CBP Seeks Continuous-Flow Facial Biometrics for Global Entry at 38 U.S. Airports
Cities and States Sue to Block Trump Administration’s New “Public Charge” Green Card Rule
Federal Judge Blocks DHS Rule Ending ‘Duration of Status’ for F-1 and J-1 Visa Holders
Latest News
Federal Judge Halts DHS Rule Limiting International Students to Four-Year Stays
A Boston federal judge on September 14 blocked DHS from imposing fixed four-year limits on F-1 and J-1 visas, preserving the long-standing “duration of status” framework. The injunction spares universities and employers from immediate visa-extension burdens and maintains predictable pathways from OPT to work visas while litigation proceeds.
White House Clears DHS Proposal to Add New Fees to Optional Practical Training
OIRA has finished reviewing DHS’s proposed rule to impose new government fees on students seeking Optional Practical Training. The unpublished draft is expected to add around US$650 to each OPT and STEM OPT application, with broader cost implications for employers recruiting U.S.-educated foreign graduates.
Texas Landowners File Suit to Halt $46 Billion Big Bend Border Wall Expansion
A coalition of Big Bend landowners sued DHS on 14 September to block new border-wall construction, saying the project ignores low apprehension rates and threatens the region’s tourism-based economy. The case could slow or reshape border-infrastructure plans impacting travel and trade in West Texas.
States mount parallel legal assault on public-charge rule in federal court
A 22-state coalition led by New York filed its own federal lawsuit yesterday to block DHS’s stricter public-charge rule, arguing it will chill lawful benefit use and saddle states with higher health-care costs. The dual suits from cities and states boost the chances of a nationwide injunction before the rule’s September 18 start, creating compliance whiplash for employers preparing green-card cases.
22 States and Several Cities Sue to Block New ‘Public Charge’ Green-Card Rule
A coalition of 22 states and multiple cities filed suit on 14 September to stop DHS’s tougher ‘public charge’ rule, scheduled for 18 September, arguing it exceeds statutory authority and harms public health. If the rule proceeds, employers sponsoring green cards will face stricter documentation and higher adjudication risk.
DHS Floats $103,265 Filing Fee for Every Cap-Subject H-1B Petition
A DHS proposal released September 14 would impose a US $103,265 surcharge on every cap-subject H-1B petition, multiplying overall filing costs and threatening the viability of the H-1B lottery for many employers. The unusually short 30-day comment period ends September 24, and lawsuits are expected. Companies may need to rethink FY 2027 hiring strategies and explore cap-exempt or offshore alternatives if the fee is finalized.
State Department Resumes Diversity Visa Interviews After Court Orders; Clock Ticking Toward September 30 Deadline
After court orders ended a months-long pause, the State Department has scheduled 147 Diversity Visa interviews but has only completed 11, with just two weeks left before visas expire on September 30. Consulates are contacting applicants, yet plaintiffs warn the pace is too slow and seek court-ordered acceleration—leaving DV-linked employees and their sponsors in limbo.
Federal Judge Halts DHS Rule That Would Replace “Duration of Status” With Fixed Visa Expirations
A federal judge issued a nationwide injunction on Sept. 14 blocking DHS from replacing the open-ended “duration of status” admission period with fixed visa expirations for F-1, J-1 and I visa holders. The decision averts immediate disruption for international students, scholars and the employers that hire them for OPT/STEM OPT, but the litigation—and policy uncertainty—continues.
22 States Sue to Block DHS “Public Charge” Rule Set to Take Effect Sept 18
A multistate coalition sued DHS on Sept. 14 to block a broadened public-charge rule that could deny green cards for almost any use of public benefits. The litigation, filed four days before the rule’s effective date, creates operational uncertainty for employers finalizing green-card cases and could chill immigrant talent retention if allowed to proceed.
ICE Arrests Hit Record High But Deportations Stall, Highlighting Logistical Bottlenecks
Reuters data show ICE arrests soared to a record 51,000 in August, yet daily deportations stayed flat. The mismatch stems from due-process backlogs, aircraft shortages and receiving-country limits, illustrating the logistical ceiling on mass removals and raising compliance risks for U.S. employers with foreign staff.
International Arrivals to the U.S. Rose 2.7 % in June; Business Travel Still Lagging Pre-COVID Levels
NTTO’s latest data, released Sept. 14, show modest recovery: foreign arrivals climbed 2.7 % year-on-year in June, led by Mexico and Canada, yet overseas business travel remains below 2019 benchmarks. The uneven rebound has implications for visa processing, airfare budgets and U.S. cities that depend on high-spend corporate visitors.
Court Vacates State Department Pause on Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries, Forcing Consulates to Reopen Cases
The State Department confirmed on Sept. 14 that its immigrant-visa issuance pause for 75 countries is no longer in effect after a federal court vacated the policy. Roughly 43,000 refused cases will be reopened, offering relief to employers and families but adding workload to already backlogged consulates.
White House Clears DHS Proposal to Add Fee for Optional Practical Training Applications
OIRA has completed its review of DHS’s forthcoming rule to impose a new fee on OPT applications, paving the way for Federal Register publication. While the dollar figure is not yet public, the rule’s “economically significant” label suggests a potentially high cost for employers that hire international graduates.
Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers Airport Adds Weekly Global Entry Enrollment Center Starting October 8
CBP will launch a once-a-week Global Entry enrollment center at Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport starting Oct 8. The Sept 14 announcement gives Oklahoma-based business travelers a local option for interviews, potentially shortening enrollment wait times and improving trip efficiency.