12/3/2020 -
Critics say the test is now unnecessarily difficult, requires a higher level of English fluency, and accuse the administration of limiting citizenship for political reasons.
11/4/2020 -
Colorado and Florida voters passed Amendment 76 and Amendment 1 respectively to amend the state constitutions to include a citizenship requirement for voting. Both constitutions are expected to be amended to state that “only a citizen” who is 18 years of age or older may vote.
8/7/2020 -
Online naturalization application fees will increase from $640 to $1,160, and the US will join only three other countries (Australia, Fiji, and Iran) that charge a fee for asylum seekers with a $50 charge.
6/18/2020 -
On June 18, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration had not given adequate justification for ending the program, leaving DACA in place. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion, “The dispute before the Court is not whether [Department of Homeland Security] may rescind DACA. All parties agree that it may. The dispute is instead primarily about the procedure the agency followed in doing so.”
6/15/2020 -
The Supreme Court declined to review United States v. California, No. 19-532. As a result, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruling stands, allowing California’s sanctuary policy to remain in effect.
6/9/2020 -
There were an estimated 10.5 million undocumented immigrants in the US in 2017 (the most current numbers), down from the 10.7 million estimated in 2016, continuing a downward trend that started in 2011.
5/12/2020 -
Illegal border crossings from Canada to the United States increased from 558 people in 2016 to 1,586 people in 2019.
5/1/2020 -
The Apr. 30 ruling contradicts a different appeals court ruling in February, setting the stage for a possible Supreme Court case. President Trump on Wednesday stated that he doesn’t want to provide COVID-19 aid to states or cities with sanctuary policies.
4/22/2020 -
According to federal guidance and the CARES Act, student federal aid may not be distributed to undocumented students; undocumented immigrants will not receive stimulus checks; and US citizens who are married to and file taxes jointly with an undocumented immigrant will not receive stimulus checks for themselves or their children.
4/21/2020 -
The executive order was still being drafted but is expected to suspend new green cards and work visas.
3/19/2020 -
The Trump administration has made a variety changes from travel restrictions to closing immigration courts in response to the virus.
3/5/2020 -
In light of this new development, explore the pros and cons of sanctuary jurisdiction polices.
12/20/2019 -
– New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill on Dec. 19, 2019 that will create two types of driver’s licenses, one will be the federally compliant REAL ID and the other will be a Standard Basic ID that will be available to all New Jersey residents regardless of immigration status.
12/2/2019 -
A Nov. 2019 study linked fear of deportation to high blood pressure in immigrant women.
11/12/2019 -
On Nov. 12, 2019, the Supreme Court heard arguments related to the Trump administration’s efforts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which offers temporary protection from deportation to unauthorized immigrants brought to the United States as children.