I'm on Threads as
@gregsiskind
. I'm on Bluesky as
@gsiskind
. And LinkedIn
@siskind
. The plan is to stay on Twitter and post mostly different stuff on the new apps.
While everyone is focusing on this whack job's political beliefs, I'm also pretty concerned that a guy with 8 previous criminal convictions including for barricading himself inside a business with a gun in Greensboro was able to get his hands on an AK-47.
We're trying to help a woman ICE just arrested at a marriage green card interview in Memphis who is 5 months pregnant in a high risk pregnancy. They are not giving her her meds and she is being sent to a detention facility 6 hours away. US citizens husband is frantic. 1
Warning - Long tweet thread coming. I'm summing up the Harvard v. DHS complaint challenging ICE in its attempt to force F-1 students to leave the US if their courses are being offered online this fall. They lawyers did a superb job. I think you'll find this interesting.
So to summarize - The Trump Administration has rescinded the 7/6 F-1 students directive. Schools can go online if they want. No new I-20s needed. F-1 visas should be proceeding. Congratulations Harvard and the Wilmer Hale team. Big big win!
ICE refused an order of supervision and is not budging. No criminal history. She also sees her MD weekly and the doctor's very concerned as well. Mother and child's life both may be in danger.
@ICEgov
- This makes no sense and could have tragic results. 2
@TheRickWilson
18 U.S. Code § 1622 - Subornation of perjury
Whoever procures another to commit any perjury is guilty of subornation of perjury, and shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Given rumors I’m hearing from pretty good sources, if you’re on an H-1B, J-1 or L-1 visa and are outside the US, you should try and reenter the US quickly.
The House Judiciary Committee has passed the immigration language for the reconciliation bill by a margin of 25 to 19. This is the most significant immigration legislation to pass the House Judiciary Committee in 15+ years.
Both of the Democrats' star witnesses just admitted that they were NOT on the July 25th call between Presidents Trump and Zelensky. Everything they are saying today is 2nd or 3rd or 4th-hand knowledge.
Democrats are trying to impeach the president based on a game of telephone.
A very nice thing happened yesterday. A young immigration lawyer introduced herself to me after I spoke at a conference. She was a 9 year old cancer patient in the 90s when our firm was new.We helped her family get asylum status on a pro bono basis. Now she’s paying it forward.
USCIS charges $410 for an I-765 and they reported in the fee rule that it takes 12 minutes to adjudicate the form. Yet they often take more than 8 months to adjudicate. This is gross mismanagement.
@Mike_Podhorzer
You gotta give credit to the GOP. Ds have gotten the most votes in 7 of the last 8 presidential elections, but have only a third of the appointees on the Supreme Court. Not exactly reflecting the will of the people.
If any journalists need a screenshot of the new visa question, please use this one as I took it myself versus the one I posted which was passed to me by a colleague and I'm not sure of the origin. This one actually shows more detail anyway.
It's official. The H-1B specialty occupation rule announced by DHS last Friday night will not become final because the Federal Register did not publish it. A testament to the incompetence of this agency over the last four years.
Mar-a-Lago has incidentally also increased ticket prices to its New Years Eve party. Not many New Years Eve parties can sell access to the president of the United States.
1 - OK, a few comments on the executive order and what it is doing and not doing. Fellow immigration works - feel free to comment and tell me where I am getting it wrong.
Just received my first denial notice from
@uscis
for an Afghan humanitarian parole applicant. A single mom who worked for the World Bank and who is exactly the type of person the Taliban is targeting. Although we have been bracing for these denials, it's still stunning.
URGENT for journalist followers -
@uscis
is now expected to DENY most Afghan humanitarian parole cases - more than 30K pending - because they are applying standards most applications won't meet. Here's why - 1x
A reminder before 1/20. A lot of immigration fixes will be rolled out over 100 days. Some - like bans ending - will happen fast. Others will take longer. I hope your response when something nice happens for others is “good for them” & not “I’m more deserving -fix my problem 1st!”
Now that it’s over, a word of gratitude to the immigration advocacy community that fought the onslaught of Trumpism valiantly. A lot of damage suffered, but not nearly as much as would have been the case if people didn’t fight back so hard. Now on to advocacy for positive change.
I'm part of the pro bono litigation effort planning to quickly file a lawsuit challenging the onerous DOL wage rule impacting H-1Bs and PERMs. We're needing employers, employees and membership organizations to volunteer as plaintiffs. If interested, go to .
Happy to report we just filed Chakrabati v. USCIS & Ur Jaddou, challenging the expected loss of 100K green cards due to delays in adjudicating employment-based adjustment applications. We are looking forward to this fight.
@ckuck
@LilySAxelrod
@jeffjoseph
@jwhollis
@immlawACHall
The BBB bill has passed in the House! Immigration provisions are in. Now we get to work on getting this bill passed in the Senate with these - or better - immigration provisions.
"Where appropriate" and consistent with "available resources" means "if we feel like it.". In other words, when all you reporters go home and protests on the street stop, we can resume. DON'T BUY IT. Congress needs to tie the Administration's hands.
Update: The child died following her stay at an ICE Detention Center, as a result of possible negligent care and a respiratory illness she contracted from one of the other children.
The events took place in Dilley Family Detention Center in south Texas.
Start with giving them green cards. It’s a scandal they wait in 20+ year lines while on temporary work visas. If they’re heroes, treat them that way - Immigrant doctors want to help fight the coronavirus. Visa restrictions won’t let them - Washington Post
The best part of this evening is the horrible TN Congresswoman Diane Black - a Donald Trump worshipper - gave up her seat in Congress to run for governor and is getting crushed.
Syria and Iran are two of the top ten countries sending us doctors. 25% of doctors in the US are immigrants. We are still short approximately 100K. And Indian MDs are starting to leave because of the 150 year backlog. This is a major threat to American health care.
I've blocked a few folks today for engaging in the "why are you helping those undeserving [fill in random visa category] immigrants instead of my more desirable immigrant category." Not going to engage with you or give you my Twitter feed as your platform.
JD Vance on Democrats calling him “Weird”: “I accept their attacks, but I think it is a little bit of projection….I saw my wife and gave her a big hug and a kiss because I love my wife and I think that is what a normal person does. Tim Walz gave his wife a nice firm midwestern
Hey reporters - While the President is attacking family immigration, have any of you asked about how Melania's parents got their permanent residency? Guessing it's the parents of citizens category which is one that the GOP wants to eliminate.Might want to regularly remind people.
Once again, the Visa Bulletin is very late. I have heard from someone in a position to know that there is something major coming in the bulletin, but I don't know what exactly. Only that it would be very good. So stay tuned. If I'm wrong, we'll know soon.
Each of these is exactly correct. We are the ones violating the law - our own laws and our treaty obligations - and not the asylum seekers who are entitled to a fair process and humane treatment. This is new policy and all on this President.
#EndFamilySeparation
FACTS:
*Obama and other fmr presidents DID NOT separate migrant children from parents. Trump is the first.
*most are coming to seek asylum, which is lawful.
*no they are not gang members coming to kill your white daughters, they are escaping peril-which is why most of us came too
4 - The Administration has left a huge loophole that will allow family separation to continue. I hope reporters pick up on this (one actually asked me already about this language).
BREAKING - Suit filed challenging 6/22 travel ban. This suit, filed by the highly regarded Wasden Banias immigration litigation firm, focuses on separated H-1B/H-4 families. Here are some key points from the complaint which was filed minutes ago. Good luck,
@wasdenbanias
!
1
3 - Obviously, this is a gross violation of the letter and spirit of our asylum laws. People are reporting being turned away for weeks straight. Hopefully, a court will step in (not holding my breath for Congress).
Congrats
@USCIS
. You denied our DACA client an expedite on an advance parole document to visit a terminally ill grandparent & then denied an expedite to go to the funeral because it's no longer an emergency.
@chucktodd
@SenatorRomney
In the
@TheRickWilson
spirit of everything Trump touches dies" public opinion polls show people have become decidely more pro-immigration. So, yes, Trump is moving people on this issue. Just not in the direction he thinks.
2- Making it difficult or impossible to apply for asylum at ports of entry seems to be the plan so that people are forced to enter illegally and then be arrested and detained. The "appropriate time" language seems code for "virtually never".
Today is a day we celebrate new US citizens. But we shouldn't forget the many who have been here for years, even decades, contributing to this country but prevented from becoming permanent residents & citizens because of antiquated immigration laws & an anti-immigrant President.
BREAKING - Govt will now allow H-1Bs stuck abroad due to the visa bans to get visas if they are returning to jobs they have held in the US before departing.
Another smoking gun – the 7/6 Directive says the earlier relaxation was made “during the height of the COVID-19 crisis.” Harvard points out that the present rate of infection across the US is far higher than in March and the rate is climbing. 22/x
As of today, only 20% of DV-2021 visas have been issued. The deadline to issue all of the visas is less than 90 days away. On Monday, we have a hearing requesting a federal judge force
@travelgov
to do its job and issue these visas.
#DV2021
@ckuck
@jeffjoseph
@immlawACHall
@AlexNowrasteh
@RebsBrannon
@TPUSA
My great-grandfather escaped tyranny and sold fruit off a pushcart in NYC. And a lot of haters back then wanted to kick out all of those immigrants too. BTW - Eventually he became a very successful fruit wholesaler.
After a discussion of venue and jurisdiction, a more in depth dive into the facts. Here’s the smoking gun. “The March 13 Guidance indicated that it was a “temporary provision” that would remain “IN EFFECT FOR THE DURATION OF THE EMERGENCY” and …. 18/x
I’ve got a lead for you,
@USCIS
there’s a naturalized citizen at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave in DC who likely didn’t disclose unauthorized work in earlier applications. That kind of thing is triggering denaturalizations these days, right?
BREAKING - The US Chamber just got a big win on their H-1B case in California. The court set aside both the DOL wage rule and the DHS specialty occupation rules. More on my FB stream tonight at 7 central at .
Fantastic immigration news for doctors and nurses. The Senate version of the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act added 10 new co-sponsors just now and there are 12 Republican and 12 Democratic co-sponsors which means it is filibuster-proof. This one is ready to move!
The problem with being an advocate for a broadly pro-immigration agenda on Twitter is that whenever you post on one issue you inevitably get the "that's nice but why aren't you talking about our issue. Don't you care about us?" I'm trying, people.
**NEW VIDEO**
#AmericaNeedsMichigan
**SOUND UP**
Narrated by two-time Emmy winner
@Jeff_Daniels
!
We need you to help us get 20,000 RETWEETS of this video.
Please QUOTE RETWEET.
We filed to add 407 couples today to the Milligan K-1 lawsuit. Hopefully, this sends a message to the WH that people are truly tired of waiting to be reunited with their loved ones. Time to end this
@JoeBiden
and treat K-1s like US citizen spouse cases, just as Congress intended.
The claims –
- Schools & students have planned for 20-21 in reliance on ICE’s prior statements.
- ICE’s rescission failed to consider numerous issues, is arbitrary & capricious and an abuse of discretion.
- ICE’s action isn’t in compliance with the Admin Procedure Act. 15/x
I’m learning some more about the Biden immigration legislation that will be introduced tomorrow. There will be sections on legalization, the border, refugees & legal immigration. There are about a half dozen bills passed in the House in the last Congress that will be in there. 1
BREAKING - Victory on a new public charge lawsuit. The court just ruled for the plaintiffs in Cook County, IL, et. al. v. Wolf, et. al. The public charge rule was set aside nationally as of today.
During WWII, Americans feared enemy spies from overseas (perhaps disguised as Jewish refugees) and those close to home. After Pearl Harbor, the US government forcibly relocated more than 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry in the name of national security.
BREAKING - Biden Administration moves to dismiss all appeals of the Trump public charge rule (including the Supreme Court appeal). Possible that 3rd parties could move to intervene so it's not over. But definitely good news.
6 - Policy only applies to parent -child relationships. I am aware of instances of children traveling with grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, etc. That could be an issue for some.
When we’re talking about job creation, freeing up backlogged workers to start their own companies and have more power in wage negotiations will help US workers - They are skilled and educated, in demand and good for America — so help them stay for good
Reporters - 160 of my Twitter followers have filled out a form over the last two hours volunteering to speak to you about the impact of the travel ban on their families and jobs. I am happy to help get you connected if you reach out. I know you want to talk to people affected.
Today's Ukraine refugee news is welcome. But a reminder,
@POTUS
,
@SecMayorkas
and
@uscis
- 40k of our Afghan allies are living in fear for their lives waiting 7+ months on from filing their humanitarian parole applications. Do right by them too.
My daughter started her first campaign volunteer work last night phone calling for Biden. After getting hung up on over and over she got to help an 88 year old Pennsylvania woman navigate submitting a mail in ballot and it made her evening.