ABIL Global Update • December 2019

In this issue:

1. REMOTE WORKERS IN COLOMBIA: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an overview of policies and procedures on remote workers in Colombia.

2. FRANCE – Twenty measures to “improve the immigration, asylum and integration policy” in France were presented by the government on November 6, 2019.

3. RUSSIA – This article provides an update on immigration-related developments in Russia.

4. UNITED KINGDOM – This article discusses Brexit-related practical tips for United Kingdom (UK) nationals traveling to the European Union (EU).

5. New Publications and Items of Interest – New Publications and Items of Interest

6. ABIL Member / Firm News – ABIL Member / Firm News

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ABIL Global Immigration Update – December 2019

1. REMOTE WORKERS IN COLOMBIA: AN OVERVIEW

This article provides an overview of policies and procedures on remote workers in Colombia.

In Colombia, the immigration law stablishes that foreign individuals who work remotely and enter into a local agreement must apply for a visa, regardless of whether they enter Colombia physically.

Likewise and according to Decree 1067 of 2015, any natural or legal person who joins, employs, or admits a foreign individual through any modality, especially a labor, cooperative, or civil relationship that generates a profit, must demand a visa that allows the activity, occupation, or trade declared in the visa application.

Moreover, all foreigners who provide any type of service through local contracts must be registered in the platforms of Migration Colombia (SIRE) and the Ministry of Labor (RUTEC) to comply fully with the current immigration regulations. Additionally, they need to register their visas and issue the foreigners an ID card, which are processed in Colombia.

2. FRANCE

Twenty measures to “improve the immigration, asylum and integration policy” in France were presented by the government on November 6, 2019.

At the end of the interministerial committee on immigration and integration on November 6, 2019, the Prime Minister presented 20 measures to “improve [the] policy of immigration, asylum and integration” in France. Those that could affect professional immigration are summarized here.

One announced objective is the creation of a new statistical tool intended to reliably assess the reality of shortages in the French labor market. This tool will make it possible to define, each year, sector by sector, and in a territorialized way, a quantitative and qualitative assessment of skills needs. These quotas will be debated in Parliament and the list of skills in shortage will be revised annually. The inclusion of a job on this list waives job market tests when applying for a work permit.

The current list has not been updated since 2008, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development estimates that today only 15% of skills listed there are truly in shortage.

It is also planned for “these quotas [to be] notified to the consular and prefectural authorities, to guide the visas and residence permits issuance policy.”

Simplification of Procedures

A simplification of the work permit issuance procedures has been announced, notably with the implementation in the summer of 2020 of a fast-track procedure for companies “enjoying recognition of the State under criteria related to their sector of activity and their organization (some companies justify a recurrent need for international mobility) and of course their practices respectful of labor law.”

Talent Passport and French Tech visa categories are also mentioned as “potentially subject to improvement and simplification.”

Dematerialization

The dematerialization of applications for “talent passports” and work permits is expected by early 2021.

There will be an improvement in the reception of applicants in Prefectures, with the implementation in a few months of “the first steps of a new service of online filing of residence permit applications.” The government press release states that “recourse to the temporary residence document called récépissé will no longer be necessary in almost all situations; convocations in prefecture will be fewer and processing time will be reduced.”

Deployment of this service will start with “student” residence permits in spring 2020, to become widespread by 2022.

Reduction of Taxes on Residence Permits

A proposition was made to adopt an amendment introducing a single basic fee, reduced from € 250 to € 200.

French Language Level for Naturalization

It is contemplated to raise the level of French language requirements for access to French nationality, from the current oral B1 level to the oral and written B1 level.

Details: https://www.karlwaheed.fr/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Government-announcement-on-immigration_141119.pdf

3. RUSSIA

This article provides an update on immigration-related developments in Russia.

New Regional Programs for Relocation of Compatriots Living Abroad

On November 12, 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an Order amending the government program of relocation of compatriots living abroad.

Starting January 1, 2020, Moscow, Moscow Region, Saint-Petersburg, and Sevastopol will have the right to develop their own local relocation programs provided there is a need for immigrants and conditions for settling them.

House Workers From Visa Countries—Order of the Ministry of Labor

Effective November 22, 2019, the Ministry of Labor is allowing individuals to apply for quotas for engaging foreign labor. Now, having received a quota for foreign labor, individuals will be able to employ foreign workers from visa countries as house workers, such as babysitters, tutors, house assistants, drivers, gardeners, and cooks.

It is not entirely clear if this attempt to legalize this part of the labor market will be successful. It is suggested that to receive a quota and then a work permit for a foreign national, individuals will have to undergo the same procedures as companies when they engage foreign labor on the basis of quota and corporate work permission.

Tajikistan: Agreement on Organized Recruitment of Tajikistan Citizens for Work in Russia is Filed for Ratification by the State Duma

The Russian government has signed an agreement with the government of Tajikistan on organized recruitment of citizens of Tajikistan for temporary work in Russia. The agreement was filed for ratification by the Russian State Duma. Once the ratification procedure is completed, the agreement will come into force and be applied.

Russian Citizenship—Regulations on Review of Citizenship Applications Has Been Approved

On November 23, 2019, regulations on the review of citizenship issues by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its regional offices came into force.

The renewal of these regulations seems to be an expected and logical step because, until now, authorities used the old regulations, which were not reviewed since the citizenship issues were transferred back to the Ministry of Internal Affairs from the Federal Migration Service office. This year has seen many amendments of legislation governing the procedures for acquiring citizenship.

Thus, the regulations describe actions of Ministry of Internal Affairs officials while reviewing citizenship applications, applications for renunciation of citizenship, applications for citizenship filed in simplified procedures, and restoration of citizenship. The regulations also contain new forms of documents used by Ministry of Internal Affairs officials, although application forms, as well as lists of documents, which applicants file to the Ministry of Internal Affairs are still approved by Presidential Order 14.11.2002 N 1325, “Regulations on the procedure for review of citizenship applications” (with amendments).

Antigua and Barbuda: Agreement on Visa-Free Travel Came Into Force

On October 22, 2019, an agreement between the government of the Russian Federation and the government of Antigua and Barbuda on visa-free travel came into force.

In accordance with the agreement, citizens of both countries will be able to enter the territory of the other country and stay there up to 90 calendar days without a visa. The allowed period of stay should not exceed 90 days out of each 180 days, starting on the date of first entry.

If citizens of either country intend to stay longer than 90 days and/or perform labor or commercial activities, they must apply for the appropriate visa according to the legislation of the respective country.

Address Registration—New Regulations

On October, 28 2019, new regulations came into force that outline the rules for address registration for foreign citizens and stateless persons, as well as new notification forms:

Notification form for a foreign citizen registering at their place of residence
Notification form for a foreign citizen registering at their place of stay
Form of stamp confirming registration of a foreign citizen at their place of stay
Form of stamp confirming de-registration of a foreign citizen
Form of stamp confirming the fact that the inviting party has completed the necessary actions to register the address of a foreign citizen

The new regulations contain details on the procedures for informing the public about the procedure itself, timelines, and lists of required documents necessary for submission by applicants.

Document submission options:

In person to the responsible office of the Internal Affairs Ministry
In person to the multi-functional government center
Through Russian Post

Timelines:

Registration—on the spot (provided all necessary documents are filed)
De-registration—within 3 business days (of filing of all necessary documents)

Russian Citizenship—Bill Under Review

On October 21, 2019, the Russian government submitted to the State a bill providing for the following changes:

Ukrainian and Belorussian citizens who speak Russian fluently will not have to pass an interview before the special commission, provided:
They apply in person to the commission to be considered as Russian native speakers, and
They themselves or their relatives or their direct ascending relatives permanently live or lived previously in the territory of the Russian Federation or in the territory of the former Russian Empire or USSR within the former borders of the Russian Federation
Regulations governing the work of language commissions conducting interviews on the recognition of foreign citizens as Russian native speakers will be unified and approved at the federal level. In particular, unified criteria on language knowledge will be introduced, and rules on issuance, usage, and storage of control materials used by the language commissions will be specified, as well as requirements to the rules for security in relation to storage of personal information and regulations on the procedures for publishing of such data on the Internet. Such unified regulations will be issued by the Internal Affairs Ministry in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education.

Address Registration—Bill Under Review

On October 21, 2019, the Russian government submitted a bill to the State Duma that would:

Give right to all foreign citizens who own property in Russia to register under the address of such property themselves as well as their family members (spouse, children (including adopted), children’s spouses, parents (including adoptive), parents’ spouses, grandparents, and grandchildren). At the moment only highly qualified specialists as well as foreign citizens who have permanent residence permits have such rights.
The inviting party will be able to send an address registration notification through the government internet portal, Gosuslugi.ru. If a registration notification is sent through Gosuslugi, it will be considered submitted in e-form. When a notification is filed in e-form, after receiving confirmation of address registration completion in e-form, verified by the qualified e-signature of the responsible official, the inviting party will have to print out the confirmation and give it to the foreign citizen who was registered.
Give equal rights in terms of address registration at the place of stay to foreign citizens who have temporary and permanent residence permits. Both categories of foreign citizens will have to register address within 7 business days from the date of arrival to the new address.
In cases when a residence accommodation or other property, supplied to the foreign citizen as a place for stay, belongs as property to a:

Russian citizen;
Foreign citizen;
Foreign company; or
Foreign organization

who reside/have place of registration/business outside of Russia, the responsibilities of the inviting party will have to be performed by the representative of such owner (confirmed by a power of attorney).

Currently, there are a lot of problems with completion of address registration procedures for foreign citizens who signed a lease with Russian citizens and who permanently live abroad. Hopefully, with this amendment coming into force, this issue will go away.

Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD) and Free Port Vladivostok—Bill Under Review

For foreign citizens entering the Russian Federation with the purpose of conduct negotiations regarding signing of investment agreements with the residents of special innovative socio-economic development zones in FEFD and free port Vladivostok, the Russian government has prepared a bill that would:

Extend the validity of the ordinary business visa—it will be issued as multiple entry and for a term of up to 1 year, and in the case of an investment agreement will be signed for a term of up to 3 years;
Extend the validity of the ordinary work visa for up to 3 years for those who signed a labor agreement connected with execution of the investment project;
Reduce the visa processing time at Russian consulates abroad to 5 days; and
Introduce a new requirement for employers to notify the Internal Affairs Ministry not only about the dismissal of the foreign national, but also about termination of the investment agreement, for realization of which the foreign national has been invited (due to the fact that termination of the investment agreement will be the basis for shortening the foreigner’s period of stay).

This bill introduces a new category of foreign workers—workers of special innovative socio-economic development zones in FEFD and free port Vladivostok, who are hired in realization of an investment agreement.

Botswana—Agreement on Visa-Free Travel Came Into Force

On October 8, 2019, an agreement came into force between the governments of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Botswana on visa-free travel. According to the agreement, citizens of either country will be able to enter the other country and stay there for up to 30 days without a visa, the total limit of stay being 90 days out of each 180 days.

Citizens of both countries who intend to stay longer than 30 days and\or perform work activities, study, or permanently live, must apply for the appropriate visa according to the legislation of the country of entry.

Saudi Arabia—Memorandum on Simplification of Visa Requirements

On October 12, 2019, the Russian government approved the signing of a memorandum with the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on simplification of visa requirements for citizens of both countries. The memorandum provides for the introduction of the following types of visas for the citizens of both countries:

Multiple tourist visas for up to 6 months
Multiple private visas for up to 1 year
Multiple business visas for up to 5 years
Multiple humanitarian visas for up to 5 years

Stay limitations for all of the above-mentioned visa categories are 90 days out of each 180 days.

Visa processing at the consulates of both countries takes 1 to 3 business days.

The memorandum does not cover the following visa categories:

Work
Student
Permanent stay
Religious pilgrimage

Entry into force is within 60 days after the date of receipt of the last notification of completion of the in-country procedures necessary for the document coming into force.

Russian Citizenship via Simplified Procedure—Bill Under Review

The Russian government has approved a bill that shortens the processing time for citizenship applications filed via simplified procedure. Specifically, the bill provides for the amendment of the following procedures:

Decisions on granting citizenship and on exit from Russian citizenship in relation to applicants residing in Russia, as well as participants of the State program for relocation of compatriots living abroad, as well as other applicants, filing for citizenship via simplified procedures—within 3 months (instead of 6 months);
Decisions on granting citizenship and on exit from Russian citizenship in relation to applicants residing outside of Russia and filing for citizenship via simplified procedures—within 6 months;
Reviewing of application for citizenship and decision on such application—within 3 months (instead of 6 months) from the date of filing.

Government Plans: No need to Renounce Foreign Citizenship to Acquire Russian Citizenship

According to the Ministry for Economic Development initiative, approved by the Russian government, the government plans to give the right to foreign citizens to acquire Russian citizenship without having to renounce citizenship they have.

Currently, there are several exceptions to this requirement:

Agreement between Russia and a foreign country
Law of the foreign country that a person cannot renounce citizenship of this country
Several categories of foreign citizens applying for Russian citizenship via simplified procedure

This initiative is under discussion.

Additional Immunization Campaign Against Measles

Under an Order signed in March 2019 by the Chief State Sanitary Doctor, employers engaging foreign labor until December 31, 2019, must make sure that all foreign citizens they employ are immunized against measles or had this infection in the past or were previously immunized in a proper manner.

4. UNITED KINGDOM

This article discusses Brexit-related practical tips for United Kingdom (UK) nationals traveling to the European Union (EU).

The issues that UK national employees who travel to the EU as business visitors after a no-deal outcome will need to consider are:

Check passport validity and if necessary renew: UK nationals will be treated as third-country (non-EU) nationals and will need to have a minimum of 6 months’ validity left on their passport from the date of arrival in Schengen countries in order to be permitted entry.
Be aware of the maximum amount of time allowed in the Schengen area: UK nationals traveling for business (meetings, attending conferences) would not need a visa for short stays in the Schengen area but should be mindful that they will only be allowed to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Keep track of days in the Schengen area for frequent travelers: Permitted time in the Schengen area from after the date of exit can be worked out using a calculator, such as https://ec.europa.eu/assets/home/visa-calculator/calculator.htm?lang=en. While intended to be used by non-EU nationals, it should be applicable to UK nationals in the event of no deal.
Check whether the employee’s proposed business activity is permitted: What business visitors are allowed to do can vary across the EU countries, so care should be taken to follow the relevant local rules. In some cases, work permits may be required.
Expect greater delays when traveling: UK nationals would not have an ongoing right to use the separate lanes provided for EU nationals.
Carry additional documents: When traveling to the EU, UK nationals may be asked to confirm they have:
- Sufficient funds available for the duration of their stay
- A return or onward ticket
- Proof of accommodation
- Health insurance

HR teams should communicate these key tips to their staff. See https://www.kingsleynapley.co.uk/insights/news/uk-nationals-going-to-the-eu-for-business-travel-in-the-event-of-no-deal.

A one-page guide for EU citizens in the UK is at . A one-page guide for UK citizens in the EU is at .

5. New Publications and Items of Interest

Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers:

The latest immigration news is at https://www.abil.com/news.cfm. ·

The latest published media releases include:

ABIL Says Proposed Change to Public Charge Rule Would Exclude Immigrants from Government Programs: https://www.prweb.com/releases/abil_says_proposed_change_to_public_charge_rule_would_exclude_immigrants_from_government_programs/prweb15737932.htm
New Data Show Increase in H-1B Denials and RFEs: https://www.prweb.com/releases/new_data_show_increase_in_h_1b_denials_and_rfes/prweb15673632.htm
ABIL Urges Administration to Change “Buy American and Hire American” Executive Order: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/05/prweb15485457.htm
ABIL Member Kuck Baxter Immigration Commercial Nominated for an Emmy: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/05/prweb15485460.htm

– ABIL Members Note Immigration Threats for Employers in 2018: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/03/prweb15261255.htm

ABIL is available on Twitter: @ABILImmigration.
Recent ABIL member blogs are at http://www.abilblog.com/.

6. ABIL Member / Firm News

Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, welcomed its newest Associate attorney, Jordan J. Gonzalez, to its team. Jordan Gonzalez provides exceptional immigration law services to a diverse set of corporate and individual clients. Prior to joining Klasko Immigration Law Partners, Jordan practiced at a boutique immigration law firm that provided legal advice to corporate clients, including applications for H-2A/B, H-1B, TN, L-1, O-1, J-1, labor certifications, multinational manager and executive immigrant petitions, and national interest waivers, as well as I-9 and LCA compliance. The full press release is at http://www.visalaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2019.11-Press-Release-KILP-Welcomes-New-Associate-Jordan-J.-Gonzalez-4812-7054-1739-v.1.pdf.H. Ronald Klasko (bio: https://www.abil.com/lawyers/lawyers-klasko.cfm) was named to the Philadelphia Business Journal’s third annual Best of the Bar top lawyers list.William Stock (bio: https://www.abil.com/lawyers/lawyers-stock.cfm?c=US), of Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, was quoted by The Miami Herald in “To Get a Visa or Green Card You Need the Right Lawyer. Here Are Ways to Keep the Cost Down.” Mr. Stock listed questions an immigrant should ask an immigration attorney before deciding whether to hire him or her. “First and foremost, an individual has to feel comfortable with the lawyer and with the relationship you are going to have with the lawyer, because you are going to trust and rely on this person. It’s very important for people to understand they are hiring the lawyer, the lawyer works for them, they are the boss, and if they are not happy with the service, they should tell the lawyer, and they are entitled to work with the lawyer.” The article is at https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article235303862.html. Charles Kuck (bio: https://www.abil.com/lawyers/lawyers-kuck.cfm?c=US) posted the latest edition of The Immigration Hour podcast. This week’s edition discusses the importance of the DACA program and features an interview with a DACA recipient who shares how her life has changed as a result of the program. The full podcast is at https://soundcloud.com/user-474250731/what-daca-means-to-america.Mr. Kuck was quoted by Law360 in “Dems’ Fix For Green Card Backlog May Mean No Fix At All.” Mr. Kuck provided his critical opinion on the proposed S. 2603 Relief Act Bill: “It has engendered a lot of disagreement within the bar, and that is unusual, but it shows you one of the reasons that 386 is bad. Basically, you’re robbing Peter to pay Paul.” The article is at https://www.law360.com/articles/1210277/dems-fix-for-green-card-backlog-may-mean-no-fix-at-all. Robert F. Loughran (bio: https://www.abil.com/lawyers/lawyers-loughran.cfm) recently presented U.S. employment-based immigration considerations and strategies to a group of investors and entrepreneurs from Mexico at a seminar hosted by the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation.Mr. Loughran was interviewed for an article,“Renouncing U.S. Citizenship: A Comprehensive Guide,” in the November 2019 edition of Sovereign Man’s premium publication, “SovereignMan: Confidential.”

Marco Mazzeschi (bio: https://www.abil.com/lawyers/lawyers-mazzeschi.cfm?c=IT) and Yuu Shibata contributed a chapter to The Charter and the Court of Justice of the European Union: Notable Cases from 2016-2018, published by Wolf Legal Publishers. Their chapter is entitled, “X and X v État Belge: a Dead End for a Humanitarian Visa in the EU?” The book contains annotated judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union from the period 2016-2018, with comments on landmark cases in which the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union was central to the dictum of the Court of Justice of the European Union. See https://www.mazzeschi.it/news/mazzeschi-contributes-to-《the-charter-and-court-of-justice-of-the-european-union》/.

Cyrus Mehta (bio: https://www.abil.com/lawyers/lawyers-mehta.cfm) has authored a new blog entry. “How the Founding Values of Two Great Nations—United States and India—Can Get Hollowed Out Through Tweaks in their Immigration Laws” is at http://blog.cyrusmehta.com/2019/12/how-the-founding-values-of-two-great-nations-united-states-and-india-can-get-hollowed-out-through-tweaks-in-their-immigration-laws.html?fbclid=IwAR3_NKCBhy9HGMQJohxzu9eNKZW5HUdBmO7PfWJ8aNUCrHclpPU4dSNGgHo.

Mr. Mehta was quoted by The Times of India in “Uncertainty Rises for Spouses of H-1B Visa Holders.” Mr. Mehta stated, “The Court of Appeals’ order has given Save Jobs USA the standing to challenge the EAD rule. The decision does not impact the H-4 EAD rule.” The full article is at https://m.timesofindia.com/india/job-uncertainty-rises-for-spouses-of-h-1b-visa-holders/amp_articleshow/71999514.cms.Mr. Mehta was quoted by IndiaWest in “In Long-Awaited Decision, DC Circuit Court Finds American Workers Unfairly Impacted by H-4 Work Authorization.” Mr. Mehta tweeted, “It’s a rather crude way of affirming plaintiffs standing by a circuit court – if you allow H-4s to work, more H-1Bs will stay and thus compete with American workers.” The full article is at https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/in-long-awaited-decision-dc-circuit-court-finds-american-workers/article_b958fea2-0583-11ea-9afc-c7aab4df221f.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share.Mr. Mehta has authored several new blog posts. “Filing an EB-1 as a Multinational Manager After the Approval of an EB-2 for a Backlogged Indian Beneficiary” is at http://blog.cyrusmehta.com/2019/11/filing-an-eb-1-as-a-multinational-manager-after-the-approval-of-an-eb-2-for-a-backlogged-indian-beneficiary.html. “Court Shoots Down Embarrassing Leaps by USCIS to Justify an H-1B Denial” is at http://blog.cyrusmehta.com/2019/11/court-shoots-down-embarrassing-leaps-by-uscis-to-justify-an-h-1b-denial.html. “Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Constitutionality of Smuggling Statute That Could Impact Immigration Lawyers” is at http://blog.cyrusmehta.com/2019/10/supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-constitutionality-of-smuggling-statute-that-could-impact-immigration-lawyers.html. “Denial of H-1B Cases: The Occupational Outlook Handbook is Not the Holy Grail” is at http://blog.cyrusmehta.com/2019/10/denial-of-h-1b-cases-the-occupational-outlook-handbook-is-not-the-holy-grail.html. Mr. Mehta was quoted by Law360 in “Dems’ Fix For Green Card Backlog May Mean No Fix At All.” Mr. Mehta acknowledged that while the bill is “obviously not perfect,” he views S. 2603 as a better alternative to nothing, “[if] we can get something now, take it, and then keep on fighting.” The article is at https://www.law360.com/articles/1210277/dems-fix-for-green-card-backlog-may-mean-no-fix-at-all. David Isaacson, of Cyrus D. Mehta & Partners PLLC, authored a new blog post, “Residence in the Twilight Zone: Are USCIS and the State Department Trying to Encourage Some U.S. Citizen Parents to Get Divorced?” The blog post is at http://blog.cyrusmehta.com/2019/10/residence-in-the-twilight-zone-are-uscis-and-the-state-department-trying-to-encourage-some-u-s-citizen-parents-to-get-divorced.html.

Cora-Ann Pestaina, of Cyrus D. Mehta & Partners PLLC, has authored a new blog post. “Court Shoots Down Embarrassing Leaps By USCIS to Justify an H-1B Denial” is at http://blog.cyrusmehta.com/2019/11/court-shoots-down-embarrassing-leaps-by-uscis-to-justify-an-h-1b-denial.html.

Greg Siskind, of Siskind Susser PC, was quoted by Bloomberg Law in “Immigration Not Top Priority for Scalia at Labor Department.” Mr. Siskind provided his perspective on the recently appointed head of the Department of Labor, Eugene Scalia, stating, “He’s been a labor lawyer for large companies, exactly the kind of guy you’d want to get in there.” The article is at https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/immigration-not-top-priority-for-scalia-at-labor-department.

Stephen Yale-Loehr (bio: https://www.abil.com/lawyers/lawyers-loehr.cfm?c=US) was quoted in recent media:

· Univision (in Spanish), “Corte falla a favor de nueva regla de carga pública, pero seguirá en suspenso por demandas pendientes”: Mr. Yale-Loehr said [translated] that if a new public charge rule, which is the subject of pending lawsuits, takes effect, it “will dramatically increase the number of immigrants who may be considered ineligible for the green card depending on the use of certain government services, household income and other criteria. Under current policy, foreign citizens who use non-monetary benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid were not considered public charges. But the new rule changes the concept to include those and other non-monetary benefit programs.” The article is at https://www.univision.com/noticias/inmigracion/corte-falla-a-favor-de-nueva-regla-de-carga-publica-pero-seguira-en-suspenso-por-demandas-pendientes. · Davis Enterprise, “Union petitions UC to support Iranian students”: Commenting on Iranian students being prevented from boarding flights, Mr. Yale-Loehr said, “I can only speculate that the reason may have more to do with the deteriorating state of U.S.-Iran relations than with anything in the students’ backgrounds.” The article is at https://www.davisenterprise.com/local-news/union-petitions-uc-to-support-iranian-students/. · Truthout, “Trump Has Built a Bureaucratic Wall to Keep Out Immigrants He Says He Wants”: “They’re claiming that they want to go toward merit-based immigration, but it doesn’t seem that they’re actually trying to welcome more high-skilled foreign nationals to work in the United States. We see an assault on legal immigration just as vociferously as we’ve seen the assault on illegal immigration. It’s really Make America White Again.” The article is at https://truthout.org/articles/trump-has-built-a-bureaucratic-wall-to-keep-out-immigrants-he-says-he-wants/.

Mr. Yale-Loehr was quoted by The Cornell Chronicle in “Aided by Cornell Legal Clinic, Ghana Native Rebuilding Life in US.” Mr. Yale Loehr stated, “It’s a stacked deck against an asylum seeker, particularly if they don’t have an attorney to represent them. We’re glad that our clinic here at Cornell Law School can represent at least a few people each year, but it’s like putting your finger in a dike.” The full article is at http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2019/11/aided-cornell-legal-clinic-ghana-native-rebuilding-life-us.

Mr. Yale-Loehr was quoted by The East Bay Times in “Green Cards: Company in $50 Million Settlement Promises to Pay Back Would-Be Immigrant Investors, But Some Remain Unsatisfied.” Mr. Yale Loehr stated that while many of the 10,000 EB-5 visas go to family members of investors, thousands of investors provide a minimum of $500,000 to help U.S. companies. “That’s a lot of money that helps, or at least can help, stimulate the U.S. economy and create jobs for U.S. workers, but it is complex and it has to be done well.” The full article is at https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2019/11/08/green-cards-company-in-50-million-settlement-promises-to-pay-back-investors-but-some-remain-unsatisfied/.

Mr. Yale-Loehr was quoted by The Houston Chronicle in “Trump’s Decision to End DACA Faces Supreme Court Scrutiny.” Mr. Yale-Loehr provided his perspective on how he foresees the Supreme Court vote resulting in a 5-4 decision with Justice Roberts as the swing vote. “The Supreme Court has traditionally given the president wide latitude on immigration policy decisions, but they could try to avoid the thorny constitutional issues by ruling on narrower statutory grounds.” The full article is at https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Trump-s-decision-to-end-DACA-faces-Supreme-14827072.php.

Mr. Yale-Loehr (bio: https://www.abil.com/lawyers/lawyers-loehr.cfm?c=US) was quoted by The New York Times in “Trump Will Deny Immigrant Visas to Those Who Can’t Pay for Health Care.”Mr. Yale-Loehr commented on the ramifications of the Trump administration’s executive order denying visas to individuals without healthcare: “Thousands of people annually would be denied green cards if the executive order takes effect. President Trump has failed to build a physical wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to deter illegal immigrants, but he has effectively built an invisible wall to keep out legal immigrants.” The article is at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/04/us/immigrant-visas-health-care.html.

Mr. Yale-Loehr was quoted by The New York Times in “Judges Strike Several Blows to Trump Immigration Policies.”Mr. Yale-Loehr stated in the article, “The court rulings today represent at least a temporary setback in the Trump administration’s attacks on both legal and illegal immigrants. Ultimately, I predict these issues will go all the way to the Supreme Court.” The full article is at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/11/us/immigration-public-charge-injunction.html.

Mr. Yale-Loehr was quoted by The Guardian in “Iranian Students Barred From U.S.: Lost Money, Broken Dreams, No Answers.”Mr. Yale-Loehr put forth his thoughts on the possible political motivation for the barring of the Iranian-born students: “I can only speculate that the reason may have more to do with the deteriorating state of U.S.-Iran relations than with anything in the students’ backgrounds.” The full article is at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/14/iranian-students-barred-from-us-lost-money-broken-dreams-no-answers.

Mr. Yale-Loehr was quoted by CNN in “Supreme Court Wrestles With Immigration-Related Case as Sotomayor Breaks the New 2-Minute Rule.”Mr. Yale-Loehr argued that a ruling in favor of immigration control in Kansas could provide precedent to other states to follow suit: “What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. If the Supreme Court rules that [the] federal government no longer [has] sole responsibility for regulating immigration, lower courts may uphold pro-immigrant or sanctuary or non-cooperation polices enacted by states and localities.” The article is at https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/16/politics/supreme-court-immigration-sotomayor/index.html.

Mr. Yale-Loehr was quoted by Univision in “Es ‘una desviación innecesaria’: juez federal bloquea la entrada en vigor de nueva regla de carga pública.” The full article is at https://www.univision.com/noticias/inmigracion/es-una-desviacion-innecesaria-juez-federal-bloquea-la-entrada-en-vigor-de-nueva-regla-de-carga-publica.

Mr. Yale-Loehr was quoted by The Real Deal in “EB-5 Investors Rush In Ahead of Looming Rules Change.”Mr. Yale-Loehr stated that most of the existing EB-5 investments nationwide are at the $500,000 level. But after next month’s deadline, fewer than half of all EB-5 projects will be allowed at that threshold. The full article is at https://therealdeal.com/national/2019/10/21/eb-5-investors-rush-in-ahead-of-looming-rules-change/.

Mr. Yale-Loehr was quoted by Univision in an article about the increasing number of deportations. He said, “While the government certainly has the right to deport people with legitimate orders of final deportation, many of those orders may be subject to challenge. Immigrants have rights.” The full article is at https://www.univision.com/noticias/inmigracion/una-orden-de-deportacion-no-significa-que-las-opciones-se-acabaron-te-explicamos-por-que.