Historic Blizzard Grounds Travel Across Northeast; Partial Reopenings Begin
Trump Administration Gives ICE New Power to Detain Legal Refugees Awaiting Green Cards
Canada Tells FIFA World Cup Fans: Apply Early—No Special Visa Will Be Issued
Latest News
DHS Proposes Sweeping Limits on Work Permits for Asylum Seekers
A DHS notice of proposed rulemaking would suspend new work-permit filings whenever the asylum backlog exceeds six months, extend the initial waiting period to one year, and impose stricter vetting. Employers could see slower hiring and increased reverification burdens if the rule is finalized after public comment.
Labor Department Wage Rule for H-1B and PERM Clears White House Review
The Office of Management and Budget has cleared a draft DOL rule that is expected to raise government-mandated prevailing wages for the H-1B and PERM programs. Employers will soon have a limited window to comment, but higher salary floors could arrive later this year, increasing assignment costs for U.S. inbound moves.
Senators Move to Curb ICE ‘Warehouse’ Detention Expansion
New legislation from Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan would bar DHS from opening new ICE detention or processing centers without state and local consent. Although passage is uncertain, the bill highlights growing bipartisan unease over plans to repurpose warehouses into facilities that could detain thousands of migrants.
Winter Storm Shuts Five Northeastern Passport Agencies
Severe snowstorms forced the State Department to close passport agencies in Boston, Connecticut, Portsmouth (National Passport Center), New York, and Philadelphia on February 23. The move halts in-person expedited processing, potentially delaying urgent business travel and relocations.
State Department Launches Nationwide ‘Passport Acceptance Fairs’ Ahead of Summer Rush
The State Department will hold dozens of walk-in Passport Acceptance Fairs nationwide, beginning this weekend, to help first-time applicants and families secure travel documents before the busy summer season. Employers can leverage the events to minimize last-minute passport emergencies for relocating staff.