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Category: Student Affairs

Democrats Introduce Immigration Reform Bill

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Democrats have introduced an immigration bill – The US Citizenship Act- which could provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented people. The bill is being championed by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ). President Biden has already indicated support. Among other things, the bill will:

  • Provide an 8-year pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the US by January 1st, 2021 and pass a background check. The first 5 years would be provisional, after which the non-citizen could apply for a green card, and then 3 years later could apply for citizenship.
  • There would be an expedited pathway for farmworkers and persons holding DACA status. No specific timeline was announced.
  • Replace “alien” with “non-citizen” in law.
  • Increase caps on family and employment based green cards. Eliminate the caps for STEM doctoral students.
  • Establish dual-intent for international students with regards to immigration.
  • Prevent states from charging non-resident tuition to refugees, asylum seekers, and other special categories of non-citizens.
  • H-4 visa reform including adding work authorization for spouses and children.
  • Expand transnational anti-drug task forces in Central America and improve technology at the southern border.

The bill is expected to be introduced in the House this week, and in the Senate next week, where it would need 10 Republican Senators to vote in favor. Bill text is available here (Senate) and here (House).

The bill contains numerous, wide-ranging provisions, and our office is still working through the text.

 

CDC Updates COVID-19 Entry Requirements for the United States

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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an order requiring all air passengers arriving into the US to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 days of departure, or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 within the last three months. The test results or documentation must be presented to airline staff upon departure from the foreign country.

Those passengers utilizing documentation of recovery must show the positive test result and a letter from a healthcare provider indicating they are cleared to travel.

The order applies to all air passengers regardless of citizenship status or whether they have been vaccinated. The new rules go into effect on January 26th, 2021.

Read the CDC’s FAQ here. Members of the UW community with specific questions should contact International Student Services or the Office of Academic Personnel, depending on their affiliation.

Update 01/19/21: As a result of this CDC order, President Trump has lifted travel restrictions for the Schengen Area, UK and Ireland, and Brazil in a proclamation dated January 18, 2021. Travel restrictions remain in place for China and Iran.

SEVP Increases Oversight of OPT

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The Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP) has announced the creation of a new unit dedicated to oversight of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. The unit will have a full-time mandate to review compliance matters involving wage, hours, and compensation within OPT, the OPT extension, and Curricular Practical Training (CPT). The unit will publish reports annually, with the first report scheduled on 07/31/21, and interface with Homeland Security Investigations to recommend investigations of employers and students.

Read more.

Biden Education Secretary Named

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Reports on Tuesday indicate President-elect Biden will name Miguel Cardona, the education commissioner of Connecticut, to be US Secretary of Education-designee. Cardona is a public school educator who started his career as a 4th grade teacher.

Read more here.

Deal Reached, One Day CR

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A deal has been reached on an almost $1 trillion COVID relief bill which will be rolled into an omnibus FY21 spending package. The legislation is believed to include support for airline workers, expanded unemployment benefits, funding for contact tracing and testing, vaccine rollout, schools, stimulus checks, and more. Details are not yet publicly available.

A one day continuing resolution will likely be passed to give lawmakers time to actually debate and pass the agreed-upon spending package in each chamber and send to the President before funding expires at midnight tonight.

As noted above, the exact details are not yet available since there is no actual text that has been circulated.  Check back for more updates.