Although jobs in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields are increasing three times faster than jobs in the rest of the economy, there are not enough American students in these fields such that by 2018, there will be a shortfall of 223,800 STEM workers. This is according to a May 2012 report by the Partnership for a New American Economy and the Partnership for New York City entitled “Not Coming to America: Why the US is Falling Behind in the Global Race for Talent”.
After years of offering civil unions as an alternative to marriage, President Obama recently expressed support for same-sex marriage. In a dramatic shift from his long-held position, Obama said that same-sex couples should be allowed to get married.
When a landlord leases an apartment to an undocumented immigrant, does he commit the offense of harboring an illegal alien? This question was recently answered in the negative in a case perceived by some to be the latest effort at localizing immigration enforcement.
Cancellation of removal is a relief available to an alien facing deportation which if granted results in permanent resident status. The applicant must have been in the United States for a continuous period of at least ten years and demonstrate exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a qualifying U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relative.
Many men and women come to the United States in search of a better life but unfortunately find themselves in abusive relationships. The alien spouse and child in such a relationship are especially vulnerable because they lack lawful immigration status or work authorization.
On April 17, 2012, the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled in a precedent decision that adjustment applicants who have accrued more than 180 days of unlawful presence and have a pending adjustment of status application and who leave the United States under advance parole will not be barred from returning to the U.S. because of such unlawful presence.
A biometric system that can track individuals who have overstayed their visas is expected to be presented to Congress very soon, according to news reports. The planned system will enable the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to keep track of when immigrants leave the United States.
As of April 9, 2012, the USCIS received a total of 25,600 cap-subject H-1B petitions for employment beginning October 1, 2012. This is double the petitions it received for the entire month of April last year.
The final rule for provisional waivers of unlawful presence will be released later this year, according to the USCIS in a Question and Answer guidance that accompanied its notice of proposed rulemaking dated March 30, 2012. The agency is requesting the public to submit comments on the proposed rule.
Cancellation of removal for aliens is a form of relief available to individuals in removal proceedings. When an immigration judge grants cancellation, the basis of the alien’s deportability is forgiven and he will be able to adjust status and become a lawful permanent resident.
