Week of September 22–30, 2022

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is on track to process the most employment-based green cards in its history due to extra slots being available from a decrease in family-based green cards during the pandemic. USCIS had issued over 263,000 employment-based green cards by August 31, more than double the usual number, and expects to process all of the 281,507 cards available by the end of the fiscal year on September 30. However, the increased processing rate may not continue without Congress making changes to the employment-based green card caps, which have caused long backlogs for highly educated foreign citizens, especially from India. Proposals to increase the number of employment-based green cards have been hindered by political issues around immigration reform and border security.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' decision not to give advance notice of his flights carrying migrants to other states is causing chaos among immigrant groups and states trying to prepare for their arrival. The lack of notice means they are left scrambling to provide shelter, food, and legal guidance for the migrants. The White House has had to coordinate with states after DeSantis' flights were scheduled to land there. Relief groups are now collaborating and building networks of immigration, legal, and advocacy organizations to deploy services as soon as they receive news of the next flight. These groups have strengthened their coordination in response to the confusion and disorder that DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott's migrant transports are causing. DeSantis has promised to continue flying migrants using $12 million in state funds set aside by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Democratic governors in several states have criticized DeSantis' transports as political stunts.

The Federal Supreme Court in Iraq has declared the Iraq National Oil Company (INOC) unconstitutional and it will no longer be permitted to operate. Established two years ago, the INOC played an important role in facilitating visa processes for oil and gas companies by liaising with the Ministry of Interior. Now that the INOC has been dissolved, it is expected that the Ministry of Oil will establish new mechanisms for private sector companies and government agencies responsible for visa approval to liaise with each other, which may take time to implement. This, combined with current political unrest in Iraq, may cause delays and uncertainty around visa processing for companies in the oil and gas sector. Additionally, companies with oil and gas contracts approved by INOC may need to redraft their contracts to meet new criteria and submit them to a new body within the Ministry of Oil. Further information will be provided to affected clients.

Morocco has thwarted over 40,000 attempts at irregular migration to Europe this year, with border authorities arresting over 7,000 migrants trying to cross into European territory. The Moroccan authorities have dismantled 124 smuggling networks operating at the Kingdom's border this year. Khalid Zerouali, Director of Immigration and Border Surveillance at the Moroccan Institute for Strategic Studies, says these figures "show conclusive results" and reaffirm the Kingdom's commitment to managing migration. Morocco also provides advice and expertise in the fight against irregular migration at the regional and international level. Last month, the EU pledged 500 million euros in aid to support Morocco's migration management efforts.

The number of people relocating to the Netherlands increased in 2021, according to the Immigration & Naturalisation Service (IND). After a drop in the number of residence permit requests in 2020, the majority of approvals in 2021 went to citizens from India, China, the US and Turkey, with 82% of 42,690 family applications approved. The number of international students studying in the Netherlands rose with the IND receiving 20,560 student permit applications. The majority of international students came from China, India and the US. The IND also saw a significant jump in the number of applications for Dutch citizenship, from 43,660 in 2020 to 59,680 in 2021. The Dutch government has outlined measures to deal with the corresponding lack of adequate shelter and housing, including finding 20,000 extra housing places for asylum seekers with a residence permit, while also reducing the number of new asylum seeker arrivals.

Monday, September 26, 2022 GLOBAL IMMIGRATION NEWS ROUND-UP

The Icelandic Directorate of Immigration is limiting the issuance of residence cards, instead issuing letters confirming the issuance of residence permits to those who need to travel abroad. Applicants must send valid travel documentation, such as a plane ticket, to confirm their need to travel. However, due to an international raw material shortage, new cards cannot be expected until autumn 2023. Meanwhile, the Qatar Ministry of Interior has released guidance for entry to the country during the World Cup 2022, with entry suspended between 1 November and 23 December 2022, except for certain categories such as Qatari citizens, residents and GCC citizens holding a Qatari ID card and holders of personal recruitment visas and work entry permits. Hayya Card holders can apply for a valid visa for entry to Qatar during the World Cup, while South Africa has extended the validity of visas and visa waivers until 31 March 2023 for foreign nationals with pending applications.

American evangelicals' views on immigration policy have moved closer to the positions of the World Relief and its Evangelical Immigration Table partners, according to a study by Lifeway Research. The survey of 1,007 Americans, sponsored by World Relief and the Evangelical Immigration Table, showed significant improvements in the number of evangelicals citing their faith as a significant factor in their views. The top three responses selected by evangelicals characterized the arrival of immigrants to their communities as “an opportunity to show them love,” “an opportunity to introduce them to Jesus Christ,” and “an improvement to America’s cultural diversity." At least 78% of evangelicals supported legislation guided by each of six principles that have guided the Evangelical Immigration Table’s advocacy for more than a decade.

Bill would provide a much-needed pathway to a green card for up to 8 million people, including Dreamers, TPS holders, and long-term visa holders

US Senator Alex Padilla has introduced legislation to provide a path to permanent residency for up to eight million long-term US residents, including Dreamers, essential workers, and highly skilled H-1B visa holders. The Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 would amend the existing Registry statute, enabling immigrants to qualify for lawful permanent resident status if they have lived in the US continuously for at least seven years before filing an application and have good moral character. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. According to FWD.us, if undocumented individuals covered in this bill became citizens, they would contribute approximately $83bn to the US economy annually and about $27bn in taxes.

Two brothers, Mike Thomas Sheppard and Mark Edward Sheppard, have been arrested and charged with manslaughter after allegedly shooting at two migrants standing on the side of a road in West Texas. The migrants were getting water when the brothers allegedly pulled over and fired shots at them from their truck, killing one and injuring another. Mike Sheppard, one of the brothers, was reportedly a warden at the West Texas Detention Center, a privately run immigration detention center operated by LaSalle Corrections, which has faced allegations of violence against immigrants. The center was subject to a report in 2018 that found detainees had been beaten, racially taunted, and sexually abused over a week. LaSalle Corrections stated that Sheppard no longer worked for the company.

The US is considering expanding its family reunification program for Cubans, which provides a pathway to legal migration for certain Cubans with approved family-based immigrant petitions. The Cuban Family Reunification Parole program (CFRP) has a backlog of over 10,000 people, which has not been addressed since new invitations were last issued in September 2016. Despite the opportunity to reunite with family members legally, US border officials have reported high numbers of Cuban migrants trying to enter the US via the Mexico border in the 2022 fiscal year, exceeding the number of migrants from previous crises such as the Mariel boatlift and the Balsero crisis. The situation has been blamed on the Cuban government's repressive reaction to July 11 protests in 2021, as well as the ongoing economic crisis and lack of food, medicine and personal hygiene items.