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11 people were charged with organizing sham marriages in the US

Eleven people who resided in California were charged for their connection to the management of a large-scale marriage fraud "agency" that allegedly arranged hundreds of sham marriages to adjust immigration status, the Justice Department reported. 

The indictment states that these individuals operated an “agency” that arranged hundreds of sham marriages between foreign “clients” and U.S. citizens. As part of the scheme, U.S. citizens were recruited to marry the agency’s clients in exchange for an upfront fee and monthly payments until after the marriage, to keep the U.S. citizens receptive and cooperative until the agency’s client obtained legal status.                

The agency allegedly prepared and submitted false petitions, applications, and other documents to corroborate fraudulent marriages and secure adjustment of clients' immigration statuses for a fee of between $20,000 and $30,000 in cash.

One of those captured was Marcialito Biol Benítez, alias “Mars”, who along with his accomplices helped some clients, generally those whose spouses did not respond or cooperate, to obtain residency cards under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) by claiming that the undocumented clients had been abused by alleged American spouses. 

“Marriage fraud is a serious crime that threatens the integrity of our nation’s legal immigration system,” said U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “These defendants” alleged exploitation of this system for profit is an affront to our nation’s tradition of welcoming immigrants and prospective citizens. Their alleged fraudulent behavior makes things difficult for the vast majority of immigrants who follow the law and respect our immigration system. Beyond that, by allegedly filing false applications claiming domestic abuse, these defendants caused further harm, this time to real victims and survivors of domestic violence.”.

The charges allege that the defendants arranged fraudulent marriages and submitted false immigration documents for at least 400 clients between October 2016 and March 2022. The charge of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.     

Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Boston, said: “We believe that their alleged scheme violated current immigration laws that serve to protect public safety and created a disadvantage for those seeking to obtain their citizenship legally.”.

Among the eleven defendants, six were of Filipino nationality, resided in the state of California, and one was Brazilian.

Information taken from: El Tiempo Latino, Department of Justice and United States Attorney's Office.

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Conditional permanent residents will be exempt from the interview

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced yesterday, April 7, that it will waive mandatory interviews for some conditional permanent residents who have filed a petition to remove their conditional status.


In the interview, these types of residents who are married to US citizens must prove to the USCIS officer that their marriage is real and not for obtaining an immigration benefit.


According to the updated policy, USCIS may waive the interview requirement if an agency officer determines that there is sufficient evidence of the good faith of the marriage, no indication of fraud, misrepresentation in supporting documents, and no criminal record, among other considerations.


The new criteria will guide officials in determining when to exempt permanent residents who filed an I-751 petition to have conditions on their residency removed from interviews.


Meanwhile, USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou, the first woman to hold the position, said in a statement that this update "is consistent with the agency's priorities to break down barriers in the immigration system and eliminate undue burdens for those seeking benefits.".


Currently, the wait time for I-751 applications is 22 to 36 months, and according to agency data, more than 166,000 applications were filed in 2017.


Several changes are taking place in Joe Biden's government, thereby relaxing the rule imposed by the government of then-President Donald Trump in 2018, which proclaimed that all those who obtained conditional permanent residence for being spouses of US citizens and who have filed an application to have their conditional status withdrawn must attend a personal interview with USCIS.


Information taken from: EFE News 

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The United States is preparing for a possible increase in migrants.

In May, Customs and Border Protection expects an increase in migrants.

The Biden administration is preparing for a new wave of migrants arriving across the United States' land borders, primarily the southern border, after the controversial Title 42 expires in May.

Blas Nuñez-Neto, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Border Policy and Immigration at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, spoke about the issue on RCN Mundo and explained how the Biden administration is preparing to face the change: 

«Our department will send officers, agents, and volunteer personnel to the border in the coming weeks; we have already redeployed more than 600 Border Patrol agents and are prepared to send more if needed,» Nuñez-Neto said. There is also talk of adding technological tools such as drones and building infrastructure to process more people safely and respectfully.

With respect to deportations agreed upon with other governments, the United States' efforts will now focus on investing in the development of migrants' countries of origin to improve their conditions there and, consequently, prevent their attempts to migrate. 

In the United States, there is division over the end of Title 42. Weeks ago, the Democratic leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, called the application of that regulation "terrible and inhumane" and said he was "deeply disappointed" that Biden continued to use it.

In contrast, the Republican Party considered the lifting of Title 42 to be "a disastrous decision that will open the floodgates" of migration in the United States. 

Finally, there are still weeks to go before the completion of Title 42 and the possible changes that may occur in the political and social environment are unknown.

Information taken from: RCN Mundo and Debate.

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The United States says goodbye to Title 42 and returns to Title 8

The United States will repeal Title 42, a mechanism it has used since 2020 to massively expel more than 1.7 million migrants at its border with Mexico.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement on Friday, April 1, announcing that Title 42, the tool used to carry out mass expulsions at the U.S.-Mexico southern border, will be repealed on May 23. Implemented in March 2020 by the Trump administration, the measure allows U.S. authorities to expel asylum seekers without giving them the opportunity to present their case. Minors and some families are exempt.

The CDC authorities have officially announced the end of this measure in a statement indicating that the arrival of migrants to US territory no longer compromises the health emergency situation derived from Covid-19, due to the greater availability of means to combat the virus such as vaccines and treatments.

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Alejandro Mayorkas, emphasized in a statement that Title 42 is a resource to protect public health, not to discourage immigration. He added that this mechanism was implemented by the CDC "to protect against the spread of a contagious disease," such as COVID-19.

Starting May 23, undocumented migrants arriving at the U.S. southern border will be investigated under Title 8, the previous and common law under which the U.S. carries out deportations. According to the White House, migrants without a “legal basis” to remain in the country will be deported.

Following the decision by U.S. health authorities, a significant surge of migrants is expected at the border during the spring and summer months. Last week, DHS officials confirmed that approximately 7,100 migrants were arriving daily, a figure higher than that recorded in February. Border officials anticipate that arrivals could peak at 18,000 per day in the coming months and weeks. DHS Director Alejandro Maryokas stated on Friday that his agency had a strategy in place to "manage any potential increase in migrants.".

Information taken from: France 24 and BBC News.

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Government expands H2-B visa quota for fiscal year 2022

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced the availability of 35,000 H2-B visas for the fiscal year 2022 quota, in response to pressure from employers and business groups affected by the shortage of workers due to the pandemic and low wages. 

According to the Department of Homeland Security, this joint temporary final rule aims to reserve these visas for U.S. employers seeking to hire additional workers from April 1, 2022, through September 30 of this year. This will help support U.S. businesses and expand legal pathways for workers seeking to come to the United States, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated. 

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USCIS announces measures to reduce backlog of over 9 million forms

On Tuesday, the Joe Biden administration announced a plan to reduce the backlog in immigration services, which exceeds 9 million forms related to various processes. 

This plan consists of three measures that aim to accelerate the processes, in addition to expanding the premium programs that - after the payment of an additional fee - speed up the awarding process from months to a few weeks. 

Those who will benefit from this measure are immigrants awaiting the delivery and/or renewal of their work permits, including holders of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), DACA recipients of Dreamers, and asylum seekers. 

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ICE announces closure of jail in Alabama

Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced it will stop housing detainees at the Etowah County Jail in Gadsden, Alabama, following a long history of serious deficiencies. 

According to a press release from federal immigration authorities, the decision comes after Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas pledged to review detention centers to determine if they respect human dignity, comply with applicable standards, and make responsible use of funds.

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New asylum rule for foreigners subject to deportation

The Biden administration announced a new asylum rule to improve and expedite the process for immigrants subject to expedited removal. The new policy is scheduled to take effect in August. 

For their part, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicated that the new rule “will ensure that those who are eligible for asylum receive relief quickly, and those who are not, are quickly removed.” 

In addition, this rule authorizes asylum officers at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), who evaluate each case presented at the border, “to consider asylum applications from persons subject to expedited removal who claim fear of persecution or torture, and pass the required credible fear assessment.” 

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US judge suspends deportation priorities

Following a lawsuit filed by the states of Arizona, Montana, and Ohio, alleging that the government violated the law by modifying and establishing deportation priorities for undocumented immigrants with outstanding removal orders, District Judge Michael Newman suspended the deportation priorities and ordered the government to carry out pending removals. He further stated that the federal government does not have the authority to modify laws regarding the capture and deportation of foreigners that the U.S. Congress has enacted through due legislative process. 

This blocks Section 2 of the memorandum issued by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on September 30, 2021, which establishes new deportation priorities. 

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Serious conditions in immigration detention centers (ICE)

A recent report published by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security revealed the critical conditions in which more than 170 undocumented immigrants are being held at the Torrance County Detention Facility (ICE) immigration detention center, located in Estancia, New Mexico.  

  • Among the findings published in the report are the following. 
  • Unhygienic conditions in housing units for detainees. 
  • Faucet problems in toilets and taps. 
  • Lack of water. 
  • Mold. 
  • Blind spots. 
  • Staff shortage 
  • Inter alia. 

For this reason, the coalition of civil rights organizations and lawyers demanded that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) release all immigrants detained at this detention center and close it down. 

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