McFee Law Offices, P.C.

08/11/2024

06/18/2024

Lo que había sido un rumor durante meses ahora es oficial: la Casa Blanca anunció formalmente un nuevo programa (quizás exactamente, un par de programas) para dar más protección a las personas indocumentadas en los Estados Unidos.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/06/18/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-keep-families-together/

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/06/17/fact-sheet-dhs-announces-new-process-promote-unity-and-stability-families

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/06/18/hoja-informativa-dhs-anuncia-un-nuevo-proceso-para-promover-la-unidad-y-estabilidad

Es importante entender lo que esta nueva acción ejecutiva hace y lo que no hace, al menos por ahora, antes de las inevitables demandas y posibles medidas cautelares por parte de individuos y grupos antiinmigrantes.

NO es para todo el mundo. Hay criterios específicos que, no gracias a la política, son más restrictivos de lo que esperábamos los defensores de la inmigración.

*Debe haber estado presente continuamente en los Estados Unidos durante al menos 10 años a partir del 17 de junio de 2024 (por lo tanto, es probable que el límite sea el 17 de junio de 2014 o antes para la fecha de entrada)

* Debe estar presente en los Estados Unidos sin admisión ni parole.

*Debe tener un matrimonio legalmente válido con un ciudadano estadounidense a partir del 17 de junio de 2024

* No debe tener antecedentes penales que lo descalifiquen (sí, harán una verificación de antecedentes)

*No debe representar una amenaza para la seguridad nacional o la seguridad pública

*Debe merecer un ejercicio favorable de discreción

* Las solicitudes se examinan "caso por caso" (haciendo hincapié en el carácter discrecional de la solicitud)

*Los hijos no ciudadanos que están físicamente presentes en los Estados Unidos sin admisión ni parole y que tienen una relación de hijastro calificada con un ciudadano estadounidense a partir del 17 de junio de 2024 también pueden incluirse en la solicitud

*Debe presentar un formulario y pagar una tarifa (por anunciar)

Entonces, ¿qué obtiene uno a cambio de admitir voluntariamente su falta de estatus ante el gobierno y pagar una cuota?

*Recibir acción diferida de la aplicación de la deportación por hasta tres años

*Recibir una autorización de trabajo válida por hasta tres años

*Elegible para solicitar la residencia permanente (green card) dentro de ese período de tres años

Hasta ahora, se parece mucho a DACA en términos de criterios y beneficios, pero con la ventaja adicional de poder solicitar un green card sin tener que obtener un permiso adelantado y viajar.

Hablando de DACA, el anuncio también insinúa que acelerará/facilitará el proceso de visa de trabajo para los "beneficiarios de DACA y otros Dreamers" SI esas personas obtuvieron un título en una institución estadounidense acreditada en los Estados Unidos y recibieron una oferta de empleo de un empleador estadounidense en un campo relacionado con su título. No está del todo claro quién califica (¿están incluidos aquellos que habrían calificado para DACA pero no lo solicitaron?) o cuáles son los beneficios (¿por visa de trabajo se refieren a visa de trabajo de no inmigrante o inmigrante)?

Esto es alentador, al menos, pero aún está por ver cómo se desarrollará realmente.

El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) anunció acciones para promover la unidad familiar en el proceso de inmigración, en consonancia con el compromiso de la Administración Biden-Harris de mantener las familias unidas.

06/18/2024

What had been a rumor for months is now official: the White House formally announced a new program (perhaps more accurately, a pair of programs) to give more protection to undocumented individuals in the United States.

https://lnkd.in/giBWSPUH

https://lnkd.in/g7CURraY

https://lnkd.in/gnVdy7UC

It's important to understand what this new executive action does and what it doesn't do - at least for now, before the inevitable lawsuits and possible injunctions by anti-immigrant individuals and groups.

It is NOT for everyone. There are specific criteria, which - no thanks to politics - are more restrictive than we immigration advocates had hoped.

*Must have been continuously present in the United States for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024 (thus, the cutoff will likely be June 17, 2014 or earlier for date of entry)

*Must be present in the United States without admission or parole

*Must have a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024

*Must have no disqualifying criminal history (yes, they will do a background check)

*Must not pose a threat to national security or public safety

*Must merit a favorable exercise of discretion

*Applications are considered on a "case-by-case basis" (emphasizing the discretionary nature of the request)

*Noncitizen children who are physically present in the United States without admission or parole and have a qualifying stepchild relationship to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024 may also be included in the request

*Must file a form and pay a fee (to be announced)

So, what does one get in exchange for voluntarily admitting their lack of status to the government and paying a fee?

*Receive deferred action from removal enforcement for up to three years

*Receive valid work authorization for up to three years

*Eligible to apply for permanent residence (green card) within that three-year period

Thus far, it sounds a lot like DACA in terms of the criteria and benefits, but with the added bonus of being able to apply for a green card without having to get advance parole and travel.

Speaking of DACA, the announcement also hints at expediting/facilitating the work visa process for "DACA recipients and other Dreamers" IF those individuals earned a degree at an accredited U.S. institution in the United States and received an offer of employment from a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree. It is not entirely clear who qualifies (are those who would've qualified for DACA but didn't apply included?) or what the benefits are (by work visa do they mean nonimmigrant or immigrant work visa)?

This is encouraging, at least, but how this will actually play out remains to be seen.

05/05/2023

The Chicago Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association cordially invites you to attend a screening of "The Courtroom" at FACETS Cinema in Chicago on May 18, 2023 at 6:30 pm.

"The Courtroom" is a film adaptation of a successful play of the same name, written by A***n Moayed (who plays Stewy Hosseini in the television show Succession) and directed by Lee Sunday Evans. It was selected for the Tribeca Film Festival last year and is adapted verbatim from the court transcripts of a removal hearing where attorney Rich Hanus represented the respondent, Elizabeth Keathley. Keathly faced removal from the United States--and separation from her husband and child--after mistakenly registering to vote.

After the screening, AILA Chicago looks forward to welcoming Rich Hanus, Professor Sioban Albiol from the DePaul College of Law Asylum & Immigration Law Clinic, Lisiann Rodriguez, Senior Attorney with the National Immigrant Justice Center, for a discussion of the movie and access to justice issues in our immigration court system.

Tickets are $25.00. Please use following link to register for the event: https://lnkd.in/gjUCKJ2e

The event is open to the public, but space is limited, so be sure to purchase your ticket today.

09/26/2022

IMMIGRATION UPDATE:
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma: redesignated and extended for 18 months (26 November 2022 through 25 May 2024). For more information, please contact McFee Law Offices to schedule a consultation.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma for an additional 18 months, from Nov. 26, 2022, through May 25, 2024, due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Burma that prevent individuals from safely returning.

11/15/2021

Did you know that IAC offers DACA renewal services? We also offer a DACA scholarship that covers the $495 USCIS filing fee for eligible applicants in Illinois.

Updated 12/15/21: Contact Salek Khalid, Immigration Intake Specialist if you have any questions about the DACA Scholarship.

Email: skhalid [at] indoamerican.org
Phone: 773-973-4444 ext. 103
Updated flier to come.

09/23/2021

Race Judicata day - McFee Law Offices is joining fellow immigration lawyers and the Chicago legal community at today’s 5K to support Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.🚶 🏃 💪