Law Office of Carolyn Grimes

08/27/2026

🚨 Important Immigration Update

Following a federal judge’s decision striking down the immigrant visa suspension affecting nationals of 75 countries, the State Department has now temporarily paused immigrant visa interviews worldwide for additional consular officer training.

See below for what applicants need to know. ⬇️

08/24/2026

🚨 HUGE WIN FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES & CONSULAR PROCESSING! 🇺🇸⚖️

On August 21, a federal court in CLINIC v. Rubio vacated the State Department’s policy that suspended immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries based on generalized public-charge concerns.

This is a major victory for immigrants and families navigating consular processing. ❤️

Numerous immigrant families have been impacted by this policy—many after waiting years to legally immigrate to the United States, completing the required applications, approvals, and consular processing steps, only to face additional delays or refusals because of this policy.

This decision means applicants can once again receive the individualized review required under immigration law, rather than being denied visa issuance simply because their country was included on the list.

This does not mean automatic visa approvals. Each applicant must still establish eligibility and admissibility under U.S. immigration law. But it removes an enormous barrier that has impacted families around the world.

🎉 Today, we celebrate this win for immigrant families!

We are closely monitoring how the Department of State and individual U.S. embassies and consulates implement the ruling, particularly for individuals with previously delayed, cancelled, or refused interviews.

⚖️ Defending Dreams. Changing Lives.

A federal judge said the indefinite pause, which affected nationals of countries in every corner of the globe, ran afoul of antidiscrimination protections.

06/30/2026

🎉⚖️ A WIN FOR THE CONSTITUTION ⚖️🎉

Birthright citizenship remains the law of the land.

The Supreme Court has upheld one of the most fundamental promises of the 14th Amendment: If you’re born here, you’re a citizen.

Today is a reminder that constitutional protections matter and that generations of immigrant families have helped build this country.

As immigration attorneys, we’re celebrating this moment and the certainty it provides to countless families across the United States.

🇺🇸 The Constitution prevailed.
❤️ Families matter.
⚖️ The law matters.

Today, we celebrate! 🎉🇺🇸

What will Trump do now after justices’ stunning rebuke?

06/26/2026

☀️ Summer Staff Series: Meet Stephanie Chavez ☀️

Today we’re excited to introduce Stephanie Chavez, one of the incredible paralegals who helps make our team so special.

Stephanie joined our firm with years of experience in immigration law and quickly became an invaluable part of our humanitarian and family-based practice. Her exceptional client communication skills, attention to detail, and genuine compassion help guide clients through some of the most important moments of their lives.

As a first-generation daughter of immigrants, Stephanie brings a personal understanding of the immigrant journey to every case she handles. Her empathy, cultural awareness, and commitment to serving our clients shine through in every interaction, helping families feel heard, supported, and cared for throughout the process.

In addition to her casework, Stephanie serves as one of our trusted interpreters during USCIS interviews. Her professionalism, accuracy, and ability to help clients feel comfortable and confident during these important appointments make her an invaluable advocate both inside and outside the office.

Stephanie’s professionalism is second to none, and we have been incredibly proud to watch her grow and thrive as a member of our team. We have seen tremendous growth in her since joining our firm, and she consistently goes above and beyond for both our clients and her colleagues.

We are grateful to have Stephanie as part of our team and hope she will continue growing with us for many years to come. She is truly an asset to our firm, and our clients are better served because of her dedication, compassion, and hard work. 💙

Please join us in showing Stephanie some appreciation in the comments! 👏✨

06/19/2026

☀️ Meet the Team Summer Series ☀️

Today we’re highlighting someone who has been by my side longer than anyone else on our team—our Office Manager, Cora.

Cora worked alongside me even before I opened my own practice, and she has been an integral part of this firm’s journey from the very beginning. If you’ve ever called our office, there’s a good chance she was the first voice you heard. She manages client communications, contracts, and countless behind-the-scenes details that keep our firm running smoothly every day.

What truly sets Cora apart is her incredible memory, organization, and compassion. She remembers details about our clients, our cases, and our team that continually amaze me. More importantly, she approaches every interaction with empathy and kindness, helping clients feel heard and supported during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

On a personal level, Cora has helped me become the leader I am today. Her loyalty, honesty, and willingness to tackle problems alongside me have been invaluable. Building a law firm takes a village, and I am incredibly grateful to have such a trusted partner in this journey.

Thank you, Cora, for your years of dedication, friendship, and unwavering commitment to our clients and our team. We are so lucky to have you. 💙

06/16/2026

📍✈️ Headed to San Diego!

This week, our team is attending the annual AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) Conference in San Diego to learn about the latest developments in immigration law, connect with colleagues from across the country, and bring back new strategies and resources to better serve our clients.

At the Law Office of Carolyn Grimes, we believe continuing education is one of the best investments we can make in our clients and their cases. Immigration law changes constantly, and staying at the forefront of those changes helps us provide the highest level of representation possible.

While we’re traveling, please know:

✅ Our office remains open and operational
✅ We are actively monitoring emails, calls, and case updates
✅ We are continuing to work on and manage active cases
✅ Urgent matters will continue to receive prompt attention

Thank you for trusting us with your immigration journey. We are excited to bring back new knowledge, ideas, and tools to better advocate for our clients and community.

From Indianapolis to San Diego, the Dream Team is on the move! ✈️🌴 P.S. Matching fits bring us joy! 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵

06/06/2026

🚨 MAJOR UPDATE ON THE 39-COUNTRY BAN 🚨

A federal judge has struck down the USCIS policies that resulted in immigration applications being placed on hold for individuals from the countries affected by the so-called “39-country ban.”

Since late 2025, many applicants from countries including Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, and others have seen their cases stalled indefinitely. These holds impacted applications for:

✅ Green Cards (Adjustment of Status)
✅ Work Permits
✅ Asylum
✅ Naturalization (Citizenship)
✅ Other immigration benefits

In a decision issued on June 5, 2026, the court found that USCIS acted unlawfully when it implemented these policies and ordered them vacated.

This is a significant victory for immigrants and families who have been waiting months for decisions on their cases solely because of their country of origin.

⚠️ Important: This does NOT automatically approve any pending case, and the government may still appeal the ruling. However, the decision could lead to USCIS resuming adjudication of many applications that have been frozen under the 39-country ban policies.

📞 We’re closely monitoring this case and will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

A federal judge on Friday struck down a Trump administration policy enacted after the shooting of two National Guard members that made it harder for immigrants from dozens of countries to stay and enter the U.S.

06/05/2026

☀️✨ MEET THE STAFF SUMMER SERIES ✨☀️

Happy Friday! We’re excited to introduce someone who has become an essential part of our team and our clients’ success stories: our Senior Paralegal, Heidy Gonzalez! 💙

Originally from the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴, Heidy brings not only extensive legal knowledge and experience, but also a deep personal understanding of the immigration journey. Before coming to the United States, she earned her law degree and practiced law in the Dominican Republic, experiences that continue to shape the compassionate and client-centered approach she brings to our firm every day.

Over the past nearly two years, Heidy has become the driving force behind our family-based immigration and consular processing department. From helping families reunite with loved ones across the globe to navigating complex immigration processes, she approaches every case with dedication, precision, and genuine care.

📋 Organized
🌎 Bilingual
💙 Compassionate
⚖️ Legally Trained
🤝 Fierce Advocate

What makes Heidy truly special is her unwavering commitment to our clients. She celebrates their victories, guides them through challenges, and treats every case as if it were her own family’s.

As a firm, we are incredibly fortunate to have Heidy on Team Grimes. She is an invaluable asset to our clients, our staff, and our community.

And we’re not done bragging yet… 😉 One of our biggest hopes for the future is to support Heidy as she pursues her LL.M. degree here in the United States. Knowing the attorney and advocate she already is, we have no doubt she will continue doing amazing things and making a difference in countless lives.

Thank you, Heidy, for everything you do. We are so grateful you’re part of this team. 💙

👇 Help us show Heidy some love in the comments!

06/01/2026

☀️MEET THE STAFF SUMMER SERIES ☀️

We’re kicking off our summer staff spotlight series with some exciting news…

🎉⚖️ Please join us in congratulating Attorney Dyllanne Deischer on her promotion to JUNIOR PARTNER at the Law Office of Carolyn Grimes! ⚖️🎉

When Dyllanne joined our firm, we knew she had tremendous potential. What we didn’t know was just how quickly she would become an indispensable part of our team.

From client consultations and complex case preparation to master calendar hearings and individual trials, Dyllanne consistently shows up with intelligence, professionalism, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the people we serve. She is the kind of attorney every client hopes to have in their corner.

💙 Over the past year, she has grown not only as an exceptional immigration attorney, but also as a leader, mentor, and trusted member of our management team. She has helped shape our firm’s culture, supported her colleagues, and advocated fiercely for countless families navigating the immigration system.

This promotion is a reflection of her hard work, dedication, and the incredible impact she has made on our clients, our team, and our community.

As Managing Attorney, I couldn’t be prouder of everything she has accomplished, and I am so excited to see what the future holds as we continue growing together.

Congratulations, Dyllanne! 🎊 We are so grateful to have you on our team, and this promotion is more than deserved!

👇 Help us celebrate Dyllanne by dropping a congratulations in the comments below!

💼 Attorney
⚖️ Advocate
🌟 Leader
🤝 Mentor
💙 Junior Partner

05/31/2026

📢 To Our Clients: An Important Update on the New Green Card Policy

You may have seen alarming headlines this week about USCIS “no longer granting green cards” or applicants being forced to “return home.” We want to speak directly to our clients about what is actually happening — and what we are doing about it.

What happened:

On May 21, 2026, USCIS issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199, framing adjustment of status (the green card process inside the U.S.) as a discretionary benefit granted only in “extraordinary circumstances.” The press release that followed caused panic across immigrant communities.

Then DHS walked it back. Within days, the Department of Homeland Security clarified that most green card applicants will NOT be required to leave the United States while their cases are processed. DHS called it a “clarification” of authority officers already had — not a sweeping policy change. Decisions remain case-by-case.

What this means for your case:

✅ Adjustment of status is still alive and still the right path for most of our clients
✅ The law has not changed — eligibility rules under INA §245 are the same
✅ For spouses of U.S. citizens, the statutory protections that forgive overstays and unauthorized work for green card purposes are still in place
⚠️ Officers DO have heightened discretion and are asking sharper questions at interviews
⚠️ For some clients, we may discuss consular processing — but for many of you, leaving the U.S. would trigger a 3- or 10-year bar, which is exactly why adjusting here remains the safer path

Here is what our office is doing:

We have read the memo and the DHS clarification in full. We are reviewing every one of our cases individually and strengthening the discretionary record in each file — documenting family ties, length of presence, employment, tax history, community contributions, and the genuine bona fides of every marriage. We are sharpening interview preparation for upcoming hearings.

If your case needs adjustments before your interview or filing, we will reach out to you directly. You do not need to call us.

We’ve got you. We’ve been preparing for shifts like this, and we are not letting anyone fall through the cracks. 💙

— Atty. Carolyn Grimes, Atty. Dyllanne Deischer & Team

Not a client? If you have a pending green card case or upcoming interview, the right legal strategy matters more than ever. Call our office to schedule a consultation. 📞

The Department of Homeland Security said that highly qualified and skilled green-card applicants will see no noticeable impact from a controversial policy announced last week that most people seeking permanent legal residency would have to apply from outside the US.