Asked & Answered – a blog by Walther Goss Law attorneys

DACA Update – August 8, 2018

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What is happening with DACA? The DACA struggle continues. We are awaiting a decision on a lawsuit relating to DACA after a hearing today, Wednesday, August 8, 2018. The federal judge in Texas who will be making the decision, Judge Hanen, previously struck down the expansion of DACA. How did we get here? The DREAM Act to protect certain individuals who had been brought to the United States as children never passed congress, despite years of trying. The Obama administration … Continued

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) ends for El Salvador

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The Trump administration announced this morning that they are ending the humanitarian program known as Temporary Protected Status, TPS, for people from El Salvador. TPS provides temporary status for certain people in the US to live and work legally if their home country is affected by armed conflict, natural disasters, or other significant issues. Salvadorans have benefitted from TPS since devastating earthquakes hit their country in 2001 and became the largest group benefitting from temporary protected status in the US. … Continued

Update on DACA

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The below is an excerpt from a letter we have sent all our DACA clients. We share it here in hopes of disseminating information about today’s announcement. Please feel free to share this post – it is available in Spanish by clicking here. You are receiving this because you or a family member is affected by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA. Today, September 5, 2017 it was announced that DACA would be rescinded. As we write this … Continued

Extreme Vetting: Additional in-person interview requirements imposed

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President Trump recently announced a new additional requirement for certain permanent resident (“green card”) and asylum applicants.  Reportedly, this is to fulfill a campaign promise to subject immigrants to more rigorous, “extreme” vetting, though we believe current immigration processes are already stringent and already protect the US. We’ll try to track these extreme vetting updates. Up to this point, certain applicants for asylum and permanent residency were able to complete their applications without the need for in-person interviews.  Specifically, people … Continued

Will DACA End? What do I need to do?

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As a September 5th deadline looms, we have been keeping a close eye on the news to see what might happen to DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). While campaigning, President Trump had said he would end the program if he won. After he won, he said that DACA recipients could “rest easy” and it seemed that DACA would remain. As of the past week or so, it seems that DACA may be canceled. Not much is known right now … Continued

Update on TPS termination for Libera, Sierra Leone, Guinea

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Temporary Protected Status, commonly known as TPS, was granted to about 5,000 West Africans in 2014 due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus. Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea have been noted as Ebola-free since 2016. The TPS designation was extended for 6 months in November 2016, but the designation ends on Sunday, May 21. As of Sunday, May 21, 2017, persons from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea will no longer have temporary protected status. If persons who had TPS  had … Continued

Know Your Rights as an Immigrant

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Walther Goss Law has created a one-page (double sided) info sheet that includes information about some basic immigrants’ rights as well as tips if you come in contact with the police or immigration while at home, in the car or at work. We invite you to read the flyer below and print for your personal use. If you would like a few of these to hand out, stop by our office and we will gladly give you some. We also will … Continued

The Time for Immigration Reform is Now

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Veronica Walther, one of the owners of Walther Goss Law, is honored to team up with New American Economy to push for commonsense immigration reform, knowing it will benefit the United States as a whole and Minnesota in particular. Minnesota’s economy has reaped the benefits from a dramatic growth in our immigrant population. If you’ve lived here more than a few years, the growth is noticeable. Between 1990 and 2010, the number of immigrants residing in our state has tripled—and 60,000 … Continued

Will the President’s travel ban affect me?

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As the situation regarding the various immigration-related executive orders is changing rapidly, please contact an immigration attorney before you depart from or arrive to the United States. Note: On 2/3/17, Judge James Robart, a federal judge in Washington, issued a temporary, nationwide restraining order against this executive order. The ruling is effective immediately. We will update this post as the effect of this order becomes clear.  On Friday, January 27, 2017, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that prohibits … Continued

What can I do now? Update your address.

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If you are living in the US and either have valid status to stay or are in proceedings (basically anyone other than a citizen), you must keep immigration up to date with your current address. This means that every time you move, you need to update immigration. Depending on the facts of your case, you may need to update more than one office of your move. Keep in mind that changing your address with the post office is not enough! Mail may … Continued