DHS finalizes fixed-stay rule for F-1 and J-1 visas, ending decades-old “duration of status” practice
USCIS Publishes Interim Rule Allowing Affirmative Asylum Cases to Bypass Interviews
Gordie Howe International Bridge opens, creating a new high-capacity US–Canada gateway
Latest News
USCIS Issues 7-Day Extension of Burma TPS Work Permits, Avoiding July 27 Expiration
USCIS has granted a one-week, automatic extension of TPS-based EADs for Burmese nationals, pushing the expiration date from July 27 to August 3, 2026. The emergency step prevents an immediate loss of work authorization while courts and DHS determine the next long-term validity period. Employers must update I-9 files, and Burmese employees should carry a copy of the notice. The episode highlights continuing uncertainty surrounding TPS programs and the need for corporate contingency planning.
Federal Judge Orders ICE to Release Witness in Houston Agent-Involved Shooting
A federal judge in Houston has ordered ICE to release José Trinidad Rojas Pliego, a key witness to a July 7 fatal shooting by an ICE officer, ruling that his detention violates due-process rights. The decision highlights the legal protections available to witnesses with pending U-visa applications and signals closer judicial scrutiny of immigration-enforcement practices.
‘Careworker Visa Act’ introduced in Congress to address U.S. caregiving labor shortages
H.R. 9234, entered into the Congressional Record on 28 July 2026, seeks to create a renewable “W” non-immigrant visa category for childcare, eldercare and disability-support workers. The bill would start with 65,000 visas a year, require Labor Department certification and offer a path to green cards after five years. If enacted, it would formalize a vital segment of the care economy and give multinational employers a regulated option for relocating household caregivers.
State Department Updates Bahamas Travel Advisory Ahead of Peak Hurricane Season
On July 28 the State Department updated its Level-2 advisory for The Bahamas, adding new warnings about violent crime hot-spots, unlicensed water-sports operators, vessel seizures, and hurricane preparedness. U.S. companies sending staff to Nassau or Freeport should brief travelers on the heightened risks and ensure enrollment in STEP.
FAA Awards $23.7 Million to Dallas Love Field for Family-Friendly Terminal Upgrades
The FAA has allocated $23.7 million to Dallas Love Field for terminal upgrades that add nursing suites, sensory-friendly quiet rooms, and wider corridors. The investment, announced July 28, supports rising demand for accessible, family-oriented facilities at a key business-travel airport and reflects federal focus on inclusive mobility infrastructure.
Reuters investigation: ORR data-sharing led ICE to arrest 12,000 children and sponsors
Reuters obtained internal records showing that ORR’s new information-sharing policy with ICE has sparked more than 12,000 arrests of migrant children and their sponsors since 2025. The revelations break with long-standing protections that insulated family reunification from enforcement and create new exposure for employers whose workers act as child sponsors. Companies should assess assignment plans and ensure legal resources are available for affected employees.
USCIS allows asylum officers to bypass interviews and fast-track referrals to immigration court
USCIS published an interim final rule that lets asylum officers refer certain affirmative asylum applications to immigration court without first conducting the traditional interview. The agency hopes the measure will reduce a 1.4 million-case backlog, but it also increases the likelihood that some applicants will enter removal proceedings sooner, potentially losing work authorization and disrupting employers. Global mobility programs should review pending cases and update risk-management protocols.
Ninth Circuit clarifies that children who age-out during BIA appeal cannot support cancellation of removal
The Ninth Circuit held that a child who turns 21 while a BIA appeal is pending no longer counts as a qualifying relative for cancellation of removal. The precedent narrows relief options for non-citizens in lengthy removal cases and could expose long-serving employees to deportation once their children age out, prompting employers to seek alternative immigration strategies.
Federal judge orders ICE to release witness tied to Houston fatal-shooting investigation
A U.S. district judge ordered ICE to release a Mexican national who witnessed a fatal ICE shooting, finding his detention unconstitutional. The high-profile ruling spotlights due-process concerns in immigration enforcement and may affect how foreign-national witnesses are treated, with knock-on effects for employers managing compliance and duty-of-care for immigrant staff.
US Mission in Nigeria steps up #VisaWise campaign amid tighter overstay scrutiny
On July 28, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria warned would-be travelers that CBP—not the visa-expiry date—controls how long they can remain in the United States, highlighting Nigeria’s high overstay rates. The advisory signals ongoing U.S. attention to visa compliance and could presage stricter interview vetting for Nigerian applicants, affecting corporate travel and talent-mobility planning.