January 25, 2021

BIG changes can be made with small tweaks

As the Biden administration takes the reins of the executive branch in Washington this week, immigration advocates have noted that immigration is one of its top priorities. After the inauguration, Romben Aquino was asked to appear on ABS-CBN News Channel in the Philippines to discuss the Administration’s plans. Mr. Aquino noted that in his first week, President Biden:

rescinded the “Muslim travel ban”;
implemented a 100-day pause on deportations while the Administration reviews enforcement policies; and

December 22, 2019

Immigration Issues for 2020

by Fong & Aquino

Lawyers are not psychic. It’s pretty hard to predict what the Trump Administration will do to change immigration law. Any changes in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) for 2020 must first be passed by both houses of the Congress and signed by the President. The Trump Administration will find it difficult to make changes in the actual INA, because it is unlikely the House of Representatives will approve them.

However, immigration lawyers can guess that there may be some changes in policy coming for US immigration law in 2020. Trump will continue to promote policies that attempt to restrict immigration to the United States. Further, he will implement rules to infringe on the rights of immigrants and to deny asylum seekers the right to seek refuge in this country. Trump is even trying to make it more difficult for attorneys to do their jobs as advocates for immigrants.

We remain concerned whether the courts will continue to strike down the most outrageous and unlawful practices and whether current nationwide injunctions protecting basic rights of immigrants will stay in place. The courts have been a protective barrier from the worst, most inhumane, and illegal policies of this Administration. Two important issues to watch are:

June 16, 2017

What do we say to the four horsemen of deportation? Not today

by Fong & Aquino

This week, the Trump Administration summed up its policy on undocumented immigrants inside the United States as follows: “We are coming after you!” The immigration lawyers at Fong & Aquino LLP have a response: “What do we say to the four horsemen of deportation? Not today.”

At a Congressional hearing, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said “If you’re in this country illegally and you committed a crime by entering this country, you should be uncomfortable. . . . You should look over your shoulder, and you need to be worried.”

As further evidence that the Administration seeks to make life more difficult for undocumented immigrants — even those who have lived in the country for many years and have children who are United States citizens, the Administration formally terminated the program known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (or DAPA). Although the program had been on hold due to a lawsuit, the Secretary of Homeland Security has rescinded the memorandum and will no longer seek its implementation.

October 17, 2016

Many DACA Cases Running Late

by Fong & Aquino

The law office of Fong & Aquino has noticed that many Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals are taking a very long time. Cases in Pasadena, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs are taking over six months. We have had no official explanation for this delay. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is also very slow to schedule the Biometrics appointment.

If your DACA Employment Authorization Document (EAD) needs to be renewed, please contact your attorney to begin the DACA renewal process as soon as possible. –jcf

October 12, 2016

American Immigrants Win Nobel Prizes in the Sciences

by Fong & Aquino

The US political dialog is ugly and divisive this year. It is also full of misinformation. One political party would want you to believe that immigrants are bad for our nation, that they make no contribution to our nation. Whether they come to the US on a B-visa, C-visa, extraordinary worker visa, or EWI, immigrants make our nation vibrant, diverse, and accomplished!

Don’t believe me? Note that this year, six Americans won Nobel prizes for their work in the sciences. All of these Nobel prize winners are American immigrants!

Take that, Donald Trump! –jcf

September 16, 2014

John Lennon was not the only DREAMer

by Fong & Aquino

John Lennon’s US immigration case was not won without challenges

The possibility of executive action on immigration (and deferred action for parents of DREAMERs) was in the news recently. Unfortunately, not for the reason that many immigrants had been hoping for.
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February 4, 2014

A Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

by Fong & Aquino

A Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform - Romben Aquino Blog

What do the current discussions on immigration reform mean for immigrants?

Last week, on Tuesday, the President gave his fifth SOTU address (State of the Union for hashtag challenged among us).

In each of his prior SOTUs, the President mentioned the need for comprehensive immigration reform. And so it was again last Tuesday.
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