U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Updates
Current Updates
"On Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, which directed the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that aliens comply with their duty to register with the government under section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1302), and ensure that failure to comply with the registration requirement is treated as a civil and criminal enforcement priority.
The INA requires that, with limited exceptions, all aliens 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a U.S. visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer, must apply for registration and fingerprinting. Similarly, parents and legal guardians of aliens below the age of 14 must ensure that those aliens are registered. Within 30 days of reaching his or her 14th birthday, all previously registered aliens must apply for re-registration and to be fingerprinted.
Once an alien has registered and appeared for fingerprinting (unless waived), DHS will issue evidence of registration, which aliens over the age of 18 must carry and keep in their personal possession at all times."You should review the USCIS website to see if the registration requirement applies to you or your dependents. We recommend you consult an immigration attorney if you have questions.
From
Press Release on April 2, 2025:
"U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that it only recognizes two biological sexes, male and female......USCIS will not deny benefits solely because the benefit requestor did not properly indicate his or her sex. However, USCIS does not issue documents with a blank sex field, and does not issue documents with a sex different than the sex as generally evidenced on a birth certificate issued at the time of birth (or issued nearest to the time of birth). Therefore, if a benefit requestor does not indicate his or her sex or indicates a sex different from the sex on his or her birth certificate issued at the time of birth (or issued nearest to the time of birth), there may be delays in adjudication.
USCIS may provide notice to benefit requestors if it issues a USCIS document reflecting a sex different than that indicated by the benefit requestor on the request."
Alerts from the USCIS website, as of April 23, 2025: - "On Feb. 20, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem partially vacated the July 1, 2024, notice that extended and redesignated Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The announcement amends the period of extension and redesignation of Haiti for TPS from 18 months to 12 months, with a new end date of Aug. 3, 2025, and makes a corresponding change to the initial registration period for new applicants under the redesignation, which will now remain in effect through Aug. 3, 2025..."
- "By Federal Register notice, the Department of Homeland Security has extended through Aug. 3, 2025, the validity of certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries under the designation of Haiti...
...It is important to timely re-register during the re-registration period and not wait until your EAD expires. If you wait to re-register, it could cause gaps in your employment authorization documentation..."
Additional Resources
Alerts from the USCIS website, as of April 23, 2025: - "The Administration is committed to restoring the rule of law with respect to Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Nonetheless, on March 31, 2025, Judge Edward Chen, a federal judge in San Francisco, ordered the department to continue TPS for Venezuelans. See National TPS Alliance, et al., v. Kristi Noem et al., No. 3:25-cv-01766 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 31, 2025). The court did so even though the TPS statute says that TPS decisions are not subject to judicial review..."
- On Feb. 5, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under the 2023 designation for Venezuela was published in the Federal Register..."
- "On Feb. 3, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s vacatur of the Jan. 17, 2025, notice that extended a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Venezuela was published in the Federal Register..."
Additional Resources
From Alert on USCIS website as of April 23, 2025:"U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today posted a Federal Register notice for public inspection establishing procedures for certain Hong Kong residents covered by Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) that will be valid through Feb. 5, 2027. The notice automatically extends through Feb. 5, 2027, the validity of current Hong Kong DED-related EADs with an expiration date of Feb. 5, 2023, or Feb. 5, 2025, and a Category Code of A11. Employees may present this EAD as evidence of identity and employment authorization for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification..."
Additional Resources
This website is not intended to serve as legal advice and is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney. If you are experiencing legal issues related to your immigration record, please consult an experienced immigration lawyer or recognized/accredited organization or representative for legal advice or for legal assistance. If you're not sure where to begin with finding an attorney, then check the ISSS Legal Resources page.
