As shared by ABC news and other outlets in X: The Supreme Court has rejected President Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship in the U.S. by executive order, reaffirming more than a century of legal precedent and national tradition that babies born on American soil are automatically American citizens
According to CBS News on X: When asked whether he would accept a Supreme Court ruling against his administration's position on birthright citizenship, President Trump said he would respect the Court's decision because it is the nation's highest court.
At the same time, he argued that birthright citizenship is harmful to the United States, claiming it is costly and that most other countries do not have a similar policy. Trump said he believes the country would be better off if the Supreme Court does not uphold the current interpretation of birthright citizenship but acknowledged that the final decision rests with the justices.
According to a post on X: President Trump said the upcoming Supreme Court decision on birthright citizenship is "a very big" case and argued that the 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause was intended to address the status of children born to formerly enslaved people after the Civil War, not modern-day immigration.
President Trump acknowledged that the Supreme Court may rule against his position but emphasized that he believes the birthright citizenship case is one of the most important immigration issues before the Court.
All eyes are on the supreme court, whichever decision they come up with will be massive from either side
July Visa Bulletin is out and applicants from Row and Mexico can celebrate after stagnation in the last 2 months Visa Bulletin. Previous Visa Bulletin was 1st June 2024 now it's 1st August 2024
China has 4 + months movement. Previous was 1st August 2021 now it has jumped up to 22nd December 2021. India had a 2 week movement However Philippines stagnated and it remains on 1st August 2023
As reported by CNN and posted on X, a federal judge has struck down President Donald Trump's requirement that H-1B visa applicants pay a $100,000 application fee.
U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled that the administration did not have the legal authority to impose the fee, stating that only Congress can make changes to federal immigration law that create new financial requirements. In his decision, the judge described the fee as a tax and concluded that Congress had never delegated that power to the executive branch.
The administration argued that existing immigration laws gave the president broad authority to modify immigration policies. However, Sorokin rejected that argument, finding that those laws do not authorize a president to levy fees of this nature on H-1B petitions.
The ruling blocks the policy and reinforces the principle that major changes to immigration fees and requirements must come from Congress rather than unilateral executive action.
My question is will applicants still pay the fee or follow the courts ruling? What happens to the new applicants?
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A federal judge blocked a series of Trump administration measures that have prevented federal officials from granting asylum, green cards and other legal immigration benefits to many immigrants.
One of the policies McConnell invalidated had halted all legal immigration applications filed by citizens of 39 countries listed on President Trump's so-called "travel ban" list, which restricts travel from countries whose nationals the administration says are too difficult to properly screen.
The Trump administration adopted the measures late last year on national security grounds, following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington.
The pause has largely banned USCIS from giving out green cards, work permits, American citizenship and other benefits to citizens of the affected countries.
In his order, McConnell noted the immigrants affected by the policies he found unlawful "filed the appropriate paperwork, paid the required filing fees, submitted to the requested biometrics collections, and attended the necessary in person interviews."
As for many immigrants who were locked out this is good news but the biggest question is ,Will President Trump administration honour the ruling, and commence processing visas for applicants from 39 countries?
Lastly will the Trump administration appeal the ruling?
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to make a ruling on birthright citizenship by the end of this month: a legal issue centered on the 14th Amendment. President's Trump administration's position argue that the amendment was originally intended to guarantee citizenship for formerly enslaved people after the Civil War and was not meant to automatically grant citizenship to children of individuals who are in the U.S. unlawfully or only temporarily. Their argument focuses on the phrase "subject to the jurisdiction thereof," contending that physical presence alone does not establish eligibility for citizenship at birth.
Opponents argue that for more than 150 years, U.S. law has generally recognized citizenship for anyone born on American soil, regardless of their parents' immigration status. They point to the 1898 Supreme Court case Wong Kim Ark, which affirmed birthright citizenship for a child born in the United States to non-citizen parents, as well as language in the Immigration and Nationality Act that recognizes citizenship at birth for individuals born in the U.S. and subject to its jurisdiction. The Court's decision could have significant implications for how the Constitution, federal law, and longstanding legal precedent are interpreted.
As a community we await which direction the ruling will take🏃
According to the associated Press post on X: An internal memo indicates embassies and consulates in Africa that process visa applications will be reduced from 50 to 20 regional processing hubs
The U.S. government is planning a major restructuring of visa processing operations across Africa. It has also scaled back personnel at embassies and consulates around the world.
The new rules mean that a citizen of a non-hub country will have to travel to one of the 20 approved sites, which could pose formidable travel challenges and costs, However Consular sections in non-hub countries will stay open but be limited in the services they can offer. They will still be able to assist American citizens with passport renewals and emergency consular requests as well as special national interest cases and diplomatic visa applications.
If finalized, applicants from countries without a designated hub may need to travel to another country to attend visa interviews or complete processing, potentially adding significant travel costs, logistical challenges, and longer wait times. While consular sections in non-hub countries would remain open, their services would be limited primarily to assisting U.S. citizens, handling emergency cases, national-interest matters, and diplomatic visas. designated processing hubs are expected to include locations such as Nairobi, Accra, Addis Ababa, Lagos, Kampala, Kigali, Johannesburg, Dakar, and several other regional centers across the continent.
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For the last 2 months EB3 has remained stagnant for ROW, Mexico and the Philippines.
China and India had a slight movement of 6 & 4 weeks respectively.
EB1& EB2 remain current for ROW, Mexico and the Philippines while EB1 & EB2 China remained stagnant and India had some movements.
According to a recent interview on Just the News and shared on X: USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said that U.S. citizenship is one of the most precious gifts and emphasized that immigrants should be fully assimilated before becoming citizens.
Edlow stated that applicants should be able to speak, understand, and write English, and also be attached to our principles and Constitution. He argued that these standards were weakened under the previous administration and said the current administration is taking major steps to restore them.
The big question is, what does it mean by assimilation in practice?
We are awaiting June Visa Bulletin probably next week: I know in this community we have different understandings in terms of knowledge and expertise when it comes to Visa Bulletin. Many might be in this process and their attorneys or agencies do everything for them, their main involvement in the process is to pay fees when called upon by their lawyers.
Allow me to explain the importance of understanding the Visa Bulletin for the EB-3 process, other employment based categories, and those other Visa categories that depend on Visa Bulletin for the process to move forward. Every applicant must know how to read the Visa bulletin.
First you must understand: There are two charts: Chart A is called Final Action Dates(FAD) and Chart B is called Dates for Filing. If you're outside the US and going through consular processing, you always use Chart A. It's also known as Priority Dates to most applicants. The Final Action Dates tell you when your green card can be approved.
If you're inside the US and doing Adjustment of status(AOS) it's different. Every month, USCIS posts a link telling you which chart you're allowed to use.For example in April Visa Bulletin applicants were instructed to use Chart B in adjusting status while May Visa bulletin applicants were asked to use Chart A. Point to note; you have to check that link every single month because it can change, and that's the difference between the two charts in the visa bulletin.
In conclusion if you are in Europe, Africa,Asia etc and you are following up Visa process for the US you use Chart A while those already in the US doing Adjustment of status Chart B is yours but remember it changes each month.
According to a video posted on X, sec Rubio during a press briefing in the White house he said "My hope for America is what it's always been. I think it's the hope I hope we all share. We want it to continue to be the place where anyone from anywhere can achieve anything."
"Where you're not limited by the circumstances of your birth, by the colour of your skin, by your ethnicity, but frankly, it's a place where you are able to overcome challenges and achieve your full potential.
But it is a unique and exceptional country, and as we come upon this 250-year anniversary, I think we have a lot to learn and be proud of in our history. It is one of perpetual and continuous improvement, where each generation has done its part to bring us closer to fulfilling the vision that the founders of this country had upon its founding."
According to a video posted on X: DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the administration is continuing immigration enforcement at full speed, but with a lower public profile.
He stated that authorities are “not slowing down a bit,” emphasizing a continued focus on undocumented immigrants nationwide. Mullin noted that more than 1,900 individuals were arrested in a single day, with over 60,000 currently in detention undergoing deportation proceedings. He also added that more than 2,700 people were deported in the previous week.
Mullin suggested that while the pace of enforcement hasn’t changed, the approach has shifted slightly, including increased coordination with local entities. He stressed that operations remain ongoing and that the administration is “pushing as hard as we can,” just in a more subdued and strategic manner.
According to a video shared on X, CBS News reports that USCIS has begun implementing enhanced security screenings for immigration applicants. Internal government documents indicate the changes started after the FBI granted USCIS expanded access to its criminal history database, following an executive order issued by the President in February.
The report notes that applicants for green cards, renewals, and citizenship may now face more thorough vetting. San Diego-based immigration attorney said recent interviews feel noticeably different compared to previous weeks, suggesting a shift in how cases are being handled.
In a statement, USCIS confirmed the update, saying it has introduced new security checks to strengthen applicant screening through broader access to federal criminal databases. The agency added that while some delays in decisions may occur, they are expected to be temporary as the enhanced vetting process is implemented.
As per the screenshot from X: #USCISPause has been trending on X as a result of public outcry among immigrant community.
A growing number of legal immigrants are speaking out about what many are calling the #USCIS pause: Delays and stalled processing that are leaving AOS, employment-based green card, and other applicants stuck in uncertainty for months.
One immigrant shared on X that after spending years studying in the U.S. and completing a PhD, they hoped to contribute their skills and education to the country. Instead, they say their immigration case has been left in limbo with no clear timeline, even with premium processing involved. The person expressed frustration that many affected applicants followed the legal process, passed security checks, and complied with immigration rules, yet are now facing indefinite delays.
There have also been concerns about increased case reviews and additional vetting measures slowing down processing across different categories. Cases appear frozen without updates, work authorisation renewals are delayed, and families are struggling to plan their futures while waiting for movement on their applications while USCIS has not publicly labeled it a broad “pause,” many applicants feel the system has significantly slowed down compared to previous years.
Is anyone else here experiencing long delays, unexplained holds, or stalled USCIS processing lately?
In a recent interview shared on X: USCIS Director, Joseph Edlow said immigration fraud within the U.S. immigration system has been widespread for decades.
Edlow said the unit will be focused specifically on immigration and naturalization fraud cases. The investigators will be deployed to field offices across the country to investigate fraudulent applications and abuse within the legal immigration system.
What do you think? will increased fraud investigations delay the process farther or could it improve the process for legitimate applicants?
According to a video shared by senator Tim Kaine on X: " We should never lose sight of the fact that our Immigrants communities make us stronger every day."
Tim Kaine said that many anti-immigration proposals at the state level are failing because businesses are pushing back against them. According to Kaine, employers are warning that restrictive immigration policies are contributing to labour shortages in industries such as agriculture, construction, and healthcare.
Kaine also said the country should support immigrant communities while still respecting immigration laws. He plans to continue advocating for immigrants at the federal level, arguing that immigrants play an important role in the U.S. economy and society.
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to resume processing green card applications for dozens of immigrants from countries currently affected by the travel ban, a decision that could also open the door for others impacted by the policy to have their cases reviewed.
The lawsuit involves 83 immigrants already living legally in the US and challenges a USCIS policy that halted applications from people tied to 39 countries facing full travel bans or visa restrictions. In his ruling, Maryland District Judge George L. Russell III stated that USCIS cannot simply refuse to process applications altogether and directed the agency to continue adjudicating the cases.
In the 39-page decision issued friday and made public Monday, Judge Russell described the freeze as an unlawful and indefinite suspension of green card processing. He noted that many of the plaintiffs had already been legally residing in the U.S. for years, with some living there for more than a decade while maintaining lawful immigration status.
The ruling requires USCIS to restart work on the affected applications, though the judge stopped short of forcing the agency to issue decisions within 30 days because the cases are at different stages of review. While the order restores the normal processing system that existed before the freeze, it does not guarantee approvals or denials — only that USCIS must move forward and make decisions on the applications.
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As posted on X:, The proposed bill introduced would end OPT and H-4 work permit and pause new H-1B for 3 years. and would rotate the current crop of visa holders out of the U.S. during the pause.
The cap on visas issued would be reduced from 65,000 to 25,000, the existing exemptions to the cap would be eliminated, and the allowance of two three-year visa terms would be reduced to just one. Applicants would be required to have a foreign residence to which they intend to return when their terms are up, instead of continuing to live in the U.S.
Employers would also be faced with stricter guidelines, with companies seeking to import H-1B visa holders being required to attest that they are unable to find a qualified American worker for that position, that bringing in a foreigner would not adversely affect American workers, and that they have not laid off workers in the previous year and will not lay any off in the following year
If the bill passes, the USCIS would be required to distribute H-1B visas according to the highest wages offered as opposed to a lottery system.
H-1B workers would also be barred from being employed by more than one company at a time. Third-party employers, or staffing agencies, would be barred from employing them.
In an interview with Newsmax posted on X; USCIS director Joseph Edlow when asked about last quarter green card approvals under the Biden and Trump administrations were over 200,000 and 9,000, respectively. She further asked if they are looking for fraud and re- vetting approvals that were made under Biden administration.
The USCIS director responded by saying what they are doing is to go back and look at many of those approvals to make the determination whether these people are supposed to receive the benefits. He also Said "We are re-vetting previous green card approvals to combat fraud.”