immigration

Denial rates for high-skilled worker visas have quadrupled since 2015, a trend that makes it much harder for companies that rely on these workers to find and retain talent.According to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, denial rates for first-time H-1B visa applicants increased from 6 percent to 24 percent between fiscal years 2015 and 2018. And the trend is growing.Through the first half of fiscal year 2019, USCIS denied 33 percent of initial H-1B visa applications, data shows.H-1B visas are highly sought-after work visas for high-skilled workers like computer engineers and programmers. Each April, USCIS receives about 200,000 applications for only 85,000 visas. There are two types of H-1B visas — initial applications for new employees and continuing applications for renewals or employees who change jobs. The reason behind this trend are new policies that the Trump administration introduced to protect American workers by preventing fraud. These new policies … [Read more...] about Guest worker visas are being denied at record rates

News / UK and world by Press Association August 13, 2019, 2:59 pm Send us a story Sign up to our Daily newsletter The number of European Union (EU) nationals working in the UK has increased over the past 12 months, new figures show. Some 2.37 million EU nationals were estimated to be in paid employment in the UK between April and June 2019, up 4% on the same period in 2018. The figures, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), suggest the number of EU nationals within the UK workforce has returned to levels last seen just after the EU referendum in 2016, and before a dip in late 2017 and early 2018. However, an immigration expert at the University of Oxford cautioned against reading too much into the trend. Madeleine Sumption, director of the university’s Migration Observatory, said the statistics were “volatile” and tended to “hop around from year to year”. “My feeling is this may well be statistical … [Read more...] about Number of EU nationals working in UK up on same period last year

A 60-year-old Ohio man who was waiting for hip replacement surgery was deported to his native Mauritania on Tuesday without the operation, according to his attorney. Goura Ndiaye lived in Ohio for nearly 20 years, under supervision by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He attended routine check-in meetings with ICE without issue until December 2018, when he was detained. Ndiaye was deported Tuesday, sent back to a country where the UN says some darker-skinned people like him are enslaved. He also has limited mobility because of his necrotic hip, according to his attorney, Alexandria Lubans-Otto. Lubans-Otto said Ndiaye had been approved for total hip replacement surgery and was preparing for an operation when he was arrested for overstaying his visa. Medical records submitted in a court proceeding show he was taking classes meant for patients anticipating joint replacement and that a doctor had written, "All your labs look good to proceed with surgery." Lubans-Otto said ICE did not … [Read more...] about ICE deports man awaiting hip replacement surgery to Mauritania

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration's top diplomat for Latin America has resigned amid internal disputes over immigration policy for the region, U.S. officials said Wednesday. Two officials and a congressional aide said Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Kimberly Breier stepped down earlier this week, although they offered differing reasons for her departure. They say Breier cited personal reasons for her decision, but the two officials suggested it was prompted by differences over a recent migration accord with Guatemala. The congressional aide said Breier's departure was mainly driven by family responsibilities. Breier tweeted Thursday morning that it had been "an honor and a privilege" to serve in her role and gave her "profound thanks" to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for the opportunity. She also thanked senior White House aides Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner for their friendship. The Washington Post, which first … [Read more...] about Top U.S. diplomat for Latin America resigns

Washington (AFP) – The Supreme Court has given President Donald Trump the go-ahead to divert Pentagon funds to build a border wall with Mexico, a big boost for the US leader’s pet project that has faced controversy since its inception. In August 2014, some 10 months before announcing his presidential bid, Trump let loose on Twitter with his now familiar refrain: “SECURE THE BORDER! BUILD A WALL!”Below is an explanation of the ensuing tug-of-war between Congress, the courts and the commander-in-chief: – A campaign promise – Announcing his candidacy for president at Trump Tower in June 2015, Trump made derogatory statements about immigrants from Mexico. “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists, and some, I assume, are good people,” he said. Building the southern border wall became a central campaign promise as Trump found success in the primaries, and ultimately won the general election. On January … [Read more...] about Wire: Trump Border Wall’s Slow March Towards Reality