Practice Alert: USCIS Begins Streamlined Physician National Interest Waiver I-485 Processing
AILA was invited to an engagement with USCIS to discuss progress on physician national interest waivers (PNIWs), including streamlining PNIW-based I-485s internally. Concerns were raised by a USCIS policy change, requiring the filing of the Form I-693 with the Form I-485 in all cases.
Trump’s Other Immigration Actions
Birthright Citizenship: on January 20, 2025, President Trump announced Executive Order 14160, “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” which aimed to end birthright citizenship for babies born on U.S. soil to certain noncitizens who are undocumented or have temporary immigration status. In response, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell filed a lawsuit with 13 other states challenging the order. Within four days of the Executive Order, a federal district court judge in Seattle, WA said the Executive Order was “blatantly unconstitutional” and issued a temporary restraining order preventing the order’s enforcement. The district court will hear arguments on February 6, 2025 regarding a more permanent injunction against the order’s enforcement while the case proceeds through the district court.
This Executive Order is expected to fail. Birthright Citizenship is explicitly written into the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution and cannot be rescinded without amending the Constitution. President Trump issued a similar Executive Order during his first administration, which was also not enforced due to its unconstitutionality.
Laken Riley Act: On January 29, 2025, President Trump signed into law the Laken Riley Act, which requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented noncitizens who are accused of burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assaulting a police officer, or any crime that causes death or serious bodily injury. A conviction in a criminal proceeding is not required for detention. The Act also gives state attorney generals the right to sue the US Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security if they allow noncitizens into the U.S. who later cause harm to the state or its residents. The Laken Riley Act revises six statutes within the Immigration and National Act of 1952, a redlined version of which is available here.
TPS Extension for Venezuelans rescinded: On January 28, 2025, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security vacated the Biden Administration’s notice that extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans. TPS for Venezuelans will now end on September 10, 2025 instead of October 2, 2026.
“Mass deportations:” ICE agents are raiding businesses and arresting undocumented noncitizens throughout the United States, including in sanctuary cities like New York, NY and Chicago, IL. President Trump also issued an internal memo directing ICE to “quickly deport” noncitizens to whom President Biden had granted humanitarian parole, a type of temporary authorization that allows noncitizens to remain in the United States. It is unclear what legal authority ICE would use to “quickly deport” these noncitizens.
Mexican border “metering” is back: The Trump Administration has shut down the CBP One app, the phone application that the Biden Administration created for asylum seekers to schedule an appointment at the US-Mexico border. In its place, President Trump announced on January 21, 2025 that he would reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols, more widely known as the Remain in Mexico or “metering” program. This policy required asylum seekers who were fleeing persecution in their home countries to wait in Mexico until they could get a U.S. immigration court hearing. Many asylum seekers had to live in makeshift camps along the border and were vulnerable to targeting by drug cartels.
Sanctuary cities under scrutiny: The Justice Department has ordered federal prosecutors to investigate public officials who are interfering with President Trump’s immigration polices and has warned officials that they could be prosecuted if they refuse to cooperate with the Trump Administration. The Congressional Oversight Committee has also requested that the mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City provide them with documents and communications regarding their sanctuary policies, and has also called the mayors to testify in a committee hearing regarding their policies.
More troops at U.S.-Mexico border: President Trump has directed 1,500 military troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to assist CBP with border security. The troops will first assist with building physical barriers to prevent border crossings.
Refugee admissions suspended indefinitely: On January 20, 2025, President Trump announced the “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,” which suspended all refugee application processing until further notice.
Expedited removal extended to entire U.S.: On January 24, 2025, The Trump Administration expanded expedited removal actions to allow CBP to quickly deport noncitizens anywhere in the United States who entered within the past two years and cannot present valid immigration documentation. Under the Biden Administration, CBP could only use expedited removal for noncitizens apprehended within 100 miles of the border who entered the U.S. within the past two weeks.
American Council on Education: Immigration-Related Campus Concerns
The American Council on Education (ACE) has published a detailed brief addressing immigration-related campus concerns for: international students, faculty, and staff; students with discretionary status; and Dreamers and undocumented students. The brief is available here.
Notice to universities, hospitals, health clinics, and churches: “sensitive places” are no longer protected from ICE
During his first week back in office, President Trump rescinded previously longstanding guidance that prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting immigration enforcement at “sensitive locations,” which are schools, hospitals, health clinics, and churches. ICE is now able to enter these spaces to question people and arrest noncitizens who ICE accuses of violating immigration law. The National Immigration Law Center has published a factsheet detailing this new policy and its impacts; the factsheet is available here.
Under the Fourth Amendment, schools, hospitals, health clinics, and churches do not have to allow ICE into their spaces unless ICE has a judicial warrant from a state or federal court judge. An administrative order or warrant from an immigration judge or the Department of Homeland Security is not a judicial warrant and does not permit ICE entry without consent. Consent may be withheld. Individuals at schools, hospitals, health clinics, and churches also do not have to provide ICE with identification documents unless ICE has a judicial warrant. Additional information on immigration rights is available on the American Civil Liberties Union’s website here.
Trump directs agencies to make reports on Israel-Palestine campus protest activities
On January 29, 2025, President Trump announced the Executive Order, “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,” which directs all federal departments and agencies to submit a report of all civil and criminal authorities that the respective department or agency can use to “curb or combat anti-Semitism.” The report must also contain a list of all pending administrative complaints and court cases against or involving institutions of higher education “alleging civil-rights violations related to or arising from post-October 7, 2023 campus anti-Semitism.” The Secretary of Education is specifically directed to include an inventory and analysis of all Title VI complaints and administrative complaints related to anti-Semitism within the Office of Civil Rights that were pending or resolved after October 7, 2023. These reports will likely include campus protest activities and arrests relating to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Lastly, the Executive Order requires the Departments of State, Education, and Homeland Security to make recommendations for familiarizing institutions of higher education with the national security-related grounds of inadmissibility for noncitizens. These reports might require or request that institutions of higher education “monitor and report” noncitizen students and staff activities “relevant to” the national security-related grounds of inadmissibility and “ensure” that the reports lead to investigations and deportation “if warranted.”
We’re Hiring! Are you an Experienced Immigration Paralegal?
Position: Experienced Immigration Paralegal
Location: Boston, MA
Employment Type: Full-Time
Are you an experienced Immigration Paralegal ready to make an impact at a thriving law firm dedicated to changing lives? Join our close-knit team of 8 attorneys and 15 paralegals and support staff, where collaboration, compassion, and excellence drive our mission to guide clients through the complexities of immigration law.
About Us
At Iandoli, Desai and Cronin, PC, we are more than a law firm—we are a supportive team helping serving professionals, businesses, and academic institutions. Our clients are leaders in medicine, engineering, bio-technology, and academia. With a strong commitment to providing outstanding legal services, we empower our clients with information, skillfully tackle challenges, and ensure they feel cared for every step of the way.
Your Role
As an Experienced Immigration Paralegal, you will be a key player in managing cases end to end, communicating with clients, and supporting attorneys in delivering outstanding results.
Key Responsibilities
Case Preparation & Filing: Assist attorneys in the preparation and filing of employment-based immigrant (EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3) and nonimmigrant (H-1B, E-3, TN, L-1, L-1B, O-1, E-1/E-2) petitions, as well as adjustment of status and naturalization applications.
Client Communication: Act as a point of contact, providing compassionate and clear updates to clients on their case progress.
Document Review & Case Management Software: Review and organize documents and ensure accuracy in all submissions, as well as use specialized case management software to monitor deadlines and expirations and draft petitions and applications.
Coordination: Liaise and communicate with individual clients, HR representatives and government agencies.
Team Collaboration: Work seamlessly with attorneys and staff, contributing to an environment of mutual support and growth.
Qualifications
Must have a Bachelor’s Degree
At least 2–5 years of paralegal experience in business immigration law.
Proficiency in case management software (e.g., LawLogix/Immigration Case Management and Microsoft Office Suite.
Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Passion for helping individuals and families navigate complex legal processes.
What We Offer
A welcoming, friendly, collaborative team environment.
We have a hybrid model and allow for up to 2 days of working from home.
Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, PTO, and more.
The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our clients and their families.
How to Apply
If you are passionate about immigration law and thrive in a team-oriented environment, we want to hear from you! Please send your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience to careers@iandoli.com.
Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No JDs, LLBs, LLMs, or current/matriculating law students please. No phone calls please. Absolutely no recruiters.
Together, we’ll guide clients through life-changing journeys, one case at a time.
January 2025 Visa Bulletin
The Department of State publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin which identifies all immigrant visa “preference” categories and indicates whether a backlog exists for each one. The categories are separated into two charts: a “Final Action” chart and a “Dates for Filing” chart for both family and employment-based immigration.
USCIS has determined that Chart B (Dates for Filing) must be used in January 2025. EB-2 and EB-3 preference categories remain backlogged for all countries, which means that individuals in these categories may not file Form I-485 applications until their priority dates become “current.”
Link: Visa Bulletin For January 2025
If you have questions about planning, please schedule a consultation with one of the attorneys at Iandoli, Desai & Cronin (info@iandoli.com).
IDC NEWS - “Post-Election Immigration Landscape” presented by IDC to the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts
Last month Partners Richard Iandoli, Prasant Desai, Madeline Choi Cronin and Mary E. Walsh presented on the “Post-Election Immigration Landscape” for the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts. The presentation covered what to expect in the first 100 days of the new Trump administration and action items for colleges and universities to take to support their non-citizen student populations. A copy of the presentation can be found at the link below.
Resumption of Visa Processing at US Embassy in Lebanon
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut has resumed regular nonimmigrant and immigrant visa processing. Nonimmigrant visa interviews are expected to be scheduled beginning January 1, 2025. Applicants should be aware that supporting documents such as marriage certificates may take a bit longer than normal to secure from various Lebanese municipalities and Ministries due to the backlog caused by the recent hostilities.
Continuing Issues with National Visa Center’s Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC)
Since Fall 2024, users have reported intermittent technical issues when attempting to upload documents or pay fees for immigrant visa applications on CEAC. As of the end of December, several technical fixes have been implemented by the National Visa Center and more are planned. Users are directed to the DOS troubleshooting page for guidance on workarounds for specific error messages they may receive.
Link: Troubleshooting