Recent Updates from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
The government has announced bans on travel to the U.S. for people from certain countries, as well as additional restrictions, such as an indefinite pause on applications and new reviews and security checks, for people from certain countries. For more information on changes affecting people from travel ban countries, click here.
The government has also implemented changes to the U.S. refugee program, including a review of all refugees admitted to the U.S. between January 20, 2021 and February 20, 2025, whether or not they have already become lawful permanent residents (“green card” holders). All pending green card applications for refugees who were admitted to the U.S. during this time period are also being put on hold indefinitely. For more information on changes affecting refugees, click here.
USCIS has also announced an indefinite pause on asylum applications – for more information, click here.
Citizens of Afghanistan are subject to many of the changes listed above – for more information specific to Afghan nationals, click here (also available in Dari and Pashto).
For updates on Temporary Protected Status, click here or visit USCIS’s website.
USCIS also recently announced updates to the validity of many categories of work permits (Employment Authorization Documents or “EADs”) – for more information, click here.
Know Your Rights
All individuals residing in the United States have certain rights regardless of their immigration status. Below are resources to assist individuals with education and information.
The DC Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) hosts monthly virtual Know Your Rights presentations in English and Spanish; the schedule for January-June 2026 is available here.
Legal Aid Justice Center provides a comprehensive set of resources for emergency preparation for individuals living in Virginia, including important documents and worksheets: Resources Here
CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network) provides a toolkit for individuals and communities looking to prepare for immigration emergency response: Resources Here
CLINIC provides information in a variety of languages regarding rights and education for immigrants and advocates: CLINIC Site
CLINIC also provides printable cards that community members may keep with them in case of an encounter with enforcement agents: Printable Card
USAHello also has information about how to prepare for raids or enforcement actions (available in multiple languages): Information Here
*If you are looking for someone who has been detained by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), the detainee locator website is here.
Notarios and Scams
In Latin America, a “notario público,” refers to a highly trained attorney who performs many of the services an attorney in the United States does. However, a “notary public” in the United States has a much different role than those in Latin America. They cannot give legal advice to clients. People who exploit this confusion and falsely represent themselves as “notarios” victimize thousands of immigrants.
Common schemes by “notarios” include promising a quick work permit, filing a fraudulent asylum application leading to an order of deportation, filing petitions for people barred by law from getting the benefit they seek and falsely representing to immigrants that they can reduce sentences/convictions. Their practices jeopardize immigrants’ status because they lack substantive knowledge of relevant issues and are often unable to stay abreast of the frequent changes in immigration law.
Learn more at StopNotarioFraud.org
Some of the most common immigration scams are listed HERE and include:
- Government Impersonators
- Misleading Offers of Support
- Job Offers Scams
- Payments by Phone or Email
- Form I-9 and Email Scams
- TPS Re-registration Scams
- Be sure to report to authorities immediately if you discover you have been a victim of a scam.
Note: Hogar Immigrant Services – Legal, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington does not contact potential clients unsolicited. We will return your call if you contact us first or have been referred to us by another Catholic Charities ministry, but we will not spontaneously contact you first.
