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Immigration Briefing: April 2025

event flyer, details at the end of post

On Tuesday, April 22nd, the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights hosted a virtual Immigration Briefing! If you missed the briefing, you can find a summary below, as well as ways you can get involved. 

Enforcement Actions

In recent months, there have been efforts to target judges, immigration attorneys, federal prosecutors, and big law firms who take on immigration pro bono cases.

Politically motivated detentions and student visa revocations have continued in the last month––including a Palestinian student and legal resident who was detained at his final interview to become a U.S. citizen.There have also been reports of Homeland Security Investigations Officers conducting “welfare checks” on unaccompanied minors, which immigration attorneys warn may be used to find out if sponsors of these children are in the country without legal status.

Alien Enemies Act

The Alien Enemies Act continues to be used to justify the deportation of non-citizens without due process. [link to previous immigration briefing]

Last month, the administration removed over 200 Venezuelans alleged to be members of the “Tren de Aragua” gang. Since then, we have learned that at least 75% of those who were deported had no criminal history. [maybe mention Abrego Garcia]

While the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) allowed the administration to continue deporting Venezuelans suspected of gang activity under the AEA, they ruled that these individuals must be afforded judicial notice and review before they can be removed.

“Self-Deportation”

There have been reports of individuals receiving letters or emails notifying them that there parole has been terminated and directing them to “self-deport” to avoid being deported. As a reminder, individuals cannot self-deport: deportation is a formal process that must happen before an immigration court, and only immigration judges can issue orders of deportation.

Federal Policy Updates

Registration Requirements for Undocumented Immigrants

As of April 11th, the administration’s requirement that all undocumented immigrants register for the federal government is in effect. While the program itself is still undergoing judicial review, a judge ruled against halting the program while it undergoes review.

Under this program, undocumented immigrants are required to: 

  • Register and provide fingerprints
  • Carry proof of compliance if one is 18 years of age or older 
  • Notify DHS in writing of each change of address within 10 days of moving 

If you have the following documentation, you are already registered:

  • I-551, Permanent Resident Card
  • I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record), which includes:
    • Persons admitted on a nonimmigrant visa.
    • Individuals who entered the U.S. on Parole under 212(d)(5) of INA.
    • Individuals who have been granted permission to leave the U.S. without initiating removal proceedings.
  • I-765, Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
  • I-862, Notice to Appear (NTA)
  • I-485, Application for Status as Permanent Resident

For everyone else, this new registration policy forces “unregistered” immigrants to choose between two risky options:

  • Choosing to submit the designated form to the federal government, which may put them at risk of being put into removal proceedings;
  • Choosing not to file, which may put them at risk of future criminal prosecution for failing to register if they are detained by ICE in the future.

There are also significant racial profiling concerns about forcing undocumented immigrants to carry registration papers. It raises the possibility that immigrants who are already registered, even those with legal immigration status, can be arrested and prosecuted for failing to carry proof of their registration with them at all times, or for failing to provide it to law enforcement officers when requested.

It is important that you consult with an attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative (from a non-profit organization that provides legal services) for advice that applies to your specific case (everyone has different circumstances and cases).  

TPS for Venezuelans

As of March 31st, the federal court granted a motion to postpone the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of the 2023 designation of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuela.

The judge’s order is nationwide, which means that  eligible Venezuelan nationals who received TPS benefits under the 2023 designation will receive an automatic extension of employment authorization through April 2nd, 2026, pursuant to the the TPS extension granted during the final days of the Biden Administration.

While this is good news, since it will allow those covered by the 2023 TPS designation for Venezuela to keep their employment authorization and other TPS benefits, the lawsuit is continuing, which means that TPS for Venezuelans is still at risk. Attorneys recommend that TPS recipients contact an immigration attorney and get screened for other immigration relief.

IRS Information Sharing

Earlier this year, the IRS refused to share undocumented taxpayers’ information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), because the IRS mandates that taxpayer information is protected.  

This month, the IRS reached a deal with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to share undocumented data––ICE would submit names/addresses of people suspected of immigration violations, which the IRS would then cross-reference with taxpayer records.

In 2022, undocumented immigrants paid $97 billion in federal, state & local taxes. This decision not only shares previously protected information, but also puts these tax dollars at risk.

Know Your Rights While Traveling

There has been an uptick in screenings of non-citizens returning to the U.S. after travel––including legal permanent residents.

Immigration attorneys recommend keeping the following in mind if you are planning on traveling:

  • Keep your documents up to date. If you’re a legal permanent resident, keep your green card up to date and renew it or apply for naturalization if possible. If you are traveling with Advance Parole or a Travel Permit, ensure that your documents are valid throughout the trip, and make sure that you are complying with both the time period and the purpose of the trip.
  • Consider taking safety measures with your devices. Travelers may be asked to unlock or provide passwords to their phones or laptops. While U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents cannot be denied entry for refusing to do so, it may also be worth taking additional safety measures by disabling the facial recognition function or turning off your phone while traveling.
  • Speak with an immigration attorney before traveling, especially if you have a pending immigration case.
  • Consider traveling with a US Citizen. If you are subjected to secondary questioning, it may be helpful to have someone with you who can contact your attorney or gather any documents you need.
  • Never sign anything you don’t understand. There have been some accounts of Legal Permanent Residents being asked to sign I-407 forms upon entry. which relinquishes permanent resident status. Remember to never sign anything that you haven’t read and understood fully!

A note on Legal Permanent Residents: legal permanent residence is permanent––it cannot be taken away by anyone but an immigration judge. You can only lose LPR status by being outside of the U.S. for a prolonged period of time. LPRs must be allowed to re-enter the country––they can be sent to secondary questioning or delayed, but no one other than an immigration judge can prevent them from re-entering the country.

Calls to Action

If you would like to get involved, you can take the following actions:

The next immigration briefing is on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 1pm and you can register at bit.ly/CIRRBriefing!

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