Latest Immigration News

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Department of Justice Removes Alien Terrorist in First Use of United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court

Afghan alien supported her family’s plans for Election-Day shooting

WASHINGTON – In the first-ever case before the United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), Nazira Haji Zada, 47, an Afghan national previously residing in Fort Worth, Texas, was removed from the United States after conceding that she is an alien terrorist.

As the matriarch in her family, she supported a plot to commit an ISIS-inspired mass shooting on Election Day in 2024 for which her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, were previously arrested and convicted. The ATRC issued an order of removal on Aug. 20 that was unsealed earlier today following her return to her country of origin. This was the first case ever brought before the ATRC, which Congress established decades ago, and which no previous administration had

USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2027

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services received enough petitions to meet the congressionally established H-2B cap for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2027. Sept. 4, 2026 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date before April 1, 2027. We will reject new cap-subject H-2B petitions received after Sept. 4, 2026, that request an employment start date before April 1, 2027.

Anyone, including U.S. workers and H-2B workers, can send us tips, alleged violations, and other relevant information about potential fraud or abuse using our <a t

DHS Announces Rule for Certain Children Born in the United States to Foreign Government Employees

The Department of Homeland Security today issued an interim final rule amending its regulations to allow certain children born in the United States to foreign government employees who are not U.S. citizens to register as lawful permanent residents.

The rule amends existing regulations that allow children born in the United States to foreign diplomatic officers to register as lawful permanent residents. Consistent with President Trump’s Executive Order 14418, the rule extends that opportunity to eligible children when neither parent is a U.S. citizen and at least one parent is a foreign government employee at the time of the child’s birth.

The interim final rule replaces the term “

Court Order on Diversity Immigrant Visa Program Hold Policy

On Aug. 28, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order in Medani, et al., v. Trump, et al., 26-cv-6332 (NDCA), temporarily vacating PM-602-0193 pending further litigation. USCIS is ordered, “to the extent practicable and in good faith, to take all reasonable steps during the remainder of the Diversity Visa fiscal year to resume ordinary adjudication of plaintiffs’ pending adjustment of status applications without applying” PM-602-0193.

Further, the Court granted in part plaintiff’s motion for class certification. With respect to USCIS, the Court certified the following subclass: “all selectees and derivative beneficiaries under the FY-2026 Diversity Visa Program who are subject to the USCIS DV Hold imposed by Policy Memorandum PM-602-0193.”

The Policy Memorandum was issued to ensure that all aliens applying for

Recent Court Order on Hold Policies

On Aug. 24, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order in Red Eagle Law, L.C., et al., v. Joseph B. Edlow, 26-cv-04850-CRB (NDCA), enjoining PM 602-0192, and PM 602-0194. USCIS is ordered to adjudicate applications in the normal course of USCIS’ process.

Further, the Court granted plaintiff’s motion for class certification. The Court certified the class below in this action of individuals who:

(1) Are citizens or natives of one or more of the 39 countries listed in Presidential Proclamations 10949 or 10998, or the Palestinian Authority; and

(2) Who are seeking asylum with an I-589 application pending; or

(3) Otherwise have a benefit application pending with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services;

(4) That is subject

Visa Bulletin November 2026 Predictions

For official October 2026 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-october-2026.aspx

Please see November 2026 Visa Bulletin Predictions below (for both Family Based and Employment Based categories for all countries):

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	08MAY20	08MAY20	08MAY20	08DEC08	01DEC13
F2A	C	C	C	01JUL26	C
F2B	22NOV19	22NOV19	22NOV19	01AUG10	01NOV13
F3	01FEB15	01FEB15	01FEB15	08JUL01	22SEP06
F4	22FEB12	22FEB12	08JAN07	15MAY01	22JUL08

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	22APR20	22APR20	22APR20	01FEB09	08JUN15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	22NOV19	22NOV19	22NOV19	22MAY11	01NOV14
F3	15JAN15	15JAN15	15JAN15	15JAN03	22NOV06
F4	01FEB12	01FEB12	22FEB07	22MAY01	01MAY09

October 2026 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For October 2026 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-october-2026.aspx

Please see below analysis of October 2026 Visa Bulletin: