2017 Robert Briscoe Awards
Please join us at the “21” Club, 21 West 52nd Street, for a cocktail reception on
Monday, February 27 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
as we continue this twenty-four-year-old annual tradition of celebrating our immigrant heritage, while honoring the memory of former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Robert Briscoe.
Tickets: $175
To RSVP, please contact George Dimos by email at info@eiic.org
or call 718-478-5502 Ext. 220
Event sponsorships are available starting at $2,500, and include:
Admittance for up to 8 guests to the event
Company name printed on Event sponsor signage
Company name printed on program
For further details, contact:
Cody McCone at 212-571-7100 or CMccone@odblaw.com,
or Siobhan Dennehy at 718-478-5502 Ext. 206 or siobhand@eiic.org
Executive order on visa process, screening and refugees temporarily halted
On February 3, 2017, a District Court judge in Seattle issued a temporary injunction which halted the enforcement of the Jan. 27th executive order banning travel for persons from seven countries and suspending refugee processing. Over the past weekend, the Trump administration requested the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to immediately lift the injunction. The injunction halted the travel ban on people from Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen and restarted the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, including allowing Syrian refugees to be resettled in the U.S.
The State Department, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Customs and Border Protection have issued respective statements announcing their compliance with the injunction.
The 9th Circuit denied the administration’s request to lift the injunction and have scheduled a hearing for today, Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at 6pm Eastern Time. A decision is expected soon afterwards and the case will most likely be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, regardless of the outcome.
The injunction could be lifted and the travel ban put back in place at any moment. People who are affected are advised to book flights immediately. Currently, those with valid visas may travel to the U.S. They do not need to apply for a new visa unless their visas were canceled with a physical stamp or annotation.
Some airlines have confirmed that affected people traveling to the U.S. will be allowed to board flights. Travelers covered by the orders should confirm that the airline they choose will allow them to board before they book a flight. Travelers also should carry contact information for an attorney before boarding a flight. The travel ban could potentially be reinstated during a flight and people covered by the restrictions could be detained by Customs and Border Protection upon arrival.
Updates on the Executive Order affecting the visa process and entry to the U.S.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the Executive Order does not restrict the travel of dual nationals, so long as they hold the passport of an unrestricted country and possess a valid U.S. visa.
“Our Embassies and Consulates around the world will process visa applications and issue nonimmigrant and immigrant visas to otherwise eligible visa applicants who apply with a passport from an unrestricted country, even if they hold dual nationality from one of the seven restricted countries.
At this time, there are no changes to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). However, as before the Executive Order, dual nationals of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Sudan are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program and must have a visa for travel. Such individuals may apply for a visa as needed at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Dual nationals of Yemen, Libya, and Somalia and a VWP country may continue to travel under the VWP unless they have travelled to any of the seven countries on or after March 2011, in which case they must first apply for a U.S. visa.
The Executive Order does not restrict the travel of dual nationals from any country, so long as they hold the passport of an unrestricted country and possess a valid U.S. visa, if required.
The U.S. Department of State has posted additional information on the affect of the Executive Order on the visa process for nonimmigrants and immigrants.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on their website with further information and developments regarding entry to the U.S. under the Executive Order.
Traveling to the U.S. in the coming days or weeks?
Based on what we know of the January 27, 2017 Executive Order, and its application in recent days, here is a guide for those traveling in the coming days and weeks.
The Executive Order highlighted 7 countries: Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen. If you were not born in or are not a citizen of one of these 7 countries, the Executive Order should not impact you.
The Executive Order created 3 potential outcomes regarding travel to the U.S. for current/former citizens of these 7 countries:
- Permission to travel to and entry to the U.S.;
- Permission to travel to the U.S., but may be subject to questioning on arrival; or
- Not permitted to travel to the U.S.
Which of these 3 outcomes you can expect depends on your nationality and legal status
within the U.S.:
Please be aware that where an adult is accompanied by a minor, and the adult is stopped or questioned, the minor will have to remain with the adult regardless of the status of the minor, including if the minor is a U.S. citizen.
If you are questioned by or detained by immigration officers, do not panic. The practice of questioning by immigration officers has been in place for years, happens every day, and can happen to anyone of any visa status. Remain calm, and cooperate with the officer(s); though, under no circumstances should you sign a form I-407. To put yourself in the best position:
- Have ALL your travel documentation in order and with you (not at home in a drawer or in your checked luggage).
- The use of phones for any purpose (calls/texts/email/Twitter/Facebook/etc.) is prohibited from when you enter the Immigration & Customs hall until you exit the secure area. Therefore, prior to take-off in your departure location, notify whoever may be meeting you upon arrival that you have boarded the plane. Also, if you have service, and prior to shutting down your phone and entering the Immigration hall, notify them of your arrival in the U.S. This way, if you fail to exit in a reasonable time, someone will be aware of your detention and can raise the matter with appropriate personnel. The following may be helpful for them in assisting you if you are detained:Online detainee locator: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/homePage.doInformation about detainees: https://www.ice.gov/contact/ero
To source free legal advice:
Emerald Isle Immigration Center: (718) 478-5502 (www.eiic.org)
New York Immigration Coalition (212) 627-2227 (www.thenyic.org)
International Refugee Assistance Project info@refugeerights.org (www.refugeerights.org)We will continue to monitor the situation and will modify this guide as new developments come to light.