Like many around the country, Norris McLaughlin has spent the last six months closely monitoring the ongoing situation related to the global COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on business operations. During this time, as we shifted our long-standing brick and mortar office operations to 100% remote capacity, our highest priority has been the health and safety of our employees, clients, and office visitors. As we continue to face the challenges of this pandemic, we have maintained a steadfast commitment to providing a high level of service that our clients have come to expect.
As we monitor and follow each state’s plan for reopening, it is important to note that the return dates for each of our offices differ and they have shifted as dictated by the health and welfare of our local communities, in conjunction with the direction and guidance of each state's governor, our local building managers, and the CDC.
To better help you prepare for the reopening of your own businesses, we established a new information source – the COVID-19: Back to Business Center — to provide the most current and up-to-date guidance and resources at your fingertips for how to best and most safely get “back to business.” Click here to discover more on our website! #COVID19 #ReturnToWork #BackToBusiness
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
Law Firm Serving New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
On September 29, a federal judge for the Northern District of California issued a nationwide injunction blocking the USCIS from implementing their fee increase rule that had been set to take effect today, October 2. The ruling prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing the increased fee rule while the lawsuit challenging the rule continues to be litigated.
Learn what the fee rule would change and how it would affect employers and applicants on our immigration law blog, "Immigration Matters," with the latest post by the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Law Practice Group Chair, Ray Lahoud! #Immigration #Employers #Visas
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
USCIS Fee Increase Blocked by California Federal Judge
Driving PA Forward, along with the students and faculty of Villanova University’s Framework Legal Advocacy Clinic, has released a report that found that Pennsylvania Department of Transportation shares drivers’ personal information without being able to determine how the details revealed are going to be used.
Certain parts of the report were confirmed by PennDOT, while the agency asserted there were some inaccuracies. Find out more from Chair of the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Law Practice Group, Ray Lahoud, on our immigration law blog, “Immigration Matters!” #PA #Immigration
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
Driving PA Forward Finds PennDOT Sharing Drivers’ Personal Information
May you have an easy fast. #YomKippur
On September 11, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services extended the flexibilities to help applicants, petitioners, and requestors who must respond to various requests raised by the agency.
The flexibility was originally announced on March 30 in response measure to the coronavirus pandemic and has since been extended two more times, making this extension the third. Discover more from the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Law Practice Group Chair, Ray Lahoud, with his latest blog post on our immigration law blog, "Immigration Matters!" #Immigration #Naturalization #ForeignInvestment
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
Flexibility in Responding to USCIS Requests Extended
Ray Lahoud, Chair of the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Law Practice Group, was asked to be a virtual guest speaker for the Moravian Academy “Latinos in the Lehigh Valley” class to discuss Lehigh Valley’s immigrant population and communities; the “underground” world that takes advantage of the undocumented immigrant community; and the impact of issues such as document, benefit, and identity fraud on those in the United States lawfully.
On his speaking engagement, Ray said, “I always enjoy speaking to the younger generation about immigration and seeing their passion on the topic. To be able to help educate them on the immigration system and immigration law, as well as speak to them as a child of immigrants reminds me of why I got into this profession and why I love what I do.” Read more on our latest news post! #Immigration #LehighValley #PA
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
Ray Lahoud Speaks to Moravian Academy ‘Latinos in the Lehigh Valley’ Students
ICE has announced the arrests of 15 nonimmigrant students through Operation OPTical Illusion. The students, who claimed to be employed by companies that don’t exist, who were found to have allegedly participated in work visa fraud to extend their stay in the United States.
Under OPT, nonimmigrant students can work in their field of study for a period of one year, and students who participate in STEM programs get an additional 24 months to work in the United States. Earlier this month, DHS proposed a new rule that significantly changed immigration rules for international students in the United States.
Find out more from the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Law Practice Group Chair, Ray Lahoud, on our latest immigration law blog, "Immigration Matters," post! #Immigration #StudentVisa #InternationalStudents
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
ICE Arrests International Students in Operation OPTical Illusion
Please join our attorneys, Ray Lahoud, Rebecca Warren, and William Menard, tomorrow for the free I-9 compliance webinar, “Employee Immigration Verification Before, During, Beyond COVID, and the Inevitable ICE Audit,” hosted by the Lehigh Valley Chamber!
Find out the latest updates to the I-9 verification process resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, recently instituted restrictions on visas for foreign employees, and some of the ways employers can manage these new rules and minimize disruption to their day-to-day operations. Don't forget to register - click here now! #BusinessOwners #Employers #HR #Immigration
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
I-9 Compliance Before, During, Beyond COVID & the Inevitable ICE Audit
The Department of Homeland Security and ICE concluded a targeted enforcement operation, which lasted for a week. The operation resulted in 170+ at-large aliens arrested throughout the United States in cities with sanctuary policies, such as New York; Seattle; Denver; Philadelphia; Baltimore; and Washington, D.C.
In a press release, ICE stated that more than 80% of those arrested had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges at the time of the arrest. Find out more from the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Law Practice Group Chair, Ray Lahoud, on our immigration law blog, "Immigration Matters!" #Immigration #NYC #Philadelphia
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
172 Immigrants Arrested in Sanctuary Cities by ICE in Six Days
Please join our attorneys, Ray Lahoud, Rebecca Warren, and William Menard, for the free I-9 compliance webinar, “Employee Immigration Verification Before, During, Beyond COVID, and the Inevitable ICE Audit,” hosted by the Lehigh Valley Chamber!
Discussion topics will include:
- Latest updates to the I-9 employee immigration verification process resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic
- Recently-instituted restrictions on visas for foreign employees
- Changes to onboarding procedures
- How employees can properly complete I-9 employee immigration verification for both in-person and remote hiring
- Steps that must be taken after hire to ensure ongoing compliance with federal regulations
- The recent White House proclamation putting a freeze on visas for many foreign employees, including executives and managers, health care professionals, and worker specialty occupations
- Some ways employers can manage these new rules and minimize disruption to their day-to-day operations
- PLUS…just released updates from the Department of Labor revising rules for federally mandated Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19
To register, visit our events page now! #BusinessOwners #Employers #HR #Immigration
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
I-9 Compliance Before, During, Beyond COVID & the Inevitable ICE Audit
ICE has launched a billboard campaign in Pennsylvania, with billboards featuring the images of immigration violators who are either charged or convicted of crimes in the United States. This campaign is also aimed at educating the public about the dangers of non-cooperation with immigration policies.
Currently, the billboards are located at six locations in Pennsylvania. Learn more from the Chair of the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Law Practice Group, Ray Lahoud, on our immigration law blog, "Immigration Matters!" #Immigration #ICE #PA
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
ICE Launches Billboards Across PA Seeking Immigration Law Violators
We are a proud sponsor of the Lehigh Valley Chamber's Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 19! For the first time ever, the event is FREE to watch, so don't miss out! Learn more about the event and register to watch here: http://ow.ly/sDl250Ci6Dp #GLVCC #LehighValley #PA
To all our service men and women past and present: thank you for your service, sacrifice, and support. #VeteransDay
ICE is looking for detention sites that can house up to 900 detainees within a 60-mile radius of its New York City, Newark, or Philadelphia field offices, so, although the number of immigrant detainees has considerably decreased in these areas, they are considering building more immigration detention centers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.
Currently, ICE has seven detention centers in New York, five centers in New Jersey, and four centers in Pennsylvania. Learn more from the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Law Practice Group Chair, Ray Lahoud, on our immigration law blog, "Immigration Matters!" #Immigration #NY #NJ #PA
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
ICE Considering Detention Sites in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or New York
Don’t hit snooze on us! Here’s your friendly reminder to fall back one hour tonight. #DaylightSavings #FallBack
A lawsuit seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction has been filed against the new Department of Labor H-1B wage rule that was announced on October 8. Employers seeking to employ foreign workers will have to pay them in accordance with the prevailing wage levels.
The IT companies voiced concerns that most of their contracts with clients are multi-year contracts and another lawsuit is anticipated to challenge a different new H-1B rule changing the definition of specialty occupation, one-year approvals for third-party contractors, etc.
Learn more from the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Law Practice Group Chair, Ray Lahoud, on the latest immigration law blog, "Immigration Matters," post! #Immigration #IT #Employers
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
Lawsuit Filed on the New H-1B Wage Rule and Its Impact on IT Companies
In 2000, Congress created the U visa to encourage victims of criminal activities to come forward and cooperate with law enforcement authorities, to ultimately improve public safety. In exchange for this cooperation, victims can potentially obtain legal status in the United States.
However, the wait to get a U visa approved can run into many years. Currently, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is processing U visa applications from March 2016. Discover more in the latest post by our Immigration Law Practice Group Chair, Ray Lahoud, on our immigration law blog, "Immigration Matters!" http://ow.ly/D7LD50DrGdO #Immigration #HomelandSecurity #Visa
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
USCIS U Visa Program Faces Prolonged Delays From March 2016
If you missed last week's, “Immigration Virtual Town Hall: COVID-19 Travel Restrictions and Updates for Businesses, Health Care Providers, Colleges and Universities, and Individuals,” presented by our immigration attorneys, Ray Lahoud, the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Law Practice Group Chair, and William Menard, the recording is now available!
In the webinar, they discussed COVID-19 travel restrictions on visas and travel to the United States and the effects on employers and employees, exceptions to the travel restrictions, and recent updates for 2021. Check it out on our recorded webinars page! http://ow.ly/w3d650Dqkzv #Immigration #InternationalBusiness #Employers
In October 2019, Martine Mbitaze had filed a complaint against the City of Greenbelt alleging that the city had refused to hire her based on her national origin and citizenship status and had engaged in document abuse in violation of 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1324b. On October 1, 2020, the Court granted summary judgment to the City of Greenbelt on the discrimination claims, but found the City engaged in document abuse in that it “asked for, and insisted upon, more documents than required” for Mbitaze, who “is a derivative citizen.”
Learn more from this real-world case in the latest post by the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Law Practice Group Chair, Ray Lahoud, on our immigration law blog, "Immigration Matters!" http://ow.ly/IuUm50Dpxd9 #Immigration #Discrimination #Employers
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
ALJ Declines to Award Damages, Civil Penalties in Document Abuse Case
This week, a federal judge in Texas issued a 14-day nationwide temporary restraining order blocking the enforcement of President Biden’s 100-day pause on most deportations, Alejandro Mayorkas has been nominated as DHS Secretary, and a second round of executive orders and policy proposals regarding asylum resettlement and reunification of families is expected.
Catch up on the latest immigration law news in the weekly round-up by our immigration attorney, William Menard, on the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Law Blog, "Immigration Matters!" #Immigration #Deportation #Citizenship
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
Weekly Round-Up: Deportation; DHS Leaders; Biden’s Executive Actions
On January 18, the Free Migration Project in Philadelphia and the Austin Sanctuary Network in Texas, joined four undocumented immigrant women living in sanctuary to file a lawsuit against ICE and the DHS. The suit claims that the government unfairly targeted these four women, issuing excessive fines while they were seeking asylum and living in sanctuary in houses of worship.
Discover more in our latest immigration law blog "Immigration Matters" post by the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Law Practice Group Chair, Ray Lahoud! #Immigration #Asylum #Sanctuary
NORRISMCLAUGHLIN.COM
Pennsylvania and Texas Immigration Groups File Lawsuit Against the DHS
