Musings on Immigration

Tuve el placer y la bendición de trabajar con un hombre de El Salvador que solía trabajar en su país como oficial de la Policía Nacional Civil (PNC). Él llegó a los Estados Unidos (sin documentación) después de huir de El Salvador por las diferentes amenazas a muerte que él recibió después de haberse encontrado con varios miembros de la Mara contantemente dada la naturaleza de su trabajo. Después de litigar este caso por varios meses, mi cliente tuvo su audiencia final este pasado Viernes, Marzo 11, 2016 en Lumpkin, Georgia, donde el juez de inmigración decidió que él podrá quedarse en el país. Este hombre, quien ha estado detenido en el centro de detención de Stewart (en Lumpkin, Georgia), sufrió gran daño en El Salvador antes de venir a los Estados Unidos: fue amenazado a muerte contantemente por miembros de la Mara contra los cuales él testificaba en corte, y en dos ocasiones, él fue disparado con un arma por miembros de esta pandilla--el último incidente resultando en una heri...

I had the pleasure and blessing to work with a man from El Salvador who used to work as an officer of the National Civil Police (or Policía Nacional Civil—in Spanish). He arrived to the U.S. (without documentation) after fleeing El Salvador following death threats and several encounters where he was shot by members of the Mara gang. After litigating the case for several months, my client had his final trial this past Friday, March 11, in Lumpkin, GA, where the Immigration Judge decided that he will get to remain in the U.S. This man, who was detained in Stewart Detention Center (Lumpkin, GA) had suffered great harm in El Salvador before coming the U.S.: he was threatened to death constantly by gang members he would arrest and testify against, and on two occasions, he was shot at by gang members—the last incident resulting in a bullet wound, which made him realize he either fled his country, or he would surely die. If a foreign national suffers harm abroad and/or fears he will ...

Kuck Immigration Partners is pleased to announce that Hiba Ghalib, Esq, has been named a New Partner, effective March 10, 2016.  With the addition of Ms. Ghalib, Kuck Immigration Partners now has 4 partners, 5 associates and more than 20 paralegals and legal assistants. Ms. Ghalib has decade of experience in immigration law and enjoys a reputation as a leading immigration attorney in Atlanta, Georgia. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University Law School, Ms. Ghalib guides families through the immigration process and assists with both consular processing and applications for family members already in the United States. Ms. Ghalib represents clients in complex deportation and removal defense. Ms. Ghalib also works with employers in leading them through the proper processing of hiring and employing foreign nationals. She routinely advises companies regarding compliance with regard to immigration laws and regulations, and works hand-in-hand with investors...

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released amended regulations, which will expand optional practical training (OPT) for students with U.S. degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) and create new obligations for F-1 students and F-1 employers starting May 10, 2016. Extension period to increase from 17 to 24 months. Under the amended regulations, F-1 STEM students will be able to extend OPT for an additional 24 months beyond the initial 12-months, replacing the 2008 regulation that  allowed F-1 STEM students to receive a 17-month extension of OPT, providing work authorization for employment related to their field of study. Reporting requirements for F-1 students and university officials. New reporting requirements include a six-month validation requirement, confirming the F-1 student applicant’s application for work authorization through the OPT program. Second, F-1 students will be required to complete an annual self-evaluation for designat...