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
https://lnkd.in/dyaNtQKe
https://lnkd.in/d-MbymMS
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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.”