Immigration News

ICE arrests 44 criminal aliens during week-long multi-agency operation
Between April 6–12, ICE and federal partners arrested 206 illegal aliens in and around New York City during a targeted enforcement operation focused on dangerous criminal offenders. Of those arrested, 121 had serious criminal histories, including charges or convictions for murder, rape, assault, arson, and drug or firearms crimes. Several had gang affiliations, and two were foreign fugitives. ICE emphasized the importance of multi-agency collaboration, particularly in cases where local jurisdictions had released alien offenders despite immigration detainers.

CBP releases March 2025 monthly update
In March 2025, CBP reported record-low southwest border crossings, with only 7,181 illegal aliens apprehended—a 95% drop from March 2024. The CBP Home app launched to facilitate voluntary departures. CBP also seized 760 pounds of fentanyl and increased overall drug seizures by 47% from February. Over $913 million worth of counterfeit goods were intercepted, and 434 shipments tied to forced labor were halted. Additionally, CBP processed over $352 billion in trade, collected nearly $15 billion in duties, and completed audits identifying $310 million in owed revenue.

Litigation-Related Update on CHNV
On April 14, 2025, a U.S. District Court in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction staying parts of the DHS’s March 25 notice terminating the CHNV parole process. As a result, termination notices sent to Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan nationals are not currently in effect, though no new CHNV parole requests will be processed.

DHS Released May 2025 Visa Bulletin
The U.S. State Department has released the May 2025 Visa Bulletin which is the eighth Visa Bulletin for the fiscal year. The headline in the month’s Visa Bulletin is the lack of pretty much any movement across the cutoff dates for employment categories and very minor forward movement for some family-based categories. According to the May 2025 Visa Bulletin, family-based applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart, while employment-based applicants must follow the Final Action Dates chart for Adjustment of Status filings.
USCIS to Review Aliens Social Media Activity for Antisemitism
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will now consider antisemitic social media posts and harassment of Jewish people when reviewing immigration applications. The policy targets content supporting antisemitic terrorism or terrorist groups and is part of a federal effort to fight rising antisemitism following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Immigrant rights and progressive Jewish groups say the move could suppress political speech and unfairly target marginalized communities amid growing backlash over U.S. protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
IRS to Share Tax Data with ICE
In a major shift, the IRS has agreed to share taxpayer information with ICE for deportation cases. ICE can now access data like addresses and income of immigrants under investigation or facing removal. Critics warn the move could reduce trust, hurt tax compliance, and harm immigrant communities. Lawsuits aim to block the agreement, and no data has been shared so far, per court filings.
International Students Lose Visas Over Minor Offenses
Nearly 500 international students at universities across the U.S. had their visas abruptly revoked after their SEVIS records were unexpectedly terminated. In many cases, the cited violations were minor — such as traffic offenses — but were incorrectly flagged as criminal activity. Students from over 50 institutions, including UCLA, Stanford, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, have reported being impacted. The situation has raised alarms about a growing crackdown on international students during the Trump administration, marked by a lack of transparency and advance notice.
ICE arrests 72 criminal aliens
ICE, alongside federal, state, and local law enforcement, arrested 72 illegal aliens in the Rio Grande Valley from March 16 to 22, including 61 criminal aliens and two documented gang members. Charges and convictions included aggravated felonies, violent offenses, sex crimes, drug trafficking, firearm violations, alien smuggling, and immigration-related offenses. ICE reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing immigration laws without exemptions and ensuring public safety through targeted operations.
USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for Second Half of FY 2025
USCIS has reached the H-2B cap for the second half of FY 2025, with March 5, 2025, as the final receipt date for cap-subject petitions requesting employment between April 1 and September 30, 2025. New cap-subject petitions received after this date will be rejected. Filing dates for supplemental H-2B visas are available in the Temporary Increase in H-2B Nonimmigrant Visas for FY 2025 chart.
Trump Urges Supreme Court to Reinstate Birthright Citizenship Ban
Trump’s legal team asked the Supreme Court to lift a nationwide block on his order ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and foreign residents. Signed on his first day in office, the order denies citizenship to those without a U.S. citizen or permanent resident parent. After three federal courts halted the policy, Trump appealed. The case also challenges nationwide injunctions, with experts warning that overturning them could overwhelm courts with individual lawsuits.
DOS Released Visa Bulletin for April 2025
In accordance with the Visa Bulletin of April 2025 published by the Department of State, USCIS has determined the Adjustment of Status Filing Charts for the month of April. For all family-sponsored preference categories, applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart and all employment-based categories must continue using the Final Action Dates chart in April 2025.
Visitor Registration for Canadians Staying Over 30 Days
The Trump administration is set to enforce a long-standing but previously unenforced U.S. immigration law requiring Canadians staying in the U.S. for over 30 days to register with immigration authorities, according to The New York Times. The report, citing two anonymous Canadian officials, states that the policy will take effect on April 11. Impacted visitors will be required to provide biographic details and fingerprints for a background check.