World Immigration News

WR Immigration News Digest

Release Date: 2025-03-20
Media: Wolfsdorf Rosenthal Immigration
Summary: On March 8, 2025, Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian immigrant and U.S. permanent resident, was arrested by ICE due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests, with the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoking his green card over alleged ties to "pro-Hamas" activities. A federal judge has paused his deportation. This case raises concerns about First Amendment rights and due process, as peaceful activism is typically protected, highlighting potential shifts in U.S. immigration policies that may affect foreign national employees' political activities.

Starting April 11, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will require certain noncitizens in the U.S. to register and submit fingerprints using the new Form G-325R. Those over 14 staying for more than 30 days must comply, with limited exceptions. Failure to comply may result in fines or imprisonment. Employers should be aware of these new requirements to avoid penalties.

The April 2025 Visa Bulletin announced significant retrogression of EB-5 final action dates for China and India, and the EB-4 visa, including certain religious worker categories, is unavailable for the rest of FY 2025. This highlights potential delays and challenges in the EB-5 and EB-4 visa processes, requiring global mobility teams to plan accordingly.

On March 14, 2025, the Department of State resumed processing of following-to-join refugee relatives after a court ruling. Employers with refugee workers may need to support employees navigating the process.

The Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) began deleting records older than five years from the FLAG system on March 20, 2025. Employers must download affected records by March 19 to avoid data loss.

Lastly, USCIS has increased scrutiny on National Interest Waivers (NIWs), tightening standards for approval as of January 15, 2025. Employers must prepare stronger documentation to meet the new requirements, as the policy change may lead to delays, more requests for evidence (RFEs), and higher denial rates, impacting workforce planning.
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