The American Immigration Council's Immigration Policy Center has published a report on the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Employment Creation program and the contributions of EB-5 investors to the U.S. economy. Among other points, the report notes that EB-5 investors have contributed over $2.65 billion to the U.S. economy, supported 33,347 jobs, and paid over $346,000.00 in Federal taxes.

Kathryn N. Karam is quoted in the Houston Business Journal's article today on the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program and Chinese nationals.

The Department of State has released the October 2014 Visa Bulletin. Major changes include:

We were pleased to be able to attend the Asian Chamber of Commerce September Luncheon, where Nadine Chen had the opportunity to introduce herself to the Chamber as a new member.

Kathryn N. Karam was named in the Honorable Mention category of the Houston Business Journal 2014 40 Under 40 List.

Read Kathryn Karam's latest article in Lebanon Times Magazine on Unaccompanied Minors arriving in the United States.

In an unpublished decision, the Board of Immigration Appeals held that although the Respondent did not have his passport with him when he requested Voluntary Departure at his hearing, which is a requirement in the regulations, the Immigration Judge still had discretion to grant voluntary departure under the regulations if the Judge is "satisfied that the Respondent was making diligent efforts to secure the passport."

This week, as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, it is important to note the benefits this law has given to immigrant women experiencing domestic violence. In my law practice, I have used the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as a vehicle to assist clients in seeking legal status in the United States away from abusive spouses.

Professor Barbara Hines, Immigration Law Clinical Professor at the University of Texas School of Law and Co-Counsel in 2006 litigation against the T. Don Hutto family detention center, explains why the current Department of Homeland Security policy of detaining families is a repeat of our past mistakes and a lack of compassion for families fleeing violence, crime, gangs and poverty.

The New York Times has reported that White House Officials have stated today that President Obama will wait to take any executive action to protect immigrant families from deportation.

The Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will extend its designation of South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status program for another 18 months, until May 2, 2016.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that the designation of Sudan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will be extended for 18 months, through May 2, 2016.

On August 28, 2014, the Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals (BALCA) issued a decision finding that an employer's name must be explicitly stated on the Notice of Filing that must be posted at the workplace where the Beneficiary of the Labor Certification will work. In Matter of Tera Technologies, Inc., the employer had used the phrase "Our Company" on its notice of filing. The Department of Labor's Certifying Officer found that this did not meet the regulatory requirement that the employer explicitly state its name on the Notice of Filing. Although the employer argued that all employees who saw the Notice would know that it was for their company because the phrase "our company" was used and the employees knew the contact person listed on the Notice, BALCA held that the Certifying Officer was correct in denying certification.

At the annual conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) in June, the U.S. Department of Labor released statistics about the Labor Certification applications in process and Labor Condition Applications filed in preparation for submitting H-1B petitions. Interesting points include: