As noted in a previous blog (available here), on September 24, 2017, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation placing certain visa/travel restrictions on nationals of eight identified countries, subject to various exclusions for certain individuals, including current lawful permanent residents (i.e., green card holders). Like the President’s previous Travel Bans (discussed in the blogs available here and here), federal district courts in Maryland and Hawaii have issued preliminary injunctions enjoining enforcement of the visa/travel restrictions on six of the eight countries included in the Proclamation. Accordingly, at this time, the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security may not enforce or implement the visa/travel restrictions included in the Proclamation against nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Somalia. The injunctions do not enjoin enforcement of the Proclamation on nationals of North Korea and Venezuela. The government has appealed these injunctions to the 4th and 9th Circuits, respectively. We will continue to monitor these cases and will provide additional information and updates when necessary.
In addition, as noted in the previous blogs referenced above, earlier this year, the President also suspended the entry of refugees into the United States for a period of 120 days. That 120-day period has ended. Accordingly, the State Department released a Fact Sheet on October 24, 2017 explaining that the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program will resume. However, refugees from 11 countries identified as “potentially posing a higher risk” but not individually named will resume on a case-by-case basis during a new 90-day review period.
Mollie E. Hennessee practices primarily in the areas of school, higher education, labor and employment, and immigration law. She represents school districts throughout Missouri with respect to employment and termination matters, student discipline and student rights, and civil rights. Mollie also represents colleges and universities and private employers in employment and immigration matters. Prior to joining the Firm, Mollie worked for the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement as an Assistant Chief Counsel, representing the federal government in deportation proceedings. While in law school, Mollie served as an intern for the Honorable Catherine D. Perry of the United States District Court in Eastern Missouri.
Immigration – The firm represent businesses, institutions of higher learning, and individuals with respect to immigration-related matters, including obtaining visitor visas, temporary and permanent work visas, consular processing of visas, obtaining citizenship, advising employers on employment sanctions issues, and defending employers faced with INS I-9 audits and investigations.