By Sophie Nemes The H-1B Visa program has long been one of the main ways through which U.S. companies recruit highly qualified immigrants in sectors like technology, medicine, engineering, education, and scientific research. However, in 2026, this program has turned into the focal point of an ever-growing controversy concerning immigration, U.S. workers, executive branch powers, and America’s ability to attract an international labor force. President Donald Trump’s administra

By Cady Wu and Olivia Chen SEPTEMBER 14, 2026. On September 14, 2026, a federal whistleblower said that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents may have broken state laws while investigating voter fraud—according to the whistleblower, agents were required to review at least 40 voters per day, amounting to roughly 12 minutes per case and a high risk of error. The investigation, known as the “Unlawful Voter Initiative,” uses voter data and DHS records to identify potential

By Mercy Li On September 10th, 2026, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected one of the Trump administration’s most sweeping immigration policies. Due to a reinterpretation of established immigration laws, over thousands of noncitizens are now facing indefinite detention. Consequently, in a 2-1 decision, the Fourth Circuit became the ninth federal appeals court to rule that unauthorized immigrants living in the United States cannot be automatically subject to detainment

By Cady Wu and Olivia Chen SEPTEMBER 14, 2026. On September 14, 2026, a federal whistleblower said that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents may have broken state laws while investigating voter fraud—according to the whistleblower, agents were required to review at least 40 voters per day, amounting to roughly 12 minutes per case and a high risk of error. The investigation, known as the “Unlawful Voter Initiative,” uses voter data and DHS records to identify potential

By Cady Wu and Olivia Chen SEPTEMBER 7, 2026. A driver fleeing an ICE stop on Route 130 in New Jersey ran a red light and crashed into a car carrying East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen’s wife, who was injured. THe crash renewed debate over New Jersey’s sanctuary policies and local cooperation with ICE. State Republicans argued New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s Trust Directive limits ICE cooperation and called for greater use of 287(g) agreements, which allow local police to h

By Olivia Chen The U.S. Constitution grants the federal government broad power over immigration, including the ability to regulate naturalization, control borders, and determine who may enter and remain in the United States, making immigration one of the clearest areas of federal authority. Yet in recent years, immigration enforcement has also become the center of one of the largest federalism battles in modern constitutional law. As administrations have changed, states and l

By Olivia Chen On August 6, 2026, President Trump introduced a new executive order, Executive Order 14419 “Ending Birth Tourism," targeting birth tourism, alongside a second order addressing narrower categories of birthright citizenship. The policy responds to the specific practice of “birth tourism,” where foreign nationals deliberately travel to the United States with the primary purpose of giving birth so their children can obtain U.S. citizenship. However, while the Const

By Cady Wu On August 6, 2026, Trump issued two new executive orders, targeting what is known as “birth tourism”: a term used to describe foreign nationals entering the U.S. to give birth so their child receives U.S. citizenship. The new executive orders, which are meant to place restrictions on those who can receive birthright citizenship, follow the Supreme Court decision in late June that previous executive orders to limit birthright citizenship for undocumented immigrants

By Olivia Chen Home to many of the world’s highest-ranked universities, the United States has been regarded as the world’s premier destination for higher education for decades. The U.S. has consistently attracted talented students seeking prestigious academic programs, cutting-edge research opportunities, and career prospects after graduation. For many international students, attending an American university has represented more than earning a degree—it has also offered oppor

By Anya Bammi On July 16, 2026, the Trump administration finalized a new public charge rule that rescinds the 2022 Biden-era regulation and takes effect on September 18, 2026. The rule removes clear definitions and restores broad discretion to immigration officials, allowing them to consider any means-tested public benefit–including Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance–when deciding green card applications. In U.S. immigration law, “public charge” is a ground of inadmissib

By Cady Wu On July 24, 2026, the Trump administration rolled out new 10% tariffs on 59 different countries, as well as the European Union (EU), which consists of 27 additional countries, following the expiration of the temporary tariffs the administration had imposed in February under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 in a balance crisis. In a separate measure, the administration also imposed 50% tariffs on key Canadian goods including motor vehicles, dairy, and alcohol, a

By Cady Wu Providing safe haven, work permits, and deportation protections for asylum seekers or refugees, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has long been a primary target for the Trump administration’s policies. In June, the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision permitted Trump to end humanitarian protections for Haitian and Syrians that have since lived in the United States for over a decade. Although how quickly the government can remove former TPS holders from the country will depe

By Cady Wu On July 16, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released regulations limiting periods of stay for F and J visa holders to 4 years to further the administration’s goals of preventing visa fraud and national security concerns surrounding immigration. With a 60-day transition period, the regulation is set to begin on September 15, 2026, affecting students studying abroad and researchers at U.S. institutions, who now need to apply for extensions if exceedin

By Olivia Chen For more than two decades, the Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) labor certification system has served as the primary step in many employment-based green card applications in the United States. Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the PERM process allows employers to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residence while protecting U.S. workers by ensuring foreign hiring does not adversely affect domestic wages or working conditions. PER

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Navigating the U.S. immigration process can be overwhelming, but understanding the I-751 form can make your journey easier. The I-751, or...