The United States and Cuba have had a fraught relationship for over half a century. In 1961, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba. It instituted a trade embargo in response to the communist government’s nationalization of American-owned property and alignment with the Soviet Union. However, in recent years, there has been a thawing of relations between the two countries. In December 2014, President Obama announced that the United States would begin normalizing relations with Cuba, including re-establishing diplomatic ties and easing travel and trade restrictions. The Department of State has been in talks with Cuban representatives since December 2014 to try and support family reunification and safe, orderly migration from Cuba to the United States. The talks have had their ups and downs, with bilateral discords on issues such as human rights and the U.S. embargo on Cuba. However, progress continues to be made, most recently with an agreement reached in September 2015 to resume issuing visas for humanitarian parole. One area of dispute between the two countries has been immigration. The Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 allows Cuban nationals who arrive in the United States to apply for permanent residency after one year. This policy has led to many Cubans seeking to immigrate to the United States in recent years, straining relations between the two countries. In 2017, for example, the Trump administration ended the so-called “wet foot, dry foot” policy, allowing Cuban nationals who arrived on American soil to stay in the country. In response, Cuba announced that it would no longer grant exit visas to citizens seeking to emigrate. The Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 continues to be an important tool for Cubans seeking to immigrate to the United States. Under this act, Cubans who have been physically present in the United States for at least one year and who can demonstrate a fear of persecution if they were to return to Cuba are eligible for permanent residence. This act has allowed many Cubans to start new lives in the United States, and it remains an important option for those seeking to immigrate from Cuba today. Humanitarian parole is another area of disagreement between the United States and Cuba. In September 2017, the Trump administration announced that it would end the issuance of visas for humanitarian parole to Cuban nationals. This policy change led to a significant increase in Cubans seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. In response, Cuba began issuing exit visas to citizens wishing to leave the country. The evolution of the talks between the United States and Cuba on immigration issues has been marked by bilateral agreements and disagreements. The most recent agreement reached between the two sides is a resume in issuing visas for humanitarian parole. The Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 still allows many Cubans to start new lives in the United States. This act allows those who have been physically present in the United States for at least one year and can demonstrate a fear of persecution if they return to Cuba and are eligible for permanent residence. Many Cubans have used this act as an opportunity to seek a new life away from the island nation. The goal of the talks may not have changed much since their conception, but both sides have made some progress on key issues. Do you have something to add about Cuban immigration or the Department of State’s talks with Cuban representatives? Share your thoughts in the comments below. If you have any questions regarding any of the information in this article, or if you’re interested in hiring Direct U.S. Immigration to handle your immigration case, schedule a consultation with us.
In a groundbreaking move to ease the immigration crisis, Texas has agreed to decrease truck inspections along its border with Mexico. In exchange, three Mexican states have pledged to bolster their border security measures. This comes as a relief to many commercial truck drivers facing severe traffic jams due to the increased inspections. Let’s take a closer look at this agreement and see what it could mean for the future of immigration in the United States. As the debate over immigration and border security rages on, it can be easy to forget that the U.S. shares a border with another country: Mexico . And while the southern border may not be receiving as much attention as the northern one lately, this issue still largely affects the U.S. as a whole. Recently, the state of Texas reached a Memorandum of Understanding with several Mexican states to ease truck inspections in exchange for increased border security. This is a major win for both sides: Texas will save time and money on inspections, while Mexican states will get much-needed assistance in combating illegal immigration and drugs. It’s a small but significant step forward in relations between the two countries, and it could have a big impact on border security overall. To improve border security, Gov. Greg Abbott has agreed to ease truck inspections at ports of entry along its border with Mexico. Under the new agreement, Mexican states will provide additional resources for immigration enforcement, including immigration judges and Border Patrol agents. In exchange, Texas will reduce the number of mandatory truck inspection points from 17 to 10. The agreement is seen to improve cooperation between the two countries on immigration and border security issues. Texas has been struggling to cope with an influx of immigrants, many of whom are coming from Central American countries. The state has been grappling with how to deal with the issue, and this agreement is seen as a way to help address the problem. Border security is a complex issue, and this agreement is just one step in the right direction. Time will tell how effective this agreement ends up being, but it’s a hopeful sign, nonetheless. When immigration is such a hot-button issue, it’s encouraging to see two countries working together to find a solution that benefits everyone involved. Let’s hope that this is the beginning of more cooperation and progress on the issue of immigration, both in the United States and around the world. What do you think of this agreement between Texas and Mexican states? Do you think it will be effective in combating illegal immigration? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Visit Direct U.S. Immigration to learn everything about immigration!
Is The DHS Social Media Policy in Effect? Will USCIS Review Accounts During Immigration Cases? In March of 2011, the Department of Homeland Security released a social media policy that outlined how its employees should use social media. The policy stated that DHS employees should “be aware of the risks posed by social media and be conscientious in their social networking activity.” In December of 2016, there were reports that USCIS would be reviewing social media accounts as part of their review process for immigration cases. In the wait of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, social media was a hot topic for discussion. So, what is the status of the DHS Social Media Policy? And will social media posts be used against immigrants in the United States? The DHS Social Media Policy was first announced in July of 2017. The policy requires that all individuals applying for immigration benefits provide their social media account information to USCIS. This includes any social media accounts the applicant has used in the past five years. This policy allowed USCIS to review an applicant’s social media history to determine whether they pose a security threat to the United States. The social media policy is still in effect for DHS employees. However, it is unclear whether social media posts will be used against immigrants in the United States. While social media has long been a part of USCIS’ background checks for immigrants, this is the first time that the agency has explicitly stated that it may review social media accounts as part of its adjudication process. The policy raised concerns among some immigrant rights advocates who worry that it could be used to target and discriminate against certain applications. Others have applauded the move as a necessary step to ensure national security. USCIS has said that social media will only be used “in limited circumstances,” such as when there is reason to believe that an applicant may pose a national security threat. However, it is unclear how the agency will determine who falls into this category. Immigrant rights advocates urge USCIS to exercise caution and transparency in implementing this policy. If you are an immigrant in the United States, it is important to exercise caution when posting on social media sites. You should avoid posting anything that could be used against you in your immigration case. If USCIS does review social media accounts, they could use anything you post against you in your case. For example, if an immigrant has made negative comments about the United States on social media, USCIS may consider those comments when deciding their case. This could lead to more scrutiny of social media activity for immigrants and social media users seeking immigration benefits. So, it is better to be safe than sorry regarding social media and immigration cases. If you are applying for immigration benefits, it is important to be aware of the DHS Social Media Policy. Be sure to provide USCIS with any social media information they request, and be mindful of what you post online. Social media can be a great way to connect with friends and family, but it’s important to remember that anything you post can be seen by anyone – including USCIS. What do you think about this? Do you think it’s fair for USCIS to review social media accounts as part of its immigration case reviews? Let us know in the comments below. Have questions about your immigration case? Schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys today, or call us at 1 (888) 853-4833! We can help guide you through this process and ensure that your social media activity does not jeopardize your immigration case. We look forward to speaking with you!
Here Is What You Need To Know An increasing number of foreigners are finding themselves in the U.S. So, what can you expect when you come to the United States? While some factors can impact your move, an influx of immigrants has made the U.S. a truly multicultural society. Some of the best things about the United States are things that can seem strange to a person who has never visited the country. In the United States, you will experience things similar to your own culture and things that are completely alien to your own experience. You will have the opportunity to see a different way of living and meet people from all over the world. Everything is BIG in the U.S. The United States is the 3rd largest country globally. The North American continent is filled with giant stores, cars, and ideas. The size of the country is often compared to its population. The U.S. has about 330 million people, which is about 4% of the world’s population. The amount of people of India and China are the only countries that exceed the U.S., with approximately 1.3 billion and 1.4 billion, respectively. The U.S. also has an abundance of nature and natural resources with wide-open spaces which are incredibly beautiful. Depending on which side of the country you are on, you are able to experience all four seasons with all different types of terrain including tropical regions and desert plains. There are numerous lakes, mountain ranges to ski and hike, and coastlines spanning miles. There are 58 national parks and hundreds of federally management parks, forests, and wilderness areas. Education The education system in the United States is consistently ranked the best globally , with 4 of the top 5 schools in the world being in the U.S. In fact, the United States is rated top 10 globally for highly educated people where: 84.6% graduated from high school, 52.6% attended some college, 27.2% earned a bachelor’s degree, and 9.6% earned graduate degrees. Consequently, career opportunities also rank highly amongst other nations in the world. In fact, the U.S. is a leader in scientific research and technological innovation. Economy America ranks as a leading economy in terms of nominal gross domestic product (GDP) per capital. If you’re looking for stability and growth, the U.S. is one of the best places to be, as the average household income has one of the highest averages. The Best Eating Ever! The U.S. is known to have cuisines specific to America . But given that the U.S. has a multicultural heritage, you can find any type of food from any region around the world at any time. There are over 600,000 restaurants serving cuisines from every corner of the world that appeal to every taste and budget. In fact, there are diners open 24 hours per day with 30-page menus, or small bistros open only during certain hours of the morning. You will also find random food trucks that sell delicious food even at 3AM. Pet Lover’s The ratio of pet owners in America far exceeds those of other nations. More than 70 percent of the country’s population is a pet owner. Animals are considered part of the family, which means that people will go to great lengths to ensure their pets are well. They dress them up for Halloween , and in some cases, may even take them out drinking . The pet industry is a huge economic force reaching $99 billion in 2020. Americans treat their pets like kids, so people are therefore more than willing to spend money on their pets, whether they have kids or not. Pet owners spend most of their money on food, veterinary care, toys, and boarding. Consequently, the top three industries that benefit from pet ownership are the food industry, pet supply and product retail, and veterinary care. Transportation The U.S. can be a car-centric country . But there are many other forms of transportation such as buses, subways, trains, airplanes, jet packs , and more. Since there are so many different types of places you can visit without even leaving the U.S. such as exploring the snowy mountains or swimming with tropical fish, you can easily reach your destination. The U.S. has a network of over 4 million miles of public roads. If you’re looking to start a new life in the United States, you have come to the right place. Schedule a consultation with Direct U.S. Immigration to see what your options are.
The United States has been in the midst of a refugee crisis and are now able to do something about it. The U.S. government is offering immigration-based humanitarian parole to certain Ukrainians nationals. This means that they can come to the United States if they meet certain requirements, including having a family member or non-governmental agency sponsor them. Individuals granted humanitarian parole under this program will be allowed entry into the United States for up to 2 years at which time they must return to Ukraine unless they are eligible for another type of immigration relief such as asylum status or refugee status. After this initial period of stay expires, if the individual remains admissible, they may apply for an extension of their HP through USCIS by filing Form I-131H with evidence supporting continued eligibility for HP while awaiting a decision on their extension request.
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