News from April 2023
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Maine
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
EMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Maine to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe storm and flooding on Dec. 23-24, 2022.
FEMA Releases Updated Guide to Help Communities with Resilience Grants Process
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
FEMA released an updated and consolidated guidance to help grant applicants successfully navigate our mitigation grant programs to enhance climate resiliency.
FEMA Approves $14 Million for Lee County Schools, Sheriff
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
FEMA Public Assistance has approved two grants to reimburse the Lee County School District and Lee County Sheriff for emergency costs responding to Hurricane Ian.
FEMA Awards State of Vermont Over $3.1 Million For COVID Hospital Staffing Costs
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $3.1 million to the State of Vermont to reimburse it for the costs of providing extra staff for hospitals to handle increased patient loads during the COVID-19 pandemic.
FEMA Extends Transitional Sheltering Assistance
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
FEMA approved an extension for Transitional Sheltering Assistance for survivors who still need time finding housing and continue to qualify for the program.
Maryland Defense Contractor Convicted for Procurement Fraud after Nine-Day Trial
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
Misrepresented to the U.S. Departments of Defense and Labor the Condition of the Equipment and Provided Fraudulent Documentation Concerning His Company’s Certifications
Hampstead Woman Sentenced to Prison for Disaster Fraud
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
A Hampstead woman was sentenced today to 12 months and 1 day in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for fraudulent disaster assistance claims following Hurricane Florence.
USCIS Issues Guidance on Analyzing Employers’ Ability to Pay Wages
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today issued policy guidance (PDF, 313.21 KB) on how we analyze an employer’s ability to pay the proffered wage for immigrant petitions in certain first, second, and third preference employment-based immigrant visa classifications.
USCIS Extends Rule Providing Interpreters at Affirmative Asylum Interviews
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today a fourth extension to a temporary final rule (TFR) requiring use of a USCIS interpreter at certain affirmative asylum interviews.
USCIS Removes Biometrics Requirement for Form I-526E Petitioners
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
Beginning March 15, we are removing the biometrics submission requirement and $85 fee requirement for petitioners filing Form I-526E, Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor. Petitioners no longer need to submit the fee for biometrics services with their Form I-526E.
USCIS Announces Additional Mail Delivery Process for Receiving ADIT Stamp
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
Lawful permanent residents may receive temporary evidence of their lawful permanent resident status by mail rather than physically visiting a field office to receive an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication (ADIT) stamp (also known as an I-551 stamp).
Update to Filing Location for U Nonimmigrant-Based Form I-485
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
U nonimmigrants applying to become lawful permanent residents must now file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, only at the Nebraska Service Center and not at the Vermont Service Center.
USCIS Relocates Lockbox From Phoenix To Tempe, Arizona for Courier Delivery Services
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
On March 31, applicants and petitioners filing at the Phoenix lockbox will see a new filing location for courier delivery services such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL. We will move our Phoenix lockbox to Tempe, AZ, for courier delivery services.
USCIS Form and Policy Updates for Applying for Naturalization Based on Military Service
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced updated policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify and conform with the revision of Form N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service.
USCIS Announces End of COVID-Related Flexibilities
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that certain flexibilities it first announced in March 2020, to address the COVID-19 pandemic will end on March 23, 2023.
ERO Boston removes foreign fugitive wanted in Brazil for fraud
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston removed foreign fugitive and unlawfully present Brazilian national Carlos Alberto Moraes, 57, from the United States on March 10. Moraes is wanted in Brazil for using fraudulent documents.
Brothers convicted of methamphetamine conspiracy
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
Following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, a federal jury in the Western District of Tennessee convicted two brothers of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Former MLB player, co-conspirator convicted of drug conspiracy
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
Following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, former MLB player Luther Hackman, 48, pled guilty to money laundering and conspiring to distribute cocaine March 9.
ERO Houston removes previously deported Mexican fugitive wanted for homicide
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston, with assistance from ERO Mexico and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force in Mexico, removed Gregorio Gutierrez-Galvan, a 64-year-old previously removed Mexican national, from the United States on March 10.
ICE removes former Guatemalan police officer wanted for activist’s disappearance
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 3, 2023
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Los Angeles removed a former Guatemalan police officer accused of participating in the widely publicized, forced disappearance of a student leader and union activist in 1984.