Category: Other
COVID-19 and Immigration Court Cases
In the past few days, we’ve seen various changes to the processing of cases before the Immigration Courts and ICE. Although the Immigration Courts have cancelled many hearings, the courts have remained open to receive filings. ICE has temporarily changed many of its standard practices. To provide you with the most current information about what’s happening, below we have answered various questions we have recently received. What’s happening with hearings before the Immigration Courts? Hearings scheduled through April 10, 2020, for persons in the United States who are not detained have been postponed. For those that are waiting on hearings ... Read more
Coronavirus/COVID-19 y Casos ante la Corte de Inmigración
En los últimos días, hemos visto muchos cambios sobre el procesamiento de casos inmigratorios con la Corte de Inmigración y con ICE. La Corte de Inmigración canceló varias audiencias y en muchos lugares solo está recibiendo el archivo de documentos. Temporalmente ICE también está cambiando sus pólizas. Para ponerle al corriente de lo que está pasando, abajo tenemos respuestas a las preguntas más recibidas del momento. ¿Qué está pasando con las audiencias ante la Corte de Inmigración? Para los que no están detenidos, sus audiencias fechadas hasta el 10 de abril del 2020 ante la Corte de Inmigración han sido ... Read more
How the Coronavirus is affecting the processing of visas at U.S. consulates
As a result of COVID-19 pandemic, there have been several changes in the government’s processing of consular cases for the issuance of routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. As of March 18th, the Department of State has suspended routine visa services in most countries worldwide. Embassies and consulates have cancelled all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments. Embassies and consulates will resume routine visa services as soon as possible, but are unable to provide a specific date at this time. Applicants are still able to submit all fees, applications and supporting documents required by the National Visa Center (NVC) relating to ... Read more
How USCIS is processing applications for visas during the Coronavirus pandemic
In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, beginning March 18, all USCIS Field Offices and Application Service Center Offices are closed to the public. USCIS is not conducting interviews, fingerprint appointments or oath ceremonies. A date for re-opening to the public has not been set, but once this happens, the cancelled appointments will automatically be rescheduled. While USCIS is closed to the public, the government employees are still working. USCIS continues to receive and process applications for naturalization, adjustment of status, DACA, renewal of permanent residency cards, removal of conditions, etc. DMCA attorneys are filing these on behalf ... Read more
Como la Coronavirus affecta el proceso de pedir y recibir visas en los consulados americanos
Como resultado de la pandemia de COVID-19, ha habido varios cambios por parte del gobierno en el procesamiento de casos consulares para la emisión de visas de inmigrantes y no inmigrantes. A partir del 18 de marzo, el Departamento de Estado ha suspendido los servicios de visas de rutina en la mayoría de los países del mundo. Las embajadas y consulados han cancelado todas las citas de visas de inmigrantes y no inmigrantes de rutina. Las embajadas y consulados reanudarán los servicios de visa lo antes posible, pero no pueden proporcionar una fecha específica en este momento. Los solicitantes aún ... Read more
PRESS RELEASE San Antonio, TX October 4, 2019 – The Federal Government of Mexico, through the Secretary of Foreign Relations submitted an amicus brief on October 3, 2019 with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Department of Homeland Security et. al vs. Regents of the University of California, et. al. The case scheduled for oral argument before the Supreme Court on November 12, 2019, will review the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and whether the government’s decision to end DACA is reviewable by the court and if so, whether the decision to end DACA ... Read more
DMCA Partner and Professor of Law Marisol Perez starts another year of classes at St. Mary’s School of Law
Marisol begins her third year of teaching students immigration law at St. Mary’s School of Law. She still maintains a full caseload at DMCA even while taking on her teaching responsibilities. If you’d like a consultation with Marisol or one of DMCA’s other attorneys (including one of our 7 attorneys certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in immigration law), call us at (210)590-1844. Marisol Pérez
Regulaciones EB-5 nuevas toman efecto el 21 de noviembre del 2019 – Lo que debe saber ahora!
La semana pasada el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) publico regulaciones nuevas sobre el programa EB-5, Programa de Inversionista Inmigrantes (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-07-24/pdf/2019-15000.pdf)). Algunos de los cambios significantes incluyen: Aumento de las cantidades mínimas de inversión requeridas. Para inversiones localizadas en áreas designada bajo un área designada Área de Empleo Objeto (TEA; pueblos fuera del área estadística metropolitana con población de menos de 20,000, o áreas con desempleo alto de 150% de la tasa de desempleo nacional promedio) la cantidad se aumenta de $500,000 a $900,000. Para inversiones localizados fuera de áreas designadas el aumento es de $1,000,000 a $1,800,000. Estas cantidades ... Read more
New EB-5 Regulations Will Go Into Effect on November 21, 2019 – What You Need to Know Now!
This past week the Department of Homeland Security published the anticipated and impactful new EB-5 regulations (EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Modernization; https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-07-24/pdf/2019-15000.pdf). Some of the most significant changes to the program include: Minimum Investment Amounts. The minimum investment amounts will increase on November 21, 2019. For investments that are in Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs; rural areas outside of a Metropolitan Statistical Area with a population of 20,000 or more; or an area with an unemployment rate of 150% of the national average), the amount increases from $500,000 to $900,000. For those outside TEAs, it goes from $1,000,000 to $1,800,000. These ... Read more
Ruth McChesney Admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar
Long-time DMCA Managing Partner Ruth McChesney, currently Of Counsel to DMCA, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar earlier this month. She summarized her experience as follows: “It was an extraordinary experience being formally sworn into the U.S. Supreme Court Bar by Chief Justice John Roberts with all the Supreme Court justices after hearing four decisions. I was impressed by the solemnity of the process and was privileged to hear Ruth Bader Ginsburg issue a majority opinion (https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/18-525_m6hn.pdf) on a jurisdictional issue of a discrimination case. Afterwards, Justice Ginsburg visited with the new members. I learned and appreciated that she ... Read more
DMCA attorney Javier Rivera is in the Texas Bar Journal!
Javier writes about criminal defense lawyer’s duty to advise immigrant clients about their duty to advise about immigration consequences of a guilty plea Check out Javier’s article!