DHS Admits Secretary Noem Incorrectly Stated that Venezuelans Who Lost TPS Qualify for Refugee Status
January 6, 2026
The U.S. Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not know the difference between a 'Refugee' and an 'Asylee' Only people outside the united States can apply for refugee status; however, that option has been dramatically curtained since the Trump administration has limited refugees to 7,500, unless you are a white South African citizen. Noem mistakenly conflated the two during her Sunday press conferences while addressing the U.S. invasion of Venezuela. Only individuals inside the United States can apply for asylum; however, given the recent travel ban ordered by the Trump administration, citizens from Venezuela cannot apply for asylum.
In addition, DHS has cancelled Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for all Venezuelan living in the United States. In short, non citizen and non legal permanent residents from Venezuela are now stuck between a rock and a hard place. They can't proceed to file for asylum before USCIS and they have lost their TPS status to remain and work in the U.S. legally. In short, it is the perfect storm to arrest and deport 600,000 Venezuelans by ICE.
Exception to the Travel Ban Hold
January 5, 2026
According to the January 1, 2026 USCIS policy memo, there may be an ‘exception’ to the so called “hold” for individuals whose benefit request filed by an alien whose entry into the United States would provide significant benefit to the United States may include, but is not limited to, a scientist or medical researcher working on a critical public health project, an engineer with specialized skills needed for a key infrastructure initiative, or someone with unique expertise supporting U.S. national security or economic interests. This is a case-by-case determination and requires approval from the headquarters of the adjudicative directorate or program office.
Therefore, alien’s applying for EB1A and NIW EB2 classifications, given their unique experience and abilities may be able to overcome the travel ban “hold” if their credentials are in the national interest and contribute to the security of the United States.
Americans tell of exclusions from ceremonies by sudden policy introduced on ‘security’ grounds
December 31, 2025
It is gut wrenching to watch people who played by the rules, who brought skills and talent to the United States, who worked hard, paid taxes, raised families and passed all the requirements and tests to become an American Citizen to be pulled out of their citizenship oath ceremonies because of President's Trump nativist reaction to one person's violent act in Washington, D.C.
Now the President has banned people for over 19 countries from any immigration benefits.
This broad sweep against people based on their national origin and religion is a direct rejection of what the United States has fought so hard to protect. According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service policy memo of December 2, 2025, it states "In light of identified concerns and the threat to the American people, USCIS has determined that a comprehensive re-review, potential interview, and re-interview of all aliens from high-risk countries of concern who entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021 is necessary,” read the memo, which cites the shooting of the national guards as a justification for the review.
Let it be known, that this administration will use any isolated pretext to harm many. Worse, based on studying the individuals driving this nativist policy is the glee felt by inflicting pain and suffering. From President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, assistant chief of staff Steven Miller to the countless cabinet secretaries who bend to every whim by this administration is the harsh reality that our system of laws is severely broken.
Rule of men not laws has fast taken over vast swaths of our government. But for the Federal Circuit Courts and U.S. District Federal Courts, the rule of law would be a thing of the past. Words cannot do justice to the harm this administration has inflicted on our laws, our institutions, and yes, our honor as a country. We cannot remain silent. We must know that we as individuals can make a difference.
Trump administration seeks to cancel thousands of asylum cases, saying applicants can be deported to third countries
December 23, 2025
The Trump administration has mounted a nationwide campaign to void the asylum claims of thousands of immigrants with active cases in immigration court by arguing that they can be deported to countries that are not their own, according to internal government data obtained by CBS News.
Schedule a consultation to learn more about the government’s effort to deport people to third countries if you have a pending asylum case or if plan to file for asylum. Call 828-903-8987 or 617-934-3092 to schedule your consultation via zoom or in person.
Immigration Bond Hearings Are Back for Most Detained Immigrants
December 19, 2025
The Central District Federal Court of CA has issued a nationwide decision that restores, for most, the right to request an immigration bond before an immigration Judge. Call our office to learn more at 828-903-8987 or 617-934-3092.
New USCIS Policies Impacting Asylum Applicants, Refugees, and People from “High-Risk” Countries
Somalis in Minnesota say ICE agents already targeting their community
December 10, 2025: ABC News reports that ICE began enforcement operations in Minnesota, targeting some members of the state’s Somali community, including individuals with social security numbers, work permits, and asylum applicants, as well as U.S. citizens, according to local officials and attorneys. The deployment follows disparaging remarks by President Trump about Somali immigrants and comes amid ongoing investigations into alleged fraud involving a small number of individuals in the community. Minnesota leaders and advocates emphasize that the majority of Somali residents are lawful and productive members of society, expressing concern that ICE operations are causing widespread fear and anxiety.
Tell Congress to Oppose the Indefinite Pause on Asylum and Immigration Processing
December 10 2025: USCIS ordered an indefinite pause on all immigration processing for individuals from the 19 travel ban countries, including naturalization and adjustment of status, and directed officers to re-review every benefit granted to people from these countries since January 20, 2021. At the same time, the Trump Administration halted adjudication of all asylum applications nationwide.
The countried affected by the President’s Executive Actions are:
Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
The President has also stated he intends to add another 11 countries to this list.
To learn more about these policies and how they may affect you, please schedule a consultation with our attorneys at clicking here.
USCIS is shortening Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from 5 years back to 18 months for the following categories
- refugees;
- asylees;
- clients who were granted withholding of deportation or removal;
- clients with pending applications for asylum or withholding of removal;
- clients with pending applications for adjustment of status under INA 245; and
- clients with pending applications for suspension of deportation, cancellation of removal, or relief under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act.
Fired immigration judges describe threat to judicial independence from Justice Dept.
"The attorney general and the administration are looking to target immigration courts," he said. "They're looking to destroy them and if they're not destroyed they want to create a body of, yes, political hacks to become what we call judges."
Click here to read the full article on NBC News Boston.
We Rejected This Practice 60 Years Ago. We Must Do So Again Today
Without question, today’s antiquated immigration system is in need of a major overhaul. But we should never go back to a system that made collective judgments about the worthiness of specific nationalities to immigrate to the United States — particularly not based on an incident involving a single person.
In his 1964 State of the Union address, Johnson told the nation that it should ask prospective immigrants, “What can you do for our country?,” not “In what country were you born?” Johnson was right, whatever the Trump administration would like to believe.
US pauses all immigration applications from 19 non-European countries
December 3, 2025
Dec 2 (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Tuesday said it paused all immigration applications, including green card and U.S. citizenship processing, filed by immigrants from 19 non-European countries, citing concerns over national security and public safety.
The pause applies to people from 19 countries that were already subjected to a partial travel ban in June, placing further restrictions on immigration - a core feature of U.S. President Donald Trump's political platform.
Trump administration threatens to withhold SNAP benefits from blue states over immigration data
December 3, 2025: The Trump administration indicated Tuesday that it will begin withholding SNAP benefits from recipients in most Democratic-led states starting next week after those states refused to provide the Agriculture Department with data including recipients’ names and immigration statuses.
Click here for more details.
by George D. Pappas, Esq.
November 20. 2025
Consistent with Vice President JD Vance’s ideological position of who a ‘Real American’ is, we now have the latest Trump policy that any immigrant applicant deemed “non-compatible with Western civilization” can be denied legal permanent residency.
This is a blueprint for not only discrimination against green card applicants based on their national origin and culture, but a blueprint to privilege a small section of White Anglo Saxon Americans as the ‘true leaders’ to determine the rights and privileges for all U.S. citizens.
When American society privileges a small minority to ‘lead’ a nation you have the blue print for a white nationalist takeover of our democracy. Nazi Germany adopted this American ‘blueprint’ to help build the Third Reich. Not convinced?
Southern white nationalists slave holders tried this blueprint: it led to the American Civil War in the 1860’s.
When Southern White Supremacists lost the Civil War, their blueprint morphed into ‘Jim Crow’ from reconstruction until the 1960s, and then morphed yet again with ‘color blind laws’ that put lipstick on racism only to give birth to the latest version of the Vance/Trump ergo Steve Miller’s nativetists agenda of promoting a ‘western civilization’ litmus test of what it means to be a ‘Real American ’.
Today we face a danger unlike any in our nation’s history. We have a President and his minions openly advancing a fascist agenda by gaslighting who a real American is.
President Trump’s Administration latest policy of excluding immigrants with ‘“non-compatible with Western civilization views’, will not only exclude applicants for legal permeant residency, but will next turn to rescinding current green card holders and denaturalizing millions of U.S. citizens.
Ask any German Holocaust survivor how this American ‘blueprint’ worked out in the 1930’s. No one is safe.
References
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No One Is Safe
More than 220 judges have now rejected the Trump admin’s mass detention policy
November 28, 2025
At least 225 judges have ruled in more than 700 cases that the administration’s new policy, which also deprives people of an opportunity to seek release from an immigration court, is a likely violation of law and the right to due process. Those judges were appointed by all modern presidents — including 23 by Trump himself — and hail from at least 35 states, according to a POLITICO analysis of thousands of recent cases. The number of judges opposing the administration’s position has more than doubled in less than a month.
Immigration bonds are back for many individuals who were previously denied them due to a new policy
A federal court decision on November 25, 2025, overruled an earlier Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) case (Matter of Yajure Hurtado) and requires that many detained immigrants who entered the U.S. without inspection be given the opportunity to request release on bond. This ruling restores access to bond hearings that had been denied under a stricter interpretation of the law
TPS Cancelled for Myanmar Nationals
The Trump administration announced it will cancel temporary asylum for about 10,000 Myanmar nationals living in the US, despite the country being ruled by a military dictatorship that has a record of executing dissidents.
On Monday the Department of Homeland Security said it was terminating the designation of Burma (Myanmar) for Temporary Protected Status relief. It claimed that after reviewing conditions in Myanmar and consulting with appropriate US government agencies, “the secretary [Kristi Noem] determined that Burma no longer continues to meet the conditions” for TPS designation.
The order, set out in a post on the Federal Register, is expected to come in effect in 60 days.
Chief U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg has resumed his contempt inquiry into which Trump Administration officials violated a March 2025 court order barring deportation flights to El Salvador
The Washington Post reports that Chief U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg has resumed his contempt inquiry into which Trump Administration officials violated a March 2025 court order barring deportation flights to El Salvador, after a seven-month pause for appeals. Judge Boasberg said the inquiry is not to decide contempt yet but to determine whether there is sufficient information to make a referral, including witness statements from a Justice Department whistleblower, Erez Reuveni, and DOJ attorney Drew Ensign. The inquiry follows evidence that officials continued deportation flights despite the order, and a majority of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit recently confirmed that Judge Boasberg may proceed
ICE Courthouse Arrests Continue, Few Immigration Courts Resist Pushing Cases Into Expedited Removal
November 23, 2025: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attorneys have been asking immigration judges to dismiss noncitizens’ immigration court cases to funnel them into expedited removal—a faster deportation process with fewer due process protections. National trends show that immigration judges are largely acquiescing to this plan by granting ICE’s requests on the spot. But new data analysis shows considerable variation by location: some immigration courts are resisting this new deportation tactic and others rubber-stamping these motions to dismiss.
News Update - November 14, 2025
Customs Border Patrol Targeting Charlotte and North Carolina
Watch my interview with Blaine Greenfield of Blaine's World where I speak to the humanity of being a Federal Immigration Judge.
Customs Border Patrol Seeks to Expand Presence Charlotte, NC
The Trump administration plans to further expand the presence of immigration agents in American cities, deploying the U.S. Border Patrol to Charlotte, N.C., and New Orleans, according to a government document and a federal official with knowledge of the plan. (November 12, 2025 Source NYT TIMES).
Immigration lawyer: ‘Passion isn’t enough anymore’
A deluge of cases, the termination of immigration judges and rapid-fire changes to laws create a perfect storm for immigration courts. Read the full article by clicking here.
Immigrants with health conditions may be denied visas under new Trump administration guidance
Foreigners seeking visas to live in the U.S. might be rejected if they have certain medical conditions, including diabetes or obesity, under a Thursday directive from the Trump administration. Click here to read the full article.
Annual Asylum Fee Halted by Federal Court
On Oct. 30, 2025, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland issued an order in Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, et al., SAG-25-03299 (D. Md.), temporarily staying the Annual Asylum Fee (AAF) implementation provisions by USCIS as provided in the notice titled “USCIS Immigration Fees Required by HR-1 Reconciliation Bill” and published in the Federal Register (90 FR 34511 (FRN)) on July 22, 2025. USCIS strongly disagrees with the Court’s order but will follow its terms pending possible further judicial review.
Trump Administration Appoints Military Lawyers to Immigration Courts
November 7, 2025
NPR reports that the Trump Administration has dismissed dozens of immigration judges (IJs) while hiring new ones, reshaping the immigration court system. The largest share of judges fired had prior experience representing immigrants, while many of the new hires have backgrounds in immigration enforcement, the military, or federal service. Former IJs told NPR this pattern raises concerns about judicial independence and due process. For more information on this topic, see AILA’s policy brief examining how recent immigration court policy changes have prioritized speed and enforcement over fairness and accuracy.
New Decision by BIA Makes Asylum More Difficult
November 4, 2025: In Matter of C–I–G–M– & L–V–S–G– (2025), the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) held that asylum seekers affected by Asylum Cooperative Agreements (ACAs) must now prove that they are “more likely than not” to face persecution or torture in a third country — before they can even apply for asylum in the United States.
This new decision will make it very difficult for asylum seekers to apply for Asylum in the United States. Now the asylum seeker will have to prove ‘more likely than not,” before applying for asylum in the United States, that they will also face persecution in any other third country where the United States has an ACA agreement. In short, this is nothing short of an end run by the Trump Administration to evade the Asylum laws of the United States and under the 1967 UN Protocol that was ratified by the US Senate. Persons seeking to apply for asylum can schedule a consultation with Pappas Legal PLLC to review their specific case.
No One Is Safe
Dear Judge Pappas,
November 1, 2025
Our Massachusetts community holds deep appreciation for you. Your care, courage, and integrity continue to inspire us in our shared work toward collective liberation.
I also hope that you receive justice. No one should lose their position for upholding due process and the principles of fairness. I choose to believe that this injustice will one day be repaired.
Thank you for continuing to use your professional skills in service of justice as now the principal owner of Pappas Legal, PLLC. Your ongoing dedication shows that integrity and compassion remain powerful forces for good.
Please keep shining your light, and know that our community will always welcome you with open arms. Your contributions have left a lasting mark on us all.
Lorena Betts
Chelmsford Connect & MA State Representative Candidate (Middlesex County)
DHS Ends Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security has announced an interim final rule ending the practice of automatically extending employment authorization documents for aliens filing renewal applications in certain employment authorization categories. With this rule, DHS prioritizes the proper screening and vetting of aliens before extending the validity of their employment authorizations.
Aliens who file to renew their EAD on or after Oct. 30, 2025, will no longer receive an automatic extension of their EAD. There are limited exceptions to this rule, including extensions provided by law or through a Federal Register notice for TPS-related employment documentation. Ending automatic extensions of EADs results in more frequent vetting of aliens who apply for employment authorization to work in the United States. Reviewing an alien’s background more often will enable U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to deter fraud and detect aliens with potentially harmful intent so they can be processed for removal from the United States.
UPDATE: USCIS IMPLEMENT ELECTRONIC FEE PAYMENTS TODAY
WASHINGTON— As previously announced, on Oct. 28, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will only accept electronic payments for paper-filed forms. Payments may be made either via credit card or debit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, or ACH debit transactions from a U.S. bank account using Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH transactions.
USCIS Implements New Fee Payment Requirement
Checks and Money Order Will No Longer Be Accepted by USCIS for payment of application filing fees
October 27, 2025
Alert: USCIS has implemented a new way to pay fees using electronic debit from a U.S. bank account. Effective immediately, individuals can make transactions directly to USCIS by completing and signing Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions, and filing it with their applications, petitions, or requests. USCIS will continue to accept paper check and money order payments in addition to credit and debit payments until Oct. 28, 2025.After Oct. 28, USCIS will accept only ACH debit transactions using Form G-1650 or credit card payments using Form G-1450 for forms filed by paper without an exemption. USCIS continues to accept online payments for forms filed online.
USCIS Implements New Immigration Parole Fee Required by H.R. 1
TRAVEL ALERT!
Release Date
10/25/2025
The Department of Homeland Security is publishing a Federal Register notice to implement a new immigration parole fee required by the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill. The fee is $1,000 for FY 2025 and is subject to annual adjustments for inflation. You must pay this fee when you are paroled into the United States, unless you qualify for an exception.
Before leaving the United States consult our lawyers about the new fees and other risks. Click here to schedule your consultation.
Oct. 23, 2025 - TRAVEL ALERT: On October 16th, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the implementation of an additional $1,000 fee for individuals granted parole. This policy applies to DACA Advance Parole applicants (as well as other applicants for parole and parole in place) and there are confirmed reports of DACA recipients with Advance Parole being charged $1,000 to re-enter the United States.
Inside a family farm caught between an immigration and labor crisis
Top immigration official on increased scrutiny of visa applicants
ICE Operation Targeting Minors
10/15/25
Government agencies are asking unaccompanied children to sign a form declaration that waives various fundamental rights and legal protections, and could subject them to future criminal prosecution, as a condition of accepting voluntary departure.
The agencies are using two versions of this form declaration, one of which is labeled “Addendum to Form I-210—Alien Declaration.” Note there are important differences between the two versions and the consequences that may result from signing. While we know these forms have been given to some minors we do not know how widely they are being used or if DHS and ORR are using just one or both forms. The agency has not confirmed it.
Unaccompanied children should not sign this form without having an attorney review the documents and receiving legal counsel on how to proceed.
USCIS Neighborhood Investigations Memo
October 14, 2025
Applicants for US Citizenship and Legal Permeant Residency take note:
The Neighborhood Investigations Memo states that USCIS will end the general waiver of neighborhood investigations and will make the decision to conduct such investigations on a discretionary, case-by-case basis. There has been no information regarding training of officers to conduct these investigations, and no reports of investigations that have occurred thus far.
The memo indicates that investigations will not only include neighborhood inquiries, but can also include inquires of employers, co-workers, and/or business associates. Notably, USCIS states that the applicant may be required to provide contact information for these individuals if USCIS is unable to contact them directly. Clients are that these visits are a possibility.
Consult with our lawyers before you apply for U.S. Citizenship, new rules have been implemented, and new risks operate. Click here to schedule your consultation.
District Court Rules International Students Have the Same Free Speech Protections as American Citizens
September 30, 2025
On September 30, 2025, US District Judge William G. Young ruled that the Trump administration’s policy of targeting noncitizen students and faculty for arrest and deportation based on their pro-Palestinian political speech violated the First Amendment.
”This case -– perhaps the most important ever to fall within the jurisdiction of this district court –- squarely presents the issue whether non-citizens lawfully present here in United States actually have the same free speech rights as the rest of us. The Court answers this Constitutional question unequivocally “yes, they do.” “No law” means “no law.” The First Amendment does not draw President Trump’s invidious distinction and it is not to be found in our history or jurisprudence. See Section III.A infra. No one’s freedom of speech is unlimited, of course, but these limits are the same for both citizens and non-citizens alike.”