
Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia, 76, was indicted in Brooklyn on 17 charges related to drug trafficking, arms and money laundering. El Mayo, a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, led the organization for decades alongside Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera. He is accused of overseeing a multi-million dollar conspiracy to flood US communities with narcotics, including deadly fentanyl. Arrested on July 25 in New Mexico, El Mayo faces charges of running an ongoing criminal enterprise, murder conspiracy, money laundering and drug distribution. The Sinaloa Cartel, under his leadership, expanded its business into fentanyl since 2012. If convicted, El Mayo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison.
Foreign National Extradited from Colombia to the United States for Kidnapping and Assault on Members of the U.S. Military
U.S. Department of Justice - September 9, 2024
Kenny Julieth Uribe Chiran, 35, was extradited from Colombia to the United States to face charges of kidnapping and assaulting two members of the U.S. military in Bogota. Uribe Chiran and her accomplices allegedly attacked, incapacitated and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers to steal their belongings. He is charged with kidnapping and assaulting internationally protected persons. Uribe Chiran is the last of three co-defendants to be extradited; Arango Castellanos was sentenced to nearly 49 years in prison, while Silva Ochoa is scheduled for trial in November. The FBI is investigating the case with significant assistance from Colombian and US authorities.
Honduran Accused of Kidnapping and Ransom Demand for Guatemalan Illegally Entered in U.S.
U.S. Department of Justice - September 16, 2024
Darwin Jeovany Palma Pastrana, 30, was charged with conspiring to kidnap a Guatemalan man who illegally entered the U.S. and demand ransom from his family in California. Palma and his accomplice, Eduar Isrrael Sauceda Nuñez, allegedly kidnapped and held illegal migrants, demanding $1,500 for their release. Fifty-seven undocumented migrants were found in a safe house in Albuquerque. Palma faces charges of conspiracy, kidnapping and interstate threats. Sauceda, still at large, faces similar charges. If convicted, both could face life in prison. The FBI and other agencies are investigating the case, which highlights the exploitation of vulnerable migrants by criminal organizations.
Rancho Cucamonga Couple Found Guilty of "Birth Tourism" Scheme
U.S. Department of Justice - September 13, 2024
Michael Wei Yueh Liu, 59, and Jing Dong, 47, were convicted of operating a "birth tourism" scheme in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Between 2012 and 2015, they charged Chinese clients to help them give birth in the U.S. and obtain birthright citizenship for their children. They provided lodging, transportation and advice to conceal pregnancies from immigration authorities. The defendants helped their clients lie on visa applications and evade customs controls. They were convicted of conspiracy and international money laundering, facing up to 20 years in prison for each money laundering charge. Sentencing is scheduled for December 9.
Four Southern California Men Arrested for Kidnapping and Extortion of Migrants
U.S. Department of Justice - September 9, 2024
Four Southern California men were arrested and charged with kidnapping migrants and holding their families for ransom. The defendants, including Miguel Angel Avila, Omar Avila Salmeron, Jose Jaime Garcia and Gabriel Michel Becerra, face charges of kidnapping, extortion and transporting illegal immigrants. According to the indictment, in March 2023, they kidnapped four migrants in Arizona, held them in California and demanded ransom payments. A fifth suspect, Jose Alfredo Moreno Gonzalez, is also charged. The defendants have pleaded not guilty and face life in prison if convicted. The case is part of Operation Safe Cities, which is focused on combating violent crime in the region.
ERO Boston Arrests Salvadoran National Accused of Raping Child in Nantucket
ICE - September 16, 2024
Boston Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers arrested Bryan Daniel Aldana-Arevalo, a 28-year-old Salvadoran national, on charges of multiple sex offenses against a minor on Nantucket Island. Aldana-Arevalo, who entered the U.S. illegally, was charged with rape of a minor with a 10-year age difference and two counts of indecent assault on a minor under the age of 14. He was released on bond on July 29, but arrested again by ERO on September 10. He is currently in ERO custody and has been notified to appear before an immigration judge. ERO emphasizes its commitment to prioritizing public safety by removing non-citizen offenders from New England communities.
ICE Conducts Deportation Flights of Single Adults and Family Units on Sept. 13
ICE - September 13, 2024
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continued deportation flights of single adults and family units between September 9 and 13. The flights targeted Central America, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru. From May 2023 through May 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) removed or returned more than 742,000 individuals, including 111,000 family members. In the last 14 weeks, DHS has deported more than 131,000 individuals to 144 countries. ICE ensures that all non-citizens with no lawful basis to remain in the U.S. are properly screened for possible protection claims, in accordance with U.S. law and international obligations.
ERO Boston Deports Fugitive Wanted in Guatemala for Assault on Public Official and Trafficking in Arms
ICE - September 11, 2024
The Enforcement and Removal Operations Office (ERO) in Boston deported Victor Francisco Lopez-Padilla, a Guatemalan fugitive wanted in his home country for assaulting a public official, illegally transporting weapons, and forging vehicle license plates. Lopez-Padilla, who illegally entered the U.S. in 2019, was arrested by the Border Patrol and subsequently ordered to be deported. In 2023, he was charged with human trafficking in Vermont, pleaded guilty and was sentenced. ERO Boston deported him to Guatemala on July 22, 2024, turning him over to Guatemalan authorities. ERO Boston Director Todd M. Lyons emphasized the agency's commitment to prioritizing public safety by removing non-citizen offenders from New England communities.
ERO Boston Arrests Haitian National on Conspiracy, Weapons and Drug Charges
ICE - September 11, 2024
ERO Boston arrested Gasnoy Saintilme, a Haitian national charged in Massachusetts with conspiracy to violate drug laws, distribution and manufacture of drugs, and unlawful carrying of dangerous weapons. Saintilme illegally entered the U.S. in February 2023 and was arrested several times by Worcester police. ERO Boston issued an immigration detainer for Saintilme in April. On August 26, after posting bond, the Worcester County Sheriff's Office transferred custody of Saintilme to ERO Boston, honoring the ICE detainer. ERO Boston Director Todd M. Lyons thanked local law enforcement for their cooperation and reiterated ERO's commitment to arresting and removing non-citizen offenders from New England.
ERO Denver Deports Fugitive Wanted for Kidnapping and Unlawful Imprisonment in Mexico
ICE - September 10, 2024
The Denver Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) deported Martin Manuel Camargo Castro, a 42-year-old fugitive wanted in Mexico for kidnapping and false imprisonment. Camargo was originally arrested in 2018 for illegal entry into the U.S., deported, and then illegally re-entered. ERO Denver arrested him in April 2024 in Boulder, Colorado, after being notified of his presence. On September 4, Camargo was transferred to Mexican authorities in San Diego. ERO Denver Acting Director Arthur J. Wilson, Jr. emphasized that this case demonstrates that international fugitives cannot hide in U.S. communities.
ERO Newark Arrests Fugitive Wanted in Peru on Drug Trafficking Charges
ICE - September 10, 2024
ERO Newark arrested a Peruvian national wanted in his home country for drug trafficking. The individual illegally entered the U.S. in 2002 and Peruvian authorities issued a warrant for his arrest in 2018 for cocaine trafficking-related offenses. ERO Newark arrested him on August 30, 2024, after being informed by the U.S. Border Patrol of the arrest warrant. ERO Newark Director John Tsoukaris highlighted the interagency cooperation in the apprehension of this international fugitive. The detainee will remain in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings before an immigration judge.
ERO Boston Arrests Brazilian Fugitive Wanted for Murder in his Home Country
ICE - September 10, 2024
ERO Boston arrested a 54-year-old Brazilian fugitive wanted for murder in Brazil. The individual, who illegally entered the U.S. on an unknown date, was arrested on August 29 in Worcester, Massachusetts. He had voluntarily left the U.S. in 2014, but re-entered illegally. Brazilian authorities issued a warrant for his arrest for murder on Aug. 13, 2024. ERO Boston Director Todd M. Lyons emphasized that they will not allow New England communities to become havens for international criminals. The fugitive remains in ERO custody and will face deportation proceedings before an immigration judge.
Guatemalan national in ICE custody dies in hospital
ICE - September 9, 2024
Brendy Yohana Bamaca-Zacarias, a 24-year-old Guatemalan woman in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, died Sept. 7 at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas. Bamaca entered the U.S. on Aug. 31 near Rio Grande City and was apprehended by Border Patrol. She was transferred to the El Valle Detention Center in Raymondville on Sept. 3. ICE notified the Guatemalan Consulate and family members. The official cause of death is pending. ICE affirms its commitment to providing comprehensive medical care to detainees and following notification protocols in cases of in-custody deaths.
ERO Boston arrests Guatemalan national convicted of abusing a minor after serving sentence for illegal re-entry to the U.S.
ICE - September 9, 2024
The Boston Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested Jorge Mario Ecute-Gonzalez, a 57-year-old Guatemalan national, in Danbury, Connecticut. Ecute-Gonzalez was convicted in 2017 of molesting a minor in Missouri and deported in 2020. He illegally re-entered the U.S. in 2022 and was sentenced to 27 months in prison. ERO Boston arrested him upon his release from prison on August 16, 2024. ERO Boston Director Todd M. Lyons emphasized that Ecute-Gonzalez poses a significant threat to children and that ERO will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing non-citizen offenders from New England.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
These summaries provide a quick overview of the most important topics. These summaries provide a quick overview of the most important topics. While these summaries aim to be accurate, it is critical to read the articles or watch the full videos for a complete understanding. I share this information to help you stay informed, but the final interpretation of each article or video is up to you.
IMMIGRATION CONSULTATION
News and information found on the Internet is of a general nature and should not be construed as specific legal advice for any individual, case or situation.
Anyone who has questions about U.S. immigration law, including whether or not a particular immigration law applies to his or her situation, should immediately seek advice from a licensed and experienced U.S. immigration attorney to determine his or her immigration legal options.
Avoid being victim of immigration fraud and never consult with notaries, immigration consultants, paper-fillers, multi-services and others. unlicensed persons to obtain immigration legal advice.
Nelson A. Castillo is an immigration attorney with more than 20 years of legal experience and author of La Tarjeta Verde: Cómo Obtener la Residencia Permanente en los Estados Unidos (Green Card: How to Obtain Permanent Residence in the United States). He is a former President of the Hispanic National Bar Association and the Westlake South Neighborhood Council of Los Angeles.
To program a immigration consultation with Dr. Castillo, click on the link.
