Law Office of James A Roberts, PLLC

Law Office of James A Roberts, PLLC For more than 32 years, we have been assisting immigrants in defending and legalizing immigration status in the United State.

Since 1994, the law office of James A Roberts, PLLC has provided creative and innovative solutions to the complex legal challenges that confront our clients. We have represented clients across the world in their struggles with the convoluted immigration laws and have successfully concluded thousands of cases. We have attorneys barred in multiple states and have represented clients before immigration offices both nationwide and worldwide.

06/18/2026

Update: USCIS Policy Memo on Adjustment of Status (PM-602-0199)
On May 21, 2026, USCIS issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199, addressing adjustment of status (the process of applying for a green card while living in the U.S., as opposed to consular processing abroad). The memo reaffirms that adjustment of status under INA §245 is a discretionary benefit, and instructs officers to weigh certain factors more carefully. These are including any prior status violations, misrepresentation, or conduct suggesting an applicant entered the U.S. with the intent to bypass the consular process.
USCIS's accompanying press release stated that adjustment of status would be granted "only in extraordinary circumstances." That specific phrase does not appear in the text of the memo itself, and in the days following its release, USCIS and DHS spokespeople described the policy as a case-by-case discretionary review rather than a blanket new standard.
In practice, some applicants have reported additional questions at interviews or Requests for Evidence referencing the memo, though there have also been reports of approvals continuing in those same circumstances. USCIS has not yet issued detailed implementing guidance, and how the memo will be applied to cases that were already pending when it was issued remains unclear.
The underlying law governing adjustment of status has not changed. We are monitoring this policy and its implementation, and will update clients as more information becomes available.

06/18/2026

On June 5, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, in Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. USCIS, declared unlawful and vacated four USCIS policies: the Global Asylum Hold Policy, the Benefits Hold Policy, the Comprehensive Re-Review Policy, and the Country-Specific Factors Policy. The court found that USCIS exceeded its authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act in implementing these policies.

What this means: USCIS may no longer rely on these policies to pause, delay, or subject applications to additional review based on nationality. USCIS has been ordered to resume adjudicating affected applications, including asylum applications, work permit (EAD) applications, adjustment-of-status (green card) applications, and naturalization applications that were delayed under these policies.

What this does not mean: The ruling does not invalidate the underlying presidential travel-ban proclamations. It also does not directly affect visa adjudications by the Department of State at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. Those policies remain subject to separate legal authorities and litigation

06/18/2026

Important Update for Our Asylum Clients
On May 7, 2026, a federal court struck down the rule known as the "Circumvention of Lawful Pathways" (CLP) rule. This is the regulation that made it harder to qualify for asylum if you didn't have a CBP One appointment. After the ruling, it was uncertain whether the Immigration Courts and the Appeals court would recognize the decision as binding. Now, there has been strong evidence that they will.
If your asylum case was denied because of this rule, you may now have new options:
✅ If you already appealed (your case is with the Board of Immigration Appeals): we may be able to file a Motion to Remand, asking the Board to send your case back to the immigration judge in light of this change in the law.
✅ If you did NOT appeal and your case is final: we may be able to file a Motion to Reopen based on this change in the law. Our office will be reaching out individually to clients who may be affected. If you'd like to get started sooner, call us to discuss it.

Important Revisions and New Chart - Sudan (SAF) conflict with RSF — the core Sudan civil war, inexcusably missing befor...
04/15/2026

Important Revisions and New Chart -
Sudan (SAF) conflict with RSF — the core Sudan civil war, inexcusably missing before. This is the whole reason for the chart you could say!
Eritrea → TPLF (Addis) — Eritrea is actively hostile to the Addis-aligned faction since it represents Ethiopia's interests in Tigray
Ethiopia → TPLF (Sudan) — Ethiopia views Debretsion's faction as enemy combatants
Ethiopia→Somaliland (green ally line). The January 2024 MOU, Egypt→Somalia - allies, reflecting the 10,000-troop military deployment under AUSSOM
Djibouti added. This is a very difficult one, because Djibouti is historically very neutral. However, Egypt is now signing port and energy deals there, potentially giving Cairo leverage over Ethiopia's trade lifeline. Maybe I will take the line away, but for now, I'll put the ally line with Egypt. Any body have any ideas? Maybe we shoudl remove Djibouti entirely
Somalia→Ethiopia conflict line added to reflect Somalia actively expelling Ethiopian AU troops and nullifying the MOU

WIth the world distracted by Ukraine and Iran, many may not understand that there are growing concerns of something big ...
04/15/2026

WIth the world distracted by Ukraine and Iran, many may not understand that there are growing concerns of something big happening in the Horn of Africa. Alliances and Enemies create a growing danger. Here is something I did for fun. Please take the time to give me your thoughts about how to adjust or edit. One thing to note is that I have Chad and RSF as alliances even though I am aware that they clash at the border, I think its still accurate

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