US Supreme Court Further Degrades Marriage

The court rendered a 6-3 verdict in the case between the Department of State v. Sandra Munoz, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 23-334, the Republican justices (the 3 Democratic dissenting) deciding that there is no constitutionally protected right to live with your spouse. This decision, reversing a 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals decision holding the opposite, allows the government to …

New Family Unity Executive Order (June 18, 2024)

Many have heard of the new policy announced by the Biden administration which will target one of the many sad injustices of current immigration system. This action, taken on the basis of his executive authority, may face legal challenges much as the DACA program has, but addresses a very real problem that most Americans want fixed. IBLF will be reviewing …

Re-Starting DACA – Filing as a Dreamer!

Thanks to recent court action, those who are eligible under the original DACA rules can now file new applications, despite the President’s executive order attempting to terminate the program. To do so, forms I-821, I-765, I-765WS must be filed with a $495 filing fee to the appropriate address. Substantial documentary evidence of eligibility must also be provided or the application …

4th Circuit Further Defines Family Asylum Group

A comprehensive decision, Sandra Hernandez-Cartagena v. William Barr (https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/191823.P.pdf) by the 4th Circuit overturning and remanding a denial of asylum by an immigration judge, affirmed by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), affirms the legitimacy of a family unit as an appropriate social group for asylum protection. The Fourth Circuit found that the BIA’s decision denying the asylum claim was …

Unable to Depart US Due to Pandemic? Avoid Overstay!

Request “Satisfactory Departure” Were you admitted to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)? —>  There is no provision of law that would allow you to extend your stay. However, if you are unable to depart before their current period of admission expires due to exigent circumstances, there is an option to request relief in the form of …

Head of Household

Tax – Head of Household (Considered Unmarried) Many married people file their taxes as Head of Household in order to save money, not realizing that there are very strict requirments for such a status.  In order for you to qualify as “considered unmarried” you must meet the following criteria taken directly from the IRS website: Considered Unmarried To qualify for …

Family Can Be Social Group

Family Based Asylum Claim Explained – 4th Circuit The 4th Circuit held: “The BIA and the IJ improperly focused on whether Gomez’s father and brother were threatened due to a protected reason in order to impute such protection to the whole family. This was in error. The correct analysis focuses on Gomez herself as the applicant, and asks whether Gomez …