Immigration is a hot-button issue these days, as can be witnessed in the contentious battle being raged in Congress and the federal courts over whether or not to keep the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive order of 2012.
Immigration was also the issue President Donald Trump devoted more of his first State of the Union Address to than any other topic, with nearly 650 words. The truth is that immigration law is one of the most confusing types of law we have in this country, and it is constantly evolving, almost to the day.
Comprehensive immigration reform has been on Congress’s agenda for years, but has yet to happen. According to experts at the Council on Foreign Relations, the chances of comprehensive immigration reform occurring any time soon are slim. This unlikelihood is largely due to the deep political divisions in Washington, which are polarized by the President’s views.
But frustration over the inability to achieve immigration reform is hardly new. In fact, DACA has its roots in President Obama’s frustration over Congress’s decade-long inability to pass the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors), which was written to protect children of undocumented immigrants brought here as minors from deportation.
One immigration policy that is likely to face reform is the H-1B visa program. H-1B visas are temporary nonimmigrant visas allotted to a certain number of professional foreign workers each year, so that they can work in “specialty occupation positions.” Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have shown an interest in making changes to this program because they believe it is being exploited by certain companies and prone to fraud in some cases.
Having the representation of an attorney is not required when applying for a U.S. Green Card or an immigrant visa, but it can be very helpful—particularly in certain situations. Immigration law is extremely complicated, and the bureaucracy that oversees it is very dense. A good immigration attorney will know which forms you need to fill out, what documents need to be provided, and what procedures need to be undertaken. In addition, a good immigration lawyer will be up to date on current immigration laws and trends that you may not be aware of. Here are some additional scenarios in which an attorney could prove invaluable:
We understand that this is a serious and complex issue with no quick answers. If you have any questions regarding current immigration law and how it applies to you and your family, please call the experienced New York immigration attorneys at Pollack, Pollack, Isaac & DeCicco, LLP, at 646-779-2896. We are one of few firms that provide deportation defense, and we will meet you at the airport if need be.