UPDATES AND LINKS:

U.S. using humanitarian tool to admit at-risk Afghans who don’t have visas: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-refugees-evacuation-humanitarian-parole-visas/

DHS Statement on Litigation Related to the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility: On February 2, 2021, the President issued Executive Order 14,012, directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to review the actions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) related to the implementation of the public charge ground of inadmissibility. read more here: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/03/09/dhs-statement-litigation-related-public-charge-ground-inadmissibility

USCIS Response to COVID-19: USCIS field offices and asylum offices have resumed non-emergency face-to-face services to the public. read more here: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-to-covid-19

Revising Guidance on Naturalization Civics Educational Requirement: On Feb. 22, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the educational requirements for naturalization to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, and of the principles and form of government, of the United States (civics) under section 312 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Specifically, USCIS is reverting to the 2008 version of the civics test, allowing a brief period during which USCIS may also offer the 2020 version of the test to applicants affected by the timing of this update. This guidance becomes effective March 1, 2021. read more here: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual

Preserving and Fortifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued a memorandum directing the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, to take appropriate action to preserve and fortify DACA, consistent with applicable law.

AILA - 2018 AILA Chapter Pro Bono Champions: Raquel Hecht practices law in Eugene, Oregon. Over the past five years, Raquel started a non-profit organization in Lane County called GLAD (Grupo Latino de Accion Directa) that has grown tremendously and serves to promote Latino interests and provide free informational and educational services to community members. (http://www.aila.org/practice/pro-bono/recognition/pro-bono-heroes-recognition-program/2018-aila-chapter-pro-bono-champions)

ACLU of Oregon: American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon website: http://www.aclu-or.org

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA): AILA is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that serves as the national bar association for attorneys practicing immigration law in the United States. All attorneys at Hecht & Norman, LLP are members of AILA: http://www.aila.org/

Amnesty International: Worldwide Human Rights reports: http://www.amnesty.org

Civil Surgeon Locator: List of Civil Surgeons to perform medical exams throughout the U.S. for Immigration Benefits: https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.type&officelocator.office_type=CIV

Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools: Website for foreign nurses and other healthcare professionals to obtain certification to apply for immigration benefits in the U.S.: http://www.cgfns.org/

Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Official website of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/

Department of Justice (DOJ): US Department of Justice Home Page: http://www.usdoj.gov/

Department of Labor: United States Department of Labor Home Page: http://www.dol.gov/

Encyclopedia information on immigration: Immigration information and statistics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/immigration

Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR): United States Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review Home Page, including Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) information: http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/

Genetic Testing Group: Link to private genetic testing organizations: http://www.genelex.com/paternitytesting/paternitybook4.html

Human Rights Watch: United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor - Human Rights Reports: http://www.hrw.org/

Immigration related website: Website with immigration related information: http://www.ilw.com/

Immigration think tank discussion and research group: Pro-immigrant think tank research group information and discussions. http://www.cis.org/

Lane County Legal Aid: Legal Aid services for low income people of Lane County including naturalization, asylum, and other immigration services: http://lclac.org/index.html

Oregon Employment Department: Jobs and other employment information: http://www.emp.state.or.us

Oregon Legal Services/Servicios Gratis en Oregon: Website of legal aid with important information in English and Spanish regarding immigration rights: http://www.lawhelp.org

Oregon State Bar: Information about Oregon Law and the legal system: http://www.osbar.org

U.S. Embassies and Consulates: Links to United States Embassies and Consulates Worldwide: http://travel.state.gov/

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: Information about refugees and asylum seekers throughout the world: http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): http://www.uscis.gov

Visa Bulletin: United States Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs - Visa Bulletin: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin