DHS Creates New Registration Process for Certain US-Born Children of Foreign Government Employees
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have issued an interim final rule allowing certain children born in the US to foreign government employees to voluntarily register as lawful permanent residents (green card holders), expanding a process that previously applied primarily to children of foreign diplomats. Read more.
Maryland Court Blocks Enforcement of New Birthright Citizenship Executive Order for Certified Class
A federal court in Maryland has temporarily blocked enforcement of portions of a 2026 executive order that sought to create new exceptions to birthright citizenship for certain children born in the United States while litigation continues. Read more.
USCIS Opens New International Field Office in Ethiopia
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will open a new international field office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on September 9, 2026, to handle immigration-related matters in Ethiopia and provide in-country support for document verification, investigations, and DNA collection services. Read more.
States Challenge Public Charge Rule Affecting Green Card Applicants
A coalition of 22 states and the District of Columbia has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to stop the Trump administration’s new public charge rule before it takes effect on Sept. 18, 2026. Read more.
DHS OPT Fee Rule Completes White House Review
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed rule titled ”Optional Practical Training Fees” has completed review by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). OIRA concluded its review on Sept. 11, 2026, with a designation of “Consistent with Change,” allowing DHS to move forward with the next stage of the rulemaking process. Read more.
USCIS Reaches H-2B Visa Cap for First Half of FY 2027
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reached the H-2B visa cap for the first half of FY 2027, making September 4, 2026, the final filing date for new cap-subject petitions requesting employment start dates before April 1, 2027. Read more.
Federal Court Delays DHS Fixed-Term Visa Rule for F-1, J-1 and I Visa Holders
On September 14, 2026, the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a nationwide preliminary injunction postponing the effective date of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Final Rule that would have fundamentally changed admission periods for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors and I media representatives. Read more.
