IMMIGRATION UPDATE-DECEMBER 2018
It’s been a while since I last spoke about immigration and despite the Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the White House, no changes to immigration law were passed. And now, that the Democrats have won the House, it’s a sure bet nothing will happen in the next few years. However, that is not to say that there have not been significant changes in enforcement and the general tone of immigration policy. (Not to mention the endless caravan media coverage and border wall debate.)
Over the past few years, enforcement efforts have been stepped up throughout the country and deportations have increased dramatically. (Roughly 40% in 2017). However, with the increase in “sanctuary cities and states”, these efforts are often being thwarted. In fact, New Jersey’s new governor, Phil Murphy, is a strong proponent of sanctuary and has earmarked over $2 million for providing legal representation to undocumented people.
As I said almost two years ago, if you, a family member or employee has an immigration issue you have not addressed, the best advice is to meet with an experienced immigration attorney and get the process moving. And this is even more important now than it was back then. The reason for this is simple, if you start the process of getting documented, you stand a much better chance of succeeding than if you start the process after a deportation notice is issued. Likewise, if you have any criminal record, it is best if you get those records expunged now, rather than when answering questions about your status. More on that in my next video.