This week in immigration news – September 10, 2020

Diversity visas ordered to resume

Diversity visas, which are awarded to up to 55,000 immigrants who come from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States, were effectively halted by the Trump administration in April. While there is no legal requirement that all 55,000 visas be awarded every year, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that the administration does not have carte blanche to shut down the program.

USCIS on pace to naturalize 30% fewer immigrants this year than last year—preventing many eligible new Americans from voting

While the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency has not disclosed how far behind it is on naturalization applications, many immigrants have had to cope with closures and indefinite wait times as they take the final steps to become citizens.

Trump administration considers not immediately deporting unaccompanied immigrant children under pandemic border policy

Using the justification of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump administration and the CDC have allowed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to quickly deport immigrants—including unaccompanied minors—to four countries as long as they tested negative for the coronavirus.