The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued an interim final rule that changes how U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services handles immigration applications with invalid signatures.
Global Entry Remains Suspended: Update for International Travelers
On Feb. 22, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it would suspend Global Entry arrival processing nationwide due to the ongoing partial federal government shutdown.
DHS announced the suspension as part of a broader set of emergency measures designed to conserve funding and personnel during the lapse in appropriations. According to DHS
Proposed DHS Rule Would Revise Asylum‑Based Work Authorization Eligibility: Employer Considerations
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule that would, if finalized, restrict work authorization eligibility for asylum applicants.
The Current DHS Shutdown’s Impact on Immigration Agencies
With annual appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) having lapsed on Feb. 14, 2026, immigration stakeholders are again navigating the practical consequences of a DHS-specific shutdown. Despite the current shutdown, most DHS immigration functions continue, but the impact may vary across agencies and programs. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department
USCIS ‘High-Risk’ Country Policy Explained: An Analysis of PM-602-0194 Nearly 60 Days Later
On Jan. 1, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a new policy memorandum that has had wide-ranging effects on immigration benefit processing.
USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Fees Effective March 1, 2026
On Jan. 9, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will publish a final rule increasing USCIS fees for premium processing.
Premium processing provides expedited processing for certain case types for an additional government filing fee.
In the announcement, USCIS stated that the premium process fee increase
H-1B Program Update: DC Court Upholds Presidential Proclamation as DHS Finalizes Wage-Weighted Lottery for FY 2027
Recent developments reflect a coordinated policy shift toward increased executive control over H-1B entry and a structural prioritization of higher-wage positions in the annual H-1B cap process. Both developments remain subject to ongoing and potential litigation. In addition to those updates, the immediate impact of a September 2025 presidential proclamation requiring employers to pay a
DHS Amends Regulations Governing the H-1B Work Visa Selection Process
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its final rule prioritizing the allocation of H-1B visas to higher-skilled and higher-paid workers in the Federal Register on Dec. 29, 2025.
The new rule replaces the random lottery for selecting visa recipients with a process that gives greater weight to those in higher-paid roles with higher
DHS Announces the Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Dec. 12, 2025, that it will terminate Ethiopia’s designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), effective Feb. 13, 2026, following a status review under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Per the DHS release, Ethiopian nationals with no other lawful basis for remaining in the United States have
Comparing the 2025 DHS and DOS Approaches to Public Charge Inadmissibility
In November 2025, both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State (DOS) signaled changes to how the U.S. government will determine whether visa applicants or those seeking permanent residence are “likely to become a public charge.” While both agencies are moving toward a broader, more discretionary approach, their guidance reveals important