Immigration Trending Topics

To help with your writing efforts, here’s what people are looking for in Immigration Law online. Trending topics culled from JD Supra, search analytics, social media conversations, and other sources:

What Pending DHS Rule Could Mean for Visa-Related Fees 

Consider writing about:

The possibility of higher immigration costs for employers who take part in the H-1B visa program; type of fees at issue; employers or circumstances to which these could apply; where the pending Department of Homeland Security rule stands now; potential timeline for finalization and implementation; what else employers may need to know about their obligations, and workforce impacts, under this proposed rule.

Related information:

https://www.newsweek.com/h-1b-visa-renewal-change-could-cost-companies-millions-12291145

How New USCIS Policy Could Affect Immigration Benefit Requests 

Consider writing about:

A policy update issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Aug. 5; what this change means for the handling of immigration benefit requests; practical pointers for employers and foreign national workers on preparing immigration filings in a way that could maximize their chances of success.

Related information:

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-to-reduce-frivolous-immigration-benefits-requests-by-reinforcing-evidence-standards

Open AI, Subsidiary to Pay $3M Over Hiring of Foreign Workers 

Consider writing about:

A $3.2 million settlement that OpenAI and a subsidiary will pay over allegations that the two companies favored foreign workers over U.S. citizens when hiring; key points of the Immigration and Nationality Act at issue in this case; employers’ obligations according to the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) process; related enforcement actions and trends involving alleged hiring-related discrimination against U.S. citizens.

Related information:

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/civil-rights-division-secures-settlement-openai-discriminating-against-us-workers

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/civil-rights-division-sues-cloudera-excluding-us-workers-applying-high-paying-technology

How Final DHS Rule on ‘Duration of Status’ Affects F-1 and J-1 Visa Holders 

Consider writing about:

A final rule published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on July 17 that affects F-1 and J-1 visa holders; when the rule takes effect; categories of individuals most affected by this rule; what the rule change means for these visa holders’ residency status, employment options, length of stay in the United States, and other rights or related risks; compliance obligations or practical guidance for schools, universities, or other impacted individuals or entities.

Related information:

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/07/16/trump-administration-issues-final-rule-end-foreign-student-visa-abuse

ICE Agents Increasingly Targeting Airline Passengers: What to Know 

Consider writing about:

Multiple reports of an increase in immigration enforcement actions at U.S. airports; what individual travelers or their employers should know about potential risks of arrest and detention at this time; travelers who are most at risk; what to know about immigration agents’ authority on airport property and about immigration authorities’ access to travelers’ information; rights that individuals may be able to exercise during a confrontation with immigration agents; information that employers should be conveying to their workforce; whether foreign nationals should avoid air travel right now; how they may be able to minimize risk to themselves if they feel compelled to maintain their travel plans; whether other modes of domestic or international travel are also being heavily targeted by immigration agents.

Related information:

https://abcnews.com/US/federal-immigration-authorities-targeting-airports-arrests/story?id=135170980

What DHS Interim Final Rule Means for Asylum Seekers 

Consider writing about:

An interim final rule released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security this week; how the rule stands to affect asylum seekers; rationale for the new rule; its effective date; what to know about the affirmative asylum process as it has existed prior to this rule; how the new rule is likely to impact court proceedings, removal proceedings, deportations, and the overall asylum process and immigration court system in the United States.

Related information:

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/07/27/uscis-announces-rule-change-asylum-system-reduce-backlog

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/28/2026-15190/affirmative-asylum-referrals-without-interview

Workers, Employers Buffeted by Shifts in Temporary Protected Status Rules 

Consider writing about:

New action announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on July 10 regarding Temporary Protected Status; which foreign nationals are affected by the extension described in the July 10 guidance; status of legal challenges to the Trump administration’s policy regarding Temporary Protected Status; compliance reminders and risk management advice for employers on employment eligibility, terminations, hiring, rehiring, and more; additional guidance on how employers can best cope with federal immigration authorities’ shifting position on Temporary Protected Status.

Related information:

https://www.uscis.gov/save/current-user-agencies/news-alerts/update-on-termination-of-temporary-protected-status-for-haiti-release-july-10-2026

https://www.newsweek.com/us-companies-to-lose-thousands-of-migrant-workers-within-weeks-12184479

DHS Mulls Overhaul of EB-5 Investor Program 

Consider writing about:

The Trump administration’s recently released proposal to overhaul the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program; stated objective for the proposal; potential timeline for implementation; what the changes could mean for eligibility, financing, documentation, compliance, authority, and other key points of the EB-5 program; whether previously approved projects or granting of resident status would be in jeopardy if these changes go through.

Related informastion:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/02/2026-13392/eb-5-reform-and-integrity-act-of-2022-ensuring-the-integrity-of-the-eb-5-program-automatic

What to Know About Denaturalization Process, Trends 

Consider writing about:

The denaturalization process in the United States; individuals to whom the process may apply; potential grounds for launching a denaturalization process; how the process is conducted; what a denaturalization means for an individual’s legal status, rights, and protections; how common denaturalizations are, currently or historically, in the United States; challenges or risks for individuals who wish to contest a denaturalization.

Related information:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/denaturalization-citizenship-us-justice-department

What Employers Need to Know About TPS Compliance in Wake of Supreme Court Ruling 

Consider writing about:

The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 25 ruling in Mullin v. Doe; background to this case; what the high court’s decision means for current or future Temporary Protected Status designations, whether for individuals from specific countries or more broadly speaking; related guidance from federal immigration authorities; practical steps for employers concerned about staffing, immigration compliance, and employee rights in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling.

Related information:

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-1083_f204.pdf

ICE Unleashes ‘Quiet’ Surge in Arrests 

Consider writing about:

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s apparent change in tactics, leading to news reports of a “quiet surge” in communities across the United States; what this reported pivot could mean for employers, schools, and other entities, individuals, or specific industries or job types; practical recommendations for employers and others on how they can best prepare for the likelihood of a raid or other aggressive ICE actions inside or outside a worksite; additional guidance involving workplace policies regarding public vs. private spaces, warrant types, workplace safety, and interaction with ICE agents, local law enforcement, and/or relatives of individuals detained by ICE agents.

Related information:

https://apnews.com/article/immigration-arrests-border-ice-trump-a748345d743ebc84b5a20b71abea17f1

https://www.npr.org/2026/04/04/nx-s1-5768273/after-minnesota-ice-surge-shift-to-quieter-enforcement

Supreme Court Scorecard on Immigration 

Consider writing about:

The U.S. Supreme Court’s overall record on immigration issues at the end of the most recent term. What stands out to you about the Court’s immigration-related decisions, their short- and potential long-term impacts, how they compare to prior eras’ immigration rulings, what they say about the current Court, and whether these rulings could further fuel a growing call to ‘reform” or remake the Court in some manner.

Block on Immigration Benefits Struck Down by Federal Judge 

Consider writing about:

A Rhode Island federal judge’s June 5 ruling that strikes down a slew of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service policies affecting people from 39 countries; noteworthy points in Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell’s ruling; what the ruling potentially means for affected individuals’ immigration status, employment eligibility, and other sought-after rights or protections.

Related information:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/insight/judge-orders-trump-admin-to-resume-immigration-processing/gm-GM3733687E

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-judge-invalidates-trump-policies-targeting-immigrants-39-countries-2026-06-05

What Is the Status of $100K H-1B Fee? 

Consider writing about:

The latest developments involving a $100,000 H-1B fee; what to know about a Massachusetts federal judge’s June 8 ruling that the Trump administration’s fee encroached on Congress’ taxation powers; what the status of the fee is, in the wake of the judge’s initial ruling and his subsequent granting of a stay, in response to the administration’s appeal of his order; likely next steps in this case; what all this means for existing or planned H-1B filings; how employers should proceed amid the legal wrangling over the legality of the $100,000 fee.

Former Court Clerks Face Federal Charges Over Alleged Interference With ICE Courthouse Actions 

Consider writing about:

The arrest of two state court clerks for allegedly thwarting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts at a Utah courthouse; charges that the court clerks are facing; how the clerks’ case compares to that of a judge in a different jurisdiction who wound up in federal authorities’ crosshairs over allegedly similar behavior; related regional or national trends; what to know about ICE agents’ authority when inside a courthouse; what to know about court personnel’s legal obligations, rights, or protections when interacting with federal agents.

Related information:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ut/pr/two-former-utah-court-clerks-arrested-and-facing-federal-charges-after-allegedly-helping

Ga. Town Turns to Public Nuisance Law in Bid to Thwart Immigration Detention Center 

Consider writing about:

A Georgia town’s use of that state’s public nuisance law as a strategy for contesting the Trump administration’s plans to convert a warehouse into a large immigration detention center. How novel is this use of a public nuisance law within the context of growing public opposition to detention centers? What are the likely challenges ahead for such a strategy? What does this case illustrate regarding the evolving use of public nuisance laws in assorted contexts (not just immigration-related) in recent years?

Related information:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/31/georgia-ice-detention-center-social-circle

How Businesses Should Prepare for Potential ICE Turmoil Around World Cup 

Consider writing about:

How the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions and pronouncements may be creating liability risks or other concerns for U.S. businesses in the run-up to the World Cup; related concerns over potential worker absences, staffing, supply chains, organized labor protests, or ICE disruptions to business operations; how businesses can prepare and potentially limit negative impacts to their operations.

DHS Shifts Attention to Attorneys in Latest Pushback Against Asylum Claims 

Consider writing about:

A May 26 directive by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding purported asylum fraud; what this May 26 release may mean for immigration attorneys as well as for their clients in terms of enforcement actions and potential penalties; any practices attorneys and their clients should be reviewing or strengthening in light of accelerating pressures from DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Related information:

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/05/26/dhs-takes-additional-steps-crack-down-asylum-fraud

Are New Visa Questions a Trap? 

Consider writing about:

Two new questions that prospective visa holders are being asked by officials at U.S. embassies and consulates; official rationale for the required new questions; what these asylum-related questions could mean for nonimmigrant visa applicants; practical guidance for individuals and for the business community.

Related information:

https://www.newsweek.com/us-visa-update-state-department-questions-asylum-11889179

Know Your Way Around ICE Notices of Inspection 

Consider writing about:

Notices of Inspection issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; what these notifications consist of; how they are delivered; practical guidance on complying with an NOI; what an NOI does or does not entitle ICE agents to do on company premises or with company records; how the NOI process may be accelerating and leading to heightened risks for employers.

Are Immigrant Truck Drivers Facing New Roadblocks? 

Consider writing about:

Immigration-related developments involving foreign-born truckers in the United States; what percentage of the commercial trucking industry is estimated to consist of immigrants; what to know about their immigration status, rights, and protections, and how that population has trended over the years; new pressures that immigrant truck drivers are facing from state or federal authorities; related enforcement actions or lawsuits, and their current status; potential impacts on the U.S. trucking industry’s overall workforce and operations, as well as on the numerous other industries that rely heavily on the trucking industry; what the U.S. trucking industry should be doing in the face of a potentially worsening shortage of drivers.

Implications of Supreme Court Case Centered on Green Card Holders 

Consider writing about:

Oral arguments held this month before the U.S. Supreme Court regarding lawful permanent residents (aka green card holders); key issues raised in Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General v. Muk Choi Lau; what to know about the federal government’s parole authority, the parole process, and how this case could affect lawful permanent residents’ rights, immigration officers’ powers, and – more broadly speaking – the Trump administration’s overall immigration policy and goals.

Related information:

https://rollcall.com/2026/04/22/supreme-court-hears-arguments-on-us-power-to-strip-green-cards

Trump Administration Seeks to Rev Up Denaturalization Process 

Consider writing about:

Reports that the Trump administration plans to widen its efforts to revoke the citizenship status of foreign-born Americans; precedent for doing so; grounds for denaturalization; what the denaturalization process consists of; related notifications, timelines, procedures, or rights that individuals or other affected parties should know about; what the loss of citizenship status would potentially mean for individuals.

Related information:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/doj-denaturalization-strip-citizenship-foreign-born-americans-rcna341922

How Legal Disputes Over Immigrant Detention Centers Are Unfolding 

Consider writing about:

Disputes over property conversions or construction intended to create immigrant detention centers in the United States; how these legal battles are taking shape; what to know about key claims being made in challenges to these facilities’ existence and designated use; any noteworthy patterns that may be emerging across these cases, especially in terms of outcome.

What Employers Need to Do Now, in Face of Tougher I-9 Rules and Related Risks 

Consider writing about:

Heightened I-9 compliance risks facing employers in the wake of changes recently made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Form I-9 errors that ICE now considers to be substantive, rather than technical or procedural in nature; potential penalties for substantive violations; how penalties are determined and imposed; timeline under which violations may be determined; any options for corrective action by employers after the fact, in lieu of penalties; practices that employers should be undertaking, or strengthening, in the face of these ICE changes; immediate actions that employers should be taking now to reduce the risks of facing I-9 penalties.

Related information:

https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/new-ice-policy-redefines-substantive-i9-violations

https://www.ice.gov/factsheets/i9-inspection

Temporary Protected Status Developments: What to Know 

Consider writing about:

Your choice of recent or quickly approaching developments involving the use of the Temporary Protected Status designation in the United States. Among the possible points to explore: nationalities that have recently either lost or regained this status; related legal challenges or court rulings involving the Trump administration’s efforts to curtail temporary protected status designations; what to know about upcoming U.S. Supreme Court arguments over temporary protected status for Haitian and Syrian nationals; how the high court has ruled on TPS issues in the past; what employers should know about TPS-designated individuals’ residency status, employment eligibility, and more; potential risks and alternative options for individuals who lose temporary protected status; how employers may need to rethink their staffing and operational needs if they are hard hit by TPS changes to certain groups.

Takeaways From Supreme Court Arguments in Birthright Citizenship Case 

Consider writing about:

Recent oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court over the Trump administration’s challenge to long-standing birthright citizenship protections; history and significance of birthright citizenship; how birthright citizenship has become a hot-button issue; key points raised during oral arguments before the high court; the case’s potential implications for Trump administration immigration policies, for individuals, and for immigrant communities; feasibility of enforcing a revocation of birthright citizenship status, should the U.S. Supreme Court rule in the Trump administration’s favor.

Related information:

https://www.npr.org/2026/04/01/nx-s1-5754762/trump-supreme-court-birthright-citizenship

DOL Releases Proposed Rule on Pay Rates for Foreign Workers 

Consider writing about:

A proposed rule published by the U.S. Department of Labor on March 27 regarding wages paid to foreign workers; key worker groups or classifications to whom the proposed rule would apply; the DOL’s rationale for the rule; what the rule could mean for wage levels and for hiring and compensation practices and patterns; industries that would be most apt to feel the greatest impact from the rule, if it is implemented.

Related information:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/27/2026-06017/improving-wage-protections-for-the-temporary-and-permanent-employment-of-certain-foreign-nationals

How States Are Stepping Up to Protect Immigrant Communities 

Consider writing about:

New state-level protections for immigrants. Which states are taking action on this front in response to the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration agenda? What is the status of these protections, and which stand out to you as the most sweeping or otherwise significant? What should employers, schools, local law enforcement, or other organizations know about these protections, and how they may apply to their workers, vendors, customers, visitors, or others?

Related information:

https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/legislature-passes-ago-request-immigrant-worker-protection-act

https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2026/2026-14.html

https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/2026/20260325c.shtml

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/02/12/education-bills-protect-immigrant-students-oregon-schools

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2026/03/oregon-landlords-would-face-penalty-for-leaking-immigration-status-of-tenants.html

What’s Next for H-2A Workers? 

Consider writing about:

The H-2A visa program. What’s the status of a new interim rule that stands to lower wages for H-2A workers? What are the key elements of that rule, and how are legal challenges to that rule progressing? Additionally, what are the challenges facing the U.S. agricultural industry amid the Trump administration’s increasingly hard line on immigration and internal administration pressures to ramp up detentions and deportations? How is the industry coping with these challenges? What options might the industry be overlooking?