A recent Supreme Court decision limits U.S. citizens’ ability to challenge visa denials for their non-citizen spouses, even if it means tearing families apart. The Court ruled that U.S. citizens don’t have a constitutional right to challenge these decisions.   Background Sandra Muñoz sued the State Department after her husband, Luis Asencio-Cordero, a citizen of El Salvador, was denied a visa. The consular officer denied Luis’s visa during his interview, finding him ineligible under an ambiguous provision of immigration law which applies where an immigration officer “knows, or has reason ..read more

This Thursday, June 27, at 9 p.m. ET, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to hold their first presidential debate. It will broadcast live on various CNN platforms and be streamed on CNN.com and YouTube. This debate offers a crucial opportunity for voters to understand the future directions proposed by each candidate regarding U.S. immigration policy.   The Candidates   President Biden’s approach to immigration policy has combined a strategy for securing the border and seeking to creating humane, orderly immigration pathways. Recently, the administration has ..read more

LGBTQ+ immigrants face unique obstacles during the immigration process. In the last two administrations, each President has changed the way in which they serve the LGBTQ+ community. We’ve seen dramatic shifts in enforcement of legislation. In 2020, we shared ways in which the Trump Administration “failed to take actions to implement or enforce landmark decisions protecting LGBTQ+ workers from discriminatory practices.” Whereas, the Biden Administration has aimed to restore the U.S. Asylum System. Fighting Triple Marginalization The stigmas and violence LGBTQ+ migrants imposes a triple marginal ..read more

  The Biden Administration has announced new actions to keep families together through a new executive order, “Parole in Place”, focusing on noncitizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens. These actions allow eligible individuals, who have resided in the U.S. for 10+ years, to apply for lawful permanent residency without leaving the country. Here’s what you need to know:   Who Can Benefit? – Those legally married to US citizens – Must have been in the US for 10+ years (people who will benefit from this will have resided here on average for 23 years) – This benefits those who came i ..read more

Written By: Katherine Del Rosario, Immigration Attorney at McEntee Law Group  This week marks the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. At the time, I was working my first job as a Fellow with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), who organized the first massive DACA workshop at Navy Pier in Chicago. I arrived bright and early to a line of young people and their families that stretched down the entire pier. I snapped this quick photo before we welcomed the first applicants.   ..read more

K-pop has flourished in the US over the past few years. BTS sells out stadium tours in a matter of minutes. Artists like ATEEZ and Le Sserafim performed at Coachella this year, and Stray Kids attended the Met Gala this May (and they’re headlining Lollapalooza this year as well). So what do you do if you’re an Asian pop star ready to break into the US? Do you know what type of visa might be right for you? This is where the US visa process comes in. Most K-pop performers would be able to come in under the P3 or O-1B visa. Let’s explore the differences and requirements for each.   P3 Visa: C ..read more

Immigration law can be a complex maze, especially when it comes to understanding the different visa categories available. For athletes and entertainers eyeing the United States as their next destination, the P-1 visa is often the ticket in. But what exactly is the P-1 visa, and who qualifies for it? Let’s dive in and get a better understanding of the P-1 visa.   What is the P-1 Visa?   The P-1 visa is a specific type of visa designed for two main categories of individuals: athletes and members of entertainment groups. There is also a sub-category for accompanying support personnel ..read more

Hey there, innovative minds, creative content creators, and global trailblazers!   If you’re an extraordinary talent aiming to sparkle in the U.S. under an O-1 visa, you know the drill: it’s all about proving you are at the top of your game. But what if checking off some of the traditional criteria feels like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole? Enter the world of comparable evidence, which can be the secret sauce to showcasing your unique brilliance and proving that you’re O-1 eligible.   The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recognizes that not all h ..read more

Tonight marks an exciting occasion – Happy Preseason Game Day for the WNBA!    We’re eagerly counting down the hours to watch the Chicago Sky take on the Minnesota Lynx, and the Indiana Fever (hello Caitlin Clark!) face off against the Dallas Wings.    Here at McEntee Law, we’re not just avid basketball fans; we’re also passionate supporters of women’s sports and international student athletes. Being based in one of the greatest sports cities in the U.S. – Chicago – adds an extra layer of excitement to the WNBA preseason.    Our excitement soared when Chicago Sky ..read more

Over the last week, about 600 people have been arrested at encampments or sit-ins related to the war in Gaza on at least 15 college campuses across the U.S. We’ve also heard reports that Columbia University has threatened to expel student protesters occupying an administration building.   At protests like these, non-citizens have some additional risks to consider that U.S. citizens do not. Law enforcement will likely be present and – even if you are following the law, any contact with law enforcement is a potential risk. Incidental interactions with law enforcement could lead to arrest, d ..read more