
US Supreme Court Defines Close Family Relationship and Rules on Hawaii’s Court Injunction
In response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling defining close family relationship, on July 13, 2017 the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii modified its preliminary injunction to include as close family members grandparents, grandchildren, brother and sister – in laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Guidance on the Travel Ban
On June 14, 2017 the President issued a memorandum to implement the second executive order in 72 hours. On June 26, 2017 the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) issued the following guidance…

The American Immigration Council’s Overview of the Abuses That Resulted From the 287(g) Program
Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act became law as part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (also known as IIRAIRA). It allows state and local police officers to collaborate with the federal government to enforce federal immigration laws. According to the Council, in the past the program was costly and diverted state and local officers away from serious criminals.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association Comments on the President’s Proposal for a Border Wall
According to the statistics provided by AILA, the U.S. already spends $20 billion on immigration enforcement each year. These funds have contributed to having record numbers of ICE and CBP agents on the border, and hundreds of miles already being fenced. Furthermore, the average number of people being deported is over 400,000 each year.

Updates on the Travel Ban and Ninth Circuit Respond to Travel Ban
On February 3, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington issued a temporary restraining order on the travel ban, prohibiting the federal government from enforcing travel restrictions contained in President Trump’s Executive Order of January 27, 2018 on a nation-wide basis. The previously revoked visas were reversed and all Custom and Border Protection offices were instructed to immediately resume inspection and admission of travelers from the affected countries.

AILA’s Analysis of Secretary Kelly’s Memoranda Implementing the President’s Executive Orders
AILA points out that the two Kelly’s Memoranda call for: Massive detention by requiring anyone apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security to be detained, even those with no criminal conviction, until they are removed, released according to statutes, obtain valid legal status, are found to have a credible fear, or are paroled.

AILA Analyzes President Trump’s Executive Order on Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States
The American Immigration Lawyers Association issued an analysis of President Trump’s Executive Order 13766 stating that it defines the enforcement priorities broadly and puts every undocumented individual at risk for deportation, including families, long-time residents, Dreamers, and those with no criminal history. Because the priorities are not ranked, it includes everyone without status.

The Effects of Trump’s Executive Order Protecting the Nation from Terrorists, also known as “the Muslim Ban”
According to a summary provided by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the effects of the ban differ according to the visa category. The affected countries discussed below include Chad, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Yemen.

Trump’s Executive Order Protecting Nation From Foreign Terrorist
The visa issuance program plays a crucial role in detecting individuals with terrorist ties. Since the September 11, 2001 attack, improvements in vetting visa applicants have resulted in numerous foreign-born individuals being convicted of terrorist-related crimes. Deteriorating conditions in the world make it more likely that terrorists will use any means possible to enter the United States. The United States must make sure it does not admit anyone who bears a hostile attitude toward it.

Shake Up at the State Department
Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson’s job just got harder when the entire senior management staff at the State Department resigned. The biggest loss was Patrick Kennedy, who was the number 2 man in charge, and had been at his job for nine years through both Republican and Democrat administrations.