McKenna L. Cox, Attorney at Law

07/16/2026

We are putting U.S. Citizen children into foster care because we are deporting their parents; I am seeing it more and more, even in the Tri-Cities area. As proof, I offer the latest decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). This decision is tragic and exemplary of the extreme legal positions our government now takes to keep immigrants, even those who are good people and who are the only caregivers for their U.S. Citizen children, out of the country.

The decision below also demonstrates how little the current administration cares about what is in the best interest of U.S. Citizen children and how it is willing to throw them under the bus in its haste to deport as many people as it can. According to the BIA (which, like all immigration courts, is a division of the Department of Homeland Security and not an independent judiciary), U.S. Citizen children only deserve care that is "sufficient," not the care of a parent or even of a relative. Foster care is just fine with them even when a parent is willing and able to care for the child.

For context, here are the facts of this case:
Dad is a Guatemalan citizen in deportation proceedings. He has filed for cancellation of removal, which would allow him to remain in the U.S. legally and which is a type of relief that is well within an immigration court's ability to award to him. He has no criminal history and he is the sole financial and physical support for his 6-year-old U.S. Citizen daughter. The child's mother suffered a severe stroke and is not expected to recover; she physically and mentally cannot care for the child. Father's partner has mental health issues, is suicidal, and has been hospitalized many times. She cannot care for the child. Father cannot take the child with him to Guatemala because he has no home or job there any longer, he cannot earn enough there to support her, and he is afraid she will be harmed by the crime and violence there. The only other viable, relative caregiver for the child is the child's half-sister, who testified that she cannot care for the child long term and that the child was at risk of going into foster care if she was left in her care.

Despite all of these compelling facts, medical records, and testimony, the BIA upheld the immigration court's decision that dad be removed and found that just because his 6-year-old, U.S. citizen child would likely go into foster care, this was not a compelling enough reason for father to stay in the U.S. and continue to raise and support his daughter. In fact, the BIA specifically held that: "Parental care is not the only care sufficient for a qualifying relative child who is remaining in the United States."

See:
The Board of Immigration Appeals has issued a decision in Matter of LOPEZ-DAVILA, 29 I&N Dec. 763 (BIA 2026).
(1) The decision of a parent to leave his or her United States citizen child in the United States without parental care does not, on its own, create exceptional and extremely unusual hardship as required for cancellation of removal under section 240A(b)(1)(D) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b)(1)(D). Matter of Ige, 20 I&N Dec. 880 (BIA 1994), followed.
(2) Parental care is not the only care sufficient for a qualifying relative child who is remaining in the United States.

Source: US Department of Justice.

07/14/2026

It always saddens my heart when I learn about any member of the legal community taking advantage of anyone, especially vulnerable populations like immigrants. Please know that most attorneys want to help their clients. To all of Ms. Lozano's former clients: Please reach out to a reputable immigration attorney near you for help deciding what you should and need to do ASAP. Most of us are here to help.

Siempre me entristece saber que algún miembro de la comunidad jurídica se aprovecha de alguien, sobre todo de colectivos vulnerables como los inmigrantes. Quiero que sepáis que la mayoría de los abogados quieren ayudar a sus clientes. A todos los antiguos clientes de la Sra. Lozano: por favor, poneros en contacto con un abogado de inmigración de confianza cerca de vosotros para que os ayude a decidir qué debéis y necesitáis hacer lo antes posible. La mayoría de nosotros estamos aquí para ayudar.

Family-Based Removal Defense U Visa/T Visa/VAWA Publication Date Jun 30, 2026 Share Versión en Español disponible abajo.   On Friday, May 26, 2026, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office released a notice for clients of former immigration attorney Alexandra Lozano....

05/26/2026

I understand that there is a deep concern regarding a new USCIS policy memorandum released late last week that has gotten a lot of press. The headlines surrounding this memo are, basically, that immigrants can no longer get Green Cards from inside the U.S. and should go to their home countries to apply. However, based on my reading of the memorandum, it just basically reinforces existing law and policy (and mis-applies some of it) and does not create new policy. I believe its primary purpose is to create fear in immigrant communities and to coerce people to leave the U.S. who may or may not actually need to do so. Just like in the new memo, existing law and policy already only allows immigrants here on temporary visas to adjust to legal permanent residents (aka Green Card holders) from within the U.S. as a type of “extraordinary relief.” There is a lot of caselaw about what that means, but basically USCIS has long held a policy that those who are immediate relatives of U.S. Citizens (spouses, parents, and minor children) usually qualify for such extraordinary relief absent certain immigration and criminal issues. Whether or not USCIS continues to honor its “family unity” policy is yet to be seen, but it seems unlikely that will change. For those who are victims of certain crimes, including domestic violence, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is law, and it allows for adjustment of status within the U.S., and law cannot be changed by a policy memo. There are also many circumstances under which those here with asylum, on employment visas or other types of status may adjust here in the U.S. While we await further guidance and see how or even if this memorandum is actually applied and whether, or if, it changes USCIS’s approach, I recommend against panic. If new guidance is released or I learn anything that changes this advice, I will keep you all posted here or, for existing clients, via email.

As always, if you do not already have one I recommend consulting with an experienced immigration attorney to see how, or even if, this memorandum affects your case.

ESPAÑOL
Entiendo que existe una gran preocupación en torno al nuevo memorándum normativo del USCIS publicado a finales de la semana pasada, que ha tenido una gran repercusión mediática. Los titulares sobre este memorándum se centran, básicamente, en que los inmigrantes ya no pueden obtener la tarjeta de residencia desde dentro de EE. UU. y deben viajar a sus países de origen para solicitarla. Sin embargo, según mi interpretación del memorándum, este se limita básicamente a reforzar la legislación y las políticas existentes, sin establecer ninguna política nueva. Creo que su objetivo principal es generar miedo en las comunidades de inmigrantes y coaccionar a las personas para que abandonen EE. UU., independientemente de si realmente necesitan hacerlo o no. Al igual que en el nuevo memorándum, la legislación y las políticas vigentes ya solo permiten a los inmigrantes con visados temporales ajustar su estatus a residentes permanentes legales (es decir, titulares de la tarjeta verde) desde dentro de EE. UU. como una forma de «alivio extraordinario». Existe una amplia jurisprudencia sobre lo que esto significa, pero básicamente el USCIS mantiene desde hace tiempo la política de que los familiares directos de ciudadanos estadounidenses (cónyuges, padres e hijos menores de edad) suelen cumplir los requisitos para dicha ayuda extraordinaria, salvo que existan determinados problemas de inmigración o penales. Queda por ver si el USCIS seguirá respetando su política de «unidad familiar», pero parece poco probable que eso cambie. Para quienes son víctimas de determinados delitos, incluida la violencia doméstica, la Ley contra la Violencia hacia las Mujeres (VAWA) es ley, y permite el ajuste de estatus dentro de EE. UU., y la ley no puede modificarse mediante un memorándum de política. También hay muchas circunstancias en las que quienes se encuentran aquí en asilo, con visados de trabajo u otros tipos de estatus pueden ajustar su estatus aquí en EE. UU. Mientras esperamos más orientación y vemos cómo, o incluso si, se aplica realmente este memorándum y si cambia el enfoque de USCIS, recomiendo no entrar en pánico. Si se publican nuevas directrices o me entero de algo que cambie este consejo, les mantendré informados aquí o, en el caso de los clientes actuales, por correo electrónico.

Como siempre, si aún no lo ha hecho, le recomiendo que consulte con un abogado de inmigración con experiencia para ver cómo, o incluso si, este memorándum afecta a su caso.

03/23/2026

ATTENTION ANY NONCITIZEN IMMIGRANTS WHO PLAN TO FLY DOMESTICALLY AND WHO DO NOT HAVE LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS: Trump announced that immigration (ICE) agents will deploy to airports TODAY under the direction of “border czar” Tom Homan. The deployment comes as talks to fund the Department of Homeland Security have yet to yield a breakthrough.
Allegedly, using ICE agents in airports is to help alleviate the strain on Transportation Security Administration workers which continues to cause mounting travel disruptions. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, PLEASE CANCEL OR DELAY AIR TRAVEL until the partial government shutdown has resolved and, hopefully, ICE will be removed from airports.

versión en español:
ATENCIÓN A TODOS LOS INMIGRANTES NO CIUDADANOS QUE TENGAN PREVISTO VOLAR EN Vuelos nacionales y que NO CUENTEN CON ESTATUS DE RESIDENTE PERMANENTE LEGAL: Trump ha anunciado que HOY se desplegarán agentes de inmigración (ICE) en los aeropuertos bajo la dirección del «zar de la frontera», Tom Homan. Este despliegue se produce mientras las negociaciones para financiar el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional aún no han dado lugar a ningún avance. Al parecer, el objetivo es utilizar a los agentes del ICE en los aeropuertos para ayudar a aliviar la carga de trabajo de los empleados de la Administración de Seguridad en el Transporte, que sigue causando crecientes trastornos en los viajes. SI ES POSIBLE, POR FAVOR, CANCELEN O RETRASEN SUS VIAJES AÉREOS hasta que se haya resuelto el cierre parcial del Gobierno y, con suerte, el ICE sea retirado de los aeropuertos.

01/08/2026

America must “remember that being a nation of immigrants is not a weakness to manage but an opportunity and a strength we must cultivate and steward.” - AILA Board of Governors Member Andrew Nietor

01/07/2026

Welcome to Cox Bolton, LLP

01/07/2026

McKenna and her law partner, Matt Bolton, are pleased to announce that Herndon Coleman Brading and McKee, is now Cox Bolton, LLP! We look forward to continuing to provide quality legal services to our community. Our address, phone numbers, and emails have remained unchanged. Visit us at our physical location or on lawyerfirm.com!

McKenna y su socio Matt Bolton se complacen en anunciar que Herndon Coleman Brading and McKee ahora es Cox Bolton, LLP. Esperamos seguir brindando servicios legales de calidad a nuestra comunidad. Nuestra dirección, números de teléfono y correos electrónicos no han cambiado. ¡Visítenos a la oficina o en lawyerfirm.com!

Our goal is to simplify the complex legal process for our clients so that each can understand and participate actively in their case.