In a significant regulatory development, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has rescinded its temporary 540-day automatic extension period for filing certain employment authorization documents (EADs). According to the official guidance, USCIS has reverted to the original 180-day period for certain renewal applicants with timely filed extensions of EADs on or after October 27,…
The UK Supreme Court recently ruled that the UK government’s Rwanda plan is unlawful. Justices deciding the case held that the policy violated section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA), because it is incompatible with human rights standards that the UK is obligated to uphold. The Rwanda plan, an immigration policy used by…
The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of an alliance of top law firms including Baker McKenzie, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and Allen & Overy, in a case against the UK government’s contentious Rwanda deportation policy. This decision affirms that the ruling by the Court of Appeal against the government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to…
Amid increased asylum applications at the eastern border, Finland’s Ministry of the Interior is contemplating imposing restrictions on certain crossing points along its border with Russia in an attempt to halt illegal entries. As per the ministry’s official statement, Russia is accused of permitting individuals to journey across the border without the requisite documentation. This…
In a significant development, Apple has agreed to pay $25 million to settle claims of employment discrimination based on citizenship, as announced by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier this week. The settlement agreement brings a close to the DOJ’s investigation by its Immigration and Employee Rights Section into Apple’s alleged discriminatory hiring and…
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Tuesday a set of reforms aiming to better handle the issue of “irregular migration” in his country. A series of tweets from the official Bundeskanzler account outlined these changes, which include transitioning Germany to a “breathing system” for financing asylum-related costs. As part of this initiative, state allowances will…
The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard arguments on Tuesday over President Joe Biden’s asylum policy that adds restrictions to migrants seeking asylum. The policy assumes that migrants who do not use legal pathways to enter the U.S. are ineligible for asylum. The policy was previously permitted to remain following a decision…
The EU Crisis Regulation is taking center stage as the key element in finalizing the deal on the eagerly awaited Migration and Asylum Pact. Initiated in 2020, the Pact includes five subsidiary laws and regulations. Among these is the EU Crisis Regulation, intended to establish mechanisms for responding to exceptional migration crises, guiding action when…
A proposed French immigration bill has raised eyebrows internationally due to allegations that it compromises on human rights. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the draft guidelines could potentially limit the rights of foreign nationals bound for deportation and tougher standards for adhering to French core values, failing which could result in expulsion. HRW also…
The UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) recently concluded its 139th session, critically evaluating and commenting on the immigration policies of the Biden Administration. The UNHRC reviewed the reports of several countries, including Iran, Kuwait, Republic of Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, the US and Venezuela, finding positive elements but also noting areas of concern and offering…
In a troubling development, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), often known as Doctors Without Borders, has publicized a disturbing report revealing the instances of physical violence experienced by asylum-seekers arriving in Greece. Documented incidents include severe beatings and forced returns to sea. The report consequently urges Greece to intensify its efforts in maritime search and rescue…
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration in Poland has recently announced that they will be extending border checks with Slovakia until November 22. This action was initially taken on October 4 in response to the substantial flow of migrants attempting to enter Poland from Slovakia. Deputy Interior Minister, Maciej Wasik, highlighted the effectiveness of…
Asylum seekers who refuse to be housed on the Bibby Stockholm residential barge, a controversial decision upheld by the UK High Court, now face strict repercussions from the UK Home Office. As reported by Jurist, the Home Office’s new guidelines focus on cutting support for the resistant asylum seekers. Per these recently announced procedures, should…
In a significant development, an agreement has been reached pertaining to migrant family separations that occurred under the Trump administration. The settlement, which provides families with a path to asylum, also enforces an eight-year ban on the controversial “zero tolerance” policy, polish that resulted in the separation of thousands of families. As reported by CNN,…
The Irish Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) recently published a report criticizing the Irish government’s lack of protection for vulnerable children within its international protection system. The special investigation revealed that systemic flaws in inspection standards and limited access to complaints procedures are prevalent within the system that caters to families seeking asylum. The report…
The United Nations (UN) human rights experts have urged Pakistan to abandon its announced plans to deport a significant number of Afghan individuals. Pressure from human rights entities has escalated since the interior minister of Pakistan, Sarfraz Bugti, publicized the deportation intention on October 3. If executed, this move may lead to the removal of…
In a recent ruling, the UK High Court supported the Home Office’s decision to return asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm barge. The Home Office had initially evacuated this barge in August due to a legionella bacteria contamination in its water supply the UK Home Office announced. Local councillor and Portland mayor Carralyn Parkes sought…
The UK government’s appeal case concerning its Rwanda asylum policy commenced on Monday in the UK Supreme Court in a fresh and critical step in the country’s ongoing immigration initiatives. The case saw prolonged legal analysis, as the Home Office attempted to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision in June that deemed the plan unlawful….
In September 2023, significant changes and updates were witnessed in immigration laws both within the United States and globally. As per Cozen O’Connor’s Immigration Catch Up, these changes have the potential to have extensive implications on businesses and individuals alike. As legal professionals, it is crucial to comprehend these new developments and assess how they…
The Australian government announced a new initiative aimed at addressing alleged abuses of its migration and visa system, with a particular focus on deterring human trafficking and organized crime. The initiative comes as a response to a review led by former Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police, Christine Nixon. The review identified several weaknesses and…
In a significant move towards the benefit of employment-authorized noncitizens, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued an update to the USCIS Policy Manual, expanding the maximum validity period to five years for initial and renewal Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). This policy change, which came into effect on September 27, 2023, applies to particular…
Last week, a former member of the Belarusian military Special Operations Forces Reserve (SOBR) known as Yuri Harauski was acquitted in a groundbreaking Swiss trial related to charges of enforced disappearance. The decision was made by the District Court of Rorschach in Switzerland, where Harauski sought asylum in 2019, fearing for his life due to…
Discussing critical legal updates, we commence with the housing reform made to New York city’s zoning regulations. The new initiative, launched by Mayor Adams and titled “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” has been designed with the aim of dispersing housing development and benefits across all neighborhoods. This wide-ranging set of proposals has three main…
Former commander of the Wagner Group, Andrey Medvedev, was arrested in Norway on Friday under suspicion of attempting to illegally cross the Russia border, as reported by the local Norwegian news site the Barents Observer. This incident comes at a time when Medvedev had already sought asylum in Norway this year. Norwegian police in Finnmark…
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi announced a new policy on Friday where asylum seekers will be required to pay $5,259 (€4,938) to avoid detention at a facility while their applications are processed. This move, as detailed in a recent decree, is considered a method of providing a financial guarantee for the right to enter Italy…