Law offices of Zahedi PLLC

12/03/2025

MEMORANDUM FOR LATEST USCIS POLICY ISSUED ON DECEMBER 2 2025 PAUSING ALL APPLICATIONS FOR “HIGH RISK” NATIONALS

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ordered an immediate halt to the processing of all pending asylum, immigration and naturalization applications filed by nationals of 19 countries, citing national security and public-safety concerns, according to a policy memorandum issued on December 2 2025.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-alerts/PM-602-0192-PendingApplicationsHighRiskCountries-20251202.pdf

The internal directive, sent to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), requires officers to pause all Form I-589 asylum cases and all other pending benefit requests from applicants originating from what DHS labels “high-risk” countries. The list includes Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Burundi, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo and Turkmenistan.

USCIS officers have also been instructed to re-review previously approved applications for individuals from countries covered under an earlier presidential proclamation restricting entry over terrorism-related concerns.

The memo says applicants may undergo additional security screening, interviews and assessments of potential inadmissibility. US officials have not specified how long the freeze will last. The directive states only that applications will remain on hold pending a “comprehensive review” of policies, procedures and security risks.

This decision and policy comes after last week’s shooting of two National Guard members near the White House by an Afghan national. We expect litigation in federal courts on this policy. However until either the policy memo is lifted or a Final federal court ruling is issued to overrule the policy memo, the pause on all benefit applications will continue indefinitely. Attorneys from across the country have been reporting on receiving calls from USCIS advising that interviews and/or naturalization oath ceremonies have been cancelled. Although most interviews are continuing to be conducted and only the adjudication of the benefit application is to be halted.

Therefore pursuant to the December 2 2025 policy memo, effective immediately, this memorandum directs

1. a hold on all Forms I-589 (Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal), regardless of the alien’s country of nationality, pending a comprehensive review;

2. Place a hold on pending benefit requests for aliens from countries listed in Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10949, Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, pending a comprehensive review, regardless of entry date; and

3. Conduct a comprehensive re-review of approved benefit requests for aliens from countries listed in PP 10949 who entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021.

08/21/2025

Trump Travel Ban Dealt Legal Blow-

The Court orders that the Travel Ban authority extends only to entry, not to visa issuance.

A federal judge in Washington ruled Thursday that President Donald Trump’s travel ban cannot be used to stop the State Department from issuing visas, delivering a major win to more than 100 immigrants who sued after being denied access to the U.S. diversity visa program.

U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan granted a preliminary injunction in Thein v. Trump, ordering the government to continue adjudicating applications and barring consular officials from refusing visas under Trump’s June proclamation, which suspended entry from 19 countries including Afghanistan, Burma, Somalia, Togo and Iran.

The decision makes clear that while the president may invoke Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to restrict entry into the United States, that authority does not extend to halting visa issuance.

The court ruled: “Congress was clear that 212(f) only gave authority for an entry ban, and not a visa issuance ban,” said Curtis Morrison, an immigration attorney with Red Eagle Law in California, who represents the plaintiffs. “So the judge definitely got that right. Now, let’s hope when it’s time for the administration to review the ban at the 90-day mark they do that in good faith, and it leads to a less restrictive ban that will allow plaintiffs with issued visas to enter.”

Under Judge Sooknanan’s order, the State Department must make “good-faith efforts” to process pending applications before the fiscal year deadline of September 30, when lottery winners lose eligibility. The government must also provide weekly updates to the court on the number of adjudicated cases.

The lawsuit, filed in July, challenged the administration’s interpretation of Trump’s proclamation, arguing that it unlawfully blocked diversity visa selectees who had already completed the required process. Thursday’s ruling ensures those applications can proceed, even if entry into the country remains restricted for now.

Court says authority extends only to entry, not to visa issuance, in case brought by Red Eagle Law.

07/30/2025

DOJ Memorandum on Civil Division Enforcement Priorities

Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate sent a memorandum to all Department of Justice Civil Division employees on 6/11/25 setting enforcement priorities for the Civil Division in line with the Administration’s policy objectives.

These priorities include litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and denaturalization, among others. The memo outlines categories of priorities for denaturalization cases.

As background, the government has always had the power to denaturalize individuals who illegally obtained their citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation on their naturalization applications. However, denaturalization has been rare and has focused on suspected war criminals. The new memo provides a list of categories of cases that the DOJ “shall prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings.” These categories include people who pose a potential danger to national security including those with a nexus to terrorism, gang members, people who committed violent crimes, and people who engaged in financial fraud against either the United States (including Medicare/Medicaid fraud) or fraud against private individuals or corporations.

The memo opens the doors for the DOJ to bring as many denaturalization cases as possible and really, for any reason. The last two categories of priority groups listed in the memo for denaturalization are:

• “Cases referred by a United States Attorney’s Office or in connection with pending criminal charges, if those charges do not fit within one of the other priorities; and
• “Any other cases referred to the Civil Division that the Division determines to be sufficiently important to pursue.”

04/15/2025

A federal judge in San Francisco blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 600,000 Venezuelans, halting a planned April 7 termination.

The ruling came after seven Venezuelan plaintiffs filed suit, alleging racial bias and political motivation behind the decision. TPS holders now retain work authorization and protection from deportation pending further court decisions. Venezuelans must re-register by September 10, 2025, to maintain their status through October 2026. Those under the CHNV parole program face separate legal challenges. Advocacy groups urge early re-registration. The administration may seek to escalate the case to the Supreme Court.

What does the ruling mean? The judge’s ruling means that more than 600,000 Venezuelan TPS holders will keep their legal status and work authorization for the time being as the case develops in federal court, pending the final outcome of the case. The decision affects two groups of Venezuelans: Those who would have lost their TPS status in April and a second group of about 260,000 who stand to lose their status in September.

Read more at:

A federal judge halted the Trump administration’s efforts to end Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, just days before they were scheduled to lose their right to remain and work legally in the U.S.

01/29/2025

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem last night yanked the extended Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans, potentially leaving more than 600,000 people who are legally in the U.S. vulnerable to deportation as soon as April or September (depending on when they received the status)

The Biden administration had extended protections for more than 600,000 Venezuelans. The cancellation of the extension could open them up to deportation in the coming months.

01/10/2025

DHS Publishes Federal Register Notice Extending Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador

Extension Allows Eligible Salvadoran Nationals to Maintain TPS and Employment Authorization

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security announced today the extension of Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador for 18 months, from March 10, 2025, to Sept. 9, 2026, due to environmental conditions in El Salvador that prevent individuals from safely returning. The corresponding Federal Register notice provides information about how to re-register for TPS under El Salvador’s TPS extension.

After reviewing the country conditions in El Salvador and consulting with interagency partners, it was determined that an 18-month TPS extension is warranted because of continued conditions from environmental disasters that resulted in a substantial, but temporary, disruption of living conditions in the affected areas of El Salvador. El Salvador’s extension of TPS is based on geological and weather events, including significant storms and heavy rainfall in 2023 and 2024, that continue to affect areas heavily impacted by the earthquakes in 2001. Those earthquakes were the basis of El Salvador’s initial TPS designation on March 9, 2001.

The extension of TPS for El Salvador allows approximately 234,000 current beneficiaries to re-register for TPS, if they continue to meet eligibility requirements. Re-registration is limited to individuals who previously registered for and were granted TPS under El Salvador’s prior designation.

Every individual processed by the Department of Homeland Security goes through rigorous national security and public safety vetting during the original application process and again during re-registration. If any individual is identified as posing a threat, they may be detained, removed, or referred to other federal agencies for further investigation or prosecution as appropriate. Individuals are barred from TPS if they have been convicted of any felony or two misdemeanors. Current beneficiaries under TPS for El Salvador must re-register in a timely manner during the 60-day re-registration period beginning when the Federal Register notice is published to ensure they keep their TPS and employment authorization.

DHS recognizes that not all re-registrants may receive a new Employment Authorization Document before their current EAD expires and is automatically extending through March 9, 2026, the validity of EADs previously issued under El Salvador’s TPS designation.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will continue to process pending applications filed under previous TPS designations for El Salvador. Individuals with a pending Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, or a related Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, starting when Federal Notice publishes, do not need to file either application again. If USCIS approves a pending Form I-821 or Form I-765 filed under the previous designation of TPS for El Salvador, USCIS will grant the individual TPS through Sept. 9, 2026, and issue an EAD valid through the same date.

The Federal Register notice explains eligibility criteria, timelines, and procedures necessary for current beneficiaries to re-register and to renew their EADs.

This extension only applies to individuals already in the United States as and are a current beneficiary of TPS for El Salvador. All irregular migration journeys are extremely dangerous, unforgiving, and often result in loss of life. DHS will continue to enforce U.S. laws and will return noncitizens who do not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security announced today the extension of Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador for 18 months, from March 10, 2025, to Sept. 9, 2026, due to environmental conditions in El Salvador that prevent individuals from safely returning.

11/26/2024

Designation of Lebanon for TPS begins on November 27, 2024, and will remain in effect for 18 months

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is designating Lebanon
for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, beginning on November 27, 2024, and ending on May 27, 2026.

This designation allows Lebanese nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon) who have continuously resided in the United States since October 16, 2024, and who have been continuously physically present in the United States since November 27, 2024, to apply for TPS.

To register for TPS based on the designation of Lebanon, you must submit a Form I-821 and pay the filing fee (or request a fee waiver, which you may submit on Form I912). You also need to pay a biometric services fee.

TPS beneficiaries are eligible for an Employment Authorization Document(EAD), which proves they are authorized to work in the United States. You do not need to submit Form I-765 or have an EAD to be granted TPS, but if you want an EAD to use as proof that you can work in the United States, you must apply for it.

10/18/2024

TPS for Lebanese Nationals Announcement:

The designation of Lebanon for TPS will allow Lebanese nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon) who have been continuously residing in the United States since October 16, 2024 to file initial applications for TPS, if they are otherwise eligible.

Lebanese nationals who entered the United States after October 16, 2024 will not be eligible for TPS.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is announcing new actions to provide temporary immigration reprieve to eligible Lebanese nationals currently in the United States and allowing them the opportunity to request work authorization.

10/17/2024

This morning the Federal Register posted two advanced copies in the Federal Register Notice for EAD for DED for Lebanon and EADs for F-1 students. They will formally publish tomorrow. We are also expecting an announcement today from the administration designating Lebanon for TPS. Stay tuned for more information on that.

Employment Authorization: Certain Lebanese F-1 Nonimmigrant Students Experiencing Severe Economic Hardship as a Direct Result of the Current Humanitarian Crisis in Lebanon

08/19/2024

On Aug. 19, 2024, DHS posted for public inspection a Federal Register notice implementing the Keeping Families Together process for certain noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens, found here:https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-18725.pdf

USCIS will begin accepting requests for this process on Aug. 19, 2024. Any filings received before this date will be rejected by USCIS (not accepted or receipted).

General Eligibility Criteria/Filing Process:

Q. Which form should I file to apply for Keeping Families Together? Can I file online?

A. Requestors must file Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens, under this process. The form can only be filed online. Paper-based applications sent to USCIS by mail will be rejected (not accepted or receipted).

Q. What fee is required to file a request under Keeping Families Together (Form I-131F)? Can I obtain a fee waiver or fee exemption for this process?

A. The fee to apply is $580. No fee waivers or fee exemptions are available for this process at this time.

Q. What are the eligibility criteria for Keeping Families Together?

A. To be considered for this process as a noncitizen spouse of a U.S. citizen, you must:

• Be present in the United States without admission or parole;
• Have been continuously physically present in the United States since at least June 17, 2014, through the date of filing your request;
• Have a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen on or before June 17, 2024;
• Have no disqualifying criminal history and otherwise not deemed to be a threat to public safety, national security, or border security; and
• Submit biometrics and undergo required background checks and national security and public safety vetting.

To be considered for this process as a noncitizen stepchild of a U.S. citizen, you must:

• Have been under the age of 21 and unmarried on June 17, 2024;
• Be present in the United States without admission or parole;
• Have been continuously physically present in the United States since at least June 17, 2024, through the date of filing your request;
• Have a noncitizen parent who entered into a legally valid marriage with a U.S. citizen on or before June 17, 2024, and before your 18th birthday;
• Have no disqualifying criminal history and otherwise not deemed to be a threat to public safety, national security, or border security*; and
• Submit biometrics and undergo required background checks and national security and public safety vetting.

Q. If I meet the criteria listed above, will I be guaranteed to have my Form I-131F approved under this process?

A. No. All requests under this process are considered on a case-by-case basis in the exercise of discretion, taking into account the totality of the circumstances of each individual request and evaluating whether parole is warranted as a matter of discretion for significant public benefit or urgent humanitarian reasons.

Q. If I entered the United States on a nonimmigrant visa or was admitted in another status and overstayed, am I eligible for Keeping Families Together?

A. No. Parole in place is only available to an “applicant for admission,” which the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) defines, in relevant part, as a noncitizen “present in the United States who has not been admitted.” This means that noncitizens who were last admitted on valid nonimmigrant visas or were admitted in another status but have remained in the United States beyond their authorized period of stay cannot request parole in place under this process.

Q. Is there a deadline after which USCIS will no longer accept requests for Keeping Families Together?

A. There is no filing deadline for this process.

Q. If my request for Keeping Families Together is granted, will I be eligible to request employment authorization?

A. Yes. If USCIS approves your request for Keeping Families Together, you can apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, under eligibility category (c)(11). You can only apply for employment authorization after your Keeping Families Together request is approved. If you file your Form I-765 Employment application before USCIS approves your I-131F request under this process, USCIS will reject or deny your Form I-765.

Q. Can I file my Form I-131F at the same time (concurrently) as an application for employment authorization (Form I-765)?

A. No, at this time, you must submit these two forms separately. If your Form I-131F is approved and you are granted parole in place, you can then file Form I-765 to apply for an EAD based on your authorized period of parole.

Q. Can I apply for adjustment of status (Form I-485) concurrently with my Keeping Families Together request (Form I-131F)?

A. No. You must first be granted parole in place before applying for adjustment of status.

07/26/2024

Memorandum on the Deferred Enforced Departure for Certain Lebanese Nationals

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBJECT: Deferred Enforced Departure for Certain Lebanese Nationals

07/17/2024

PLEASE NOTE: USCIS WILL START ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS ON AUGUST 19 2024.

Reminders on the Process to Promote the Unity and Stability of Families

On June 18, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced actions to promote family unity in the immigration process. This announcement is consistent with the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to keep families together. DHS is establishing a process to consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests for parole in place from certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who have been in the U.S. for at least a decade. If parole is granted, noncitizens who are eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence based on their marriage to a U.S. citizen will be able to do so without having to leave the United States.
USCIS is not currently accepting applications under this process. We will begin accepting applications on Aug. 19. If you apply before Aug. 19, we will reject your application. More information about eligibility and the application process will be published in a forthcoming Federal Register notice.

Eligibility

To be considered for a discretionary grant of parole, on a case-by-case basis, under this process, you must:

• Be present in the United States without admission or parole;
• Have been continuously present in the United States for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024;
• Have a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024;
• Not have any disqualifying criminal history or otherwise constitute a threat to national security or public safety; and
• Otherwise merit a favorable exercise of discretion.

More information about these eligibility criteria will be available in the forthcoming Federal Register notice.

USCIS may also consider certain noncitizen children of requestors under this process if, as of June 17, 2024, they were physically present in the United States without admission or parole, and have a qualifying stepchild relationship to a U.S. citizen.

Timeline

You cannot apply for this process yet. We will publish a Federal Register notice that will further explain eligibility and the application process, including the form to use, and the associated filing fees. If you apply before the implementation date in the Federal Register notice, we will reject your application.

We will provide additional information on the Process to Promote the Unity and Stability of Families webpage as it becomes available.

What You Can Do Now

Although we are not currently accepting applications, you can begin to prepare to file a parole application by gathering evidence of your eligibility, such as:

• Evidence of a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024, such as a marriage certificate;
• Documentation of proof of identity, including expired documents may include:
• Valid state or country driver’s license or identification;
• Birth certificate with photo identification;
• Valid passport; or
• Any government issued document bearing the requestor’s name, date of birth, and photo.
• Evidence of your spouse’s U.S. citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate or Certificate of Naturalization;
• Documentation to establish your continued presence in the United States for at least 10 years, as of June 17, 2024. While more information will be made available in the forthcoming Federal Register Notice and subsequent FAQs, examples of documentation could include copies of:
• Rent receipts or utility bills;
• School records (letters, report cards, etc.);
• Hospital or medical records;
• Attestations to your residence by religious entities, unions, or other organizations, identifying you by name;
• Official records from a religious entity confirming participation in a religious ceremony;
• Money order receipts for money sent into or out of the United States;
• Birth certificates of children born in the United States;
• Dated bank transactions;
• Automobile license receipts, title, or registration;
• Deeds, mortgages, or rental agreement contracts;
• Insurance policies; or
• Tax returns or tax receipts.

For noncitizen children of requestors, evidence of eligibility could include:

• Evidence of the child’s relationship to the noncitizen parent, such as a birth certificate or adoption decree;
• Evidence of the noncitizen parent’s legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024, such as a marriage certificate; and
• Evidence of the child’s presence in the United States as of June 17, 2024.
If you are interested in this process, you should consider creating or updating your myUSCIS account at my.uscis.gov.

Beware of Scams

We want to remind you that immigration scams are pervasive.

Remember, you cannot apply for this process yet. If you see someone selling their services to file an application before we publish the Federal Register notice or open the process, please see our Report Immigration Scams webpage.

Remember that in the United States, a notario público is not authorized to provide you with any legal services related to immigration. Only an attorney licensed to practice law in the United States or an accredited representative working for a Department of Justice-recognized organization can give you legal advice.

If you seek legal counsel, beware of individuals who pose as immigration attorneys (such as unlicensed individuals or disbarred attorneys). The signs of an unethical practitioner may include:
• Promising guaranteed outcomes or money-back guarantees;
• Using predatory or threatening pricing structures;
• Asking you to sign a blank paper or not allowing you to review a paper you have signed; and
• Asking to keep your signature on file.

To protect yourself from potential scams, remember:
• Do not pay for government application forms – forms are free, and you can download them at uscis.gov/forms;
• Ask for a written agreement that describes the services to be provided and is signed by the provider. Read the agreement before signing it, and keep the signed copy for your records;
• Get copies of documents prepared for you; and
• Ask for a written receipt that includes the name and address of the provider.

USCIS officials will never reach out to you directly through social media platforms. We will only contact you through official government channels. This may include a secure private message to your myUSCIS account. Report questionable users on social media platforms and see our Report Immigration Scams webpage.

On June 18, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a key step toward fulfilling President Biden’s commitment to promoting family unity in the immigration system. DHS will estab