Podcasts about uscis

Li v. Bondi, No. 18-70278 (9th Cir. June 10, 2025)ineffective assistance of counsel before the circuit court; failure to file brief; motion for BIA to reissue decision; BIA failure to give reasoned consideration De Souza Silva, et al. v. Bondi, No. 24-834 (9th Cir. June 11, 2025)past persecution; inability to practice religion freely; internal relocation; practicing religion in secret; Candomblé; Brazil Matter of E-Y-F-G-, 29 I&N Dec. 103 (BIA 2025)bond; flight risk despite grant of withholding of removal; Laken Riley implications Grey v. USCIS, No. 23-1910 (4th Cir. June 10, 2025)false testimony during deposition; good moral character for naturalization; FOIA exemption 7(E); evidentiary exclusion for discovery violations Antonio de Paz-Peraza v. Bondi, No. 24-2854 (7th Cir. June 9, 2025)nexus; young Salvadoran males; gang recruitment; MS-13; El Salvador Toalombo Yanez v. Bondi, No. 22-6267 (2d Cir. June 13, 2025)exceptional and extremely unusual hardship review; Wilkinson; clear error; serious medical condition standard; retroactivity Sponsors and friends of the podcast!Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A.Immigration, serious injury, and business lawyers serving clients in Florida, California, and all over the world for over 40 years.Cerenade"Leader in providing smart, secure, and intuitive cloud-based solutions"Demo Link!Click me too!Stafi"Remote staffing solutions for businesses of all sizes"Promo Code: STAFI2025Click me!Gonzales & Gonzales Immigration BondsP: (833) 409-9200immigrationbond.com Want to become a patron?Click here to check out our Patreon Page!CONTACT INFORMATIONEmail: kgregg@kktplaw.comFacebook: @immigrationreviewInstagram: @immigrationreviewTwitter: @immreviewAbout your hostCase notesRecent criminal-immigration article (p.18)Featured in San Diego VoyagerDISCLAIMER & CREDITSSee Eps. 1-200Support the show

In this episode, Sophie invites listeners to explore the intricacies of the EB2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) green card and how it can bolster a tech career in 2025. She provides expert insights, aiming to equip ambitious tech founders with the knowledge to successfully navigate this self-petition pathway. She also emphasizes the significance of holding advanced degrees or possessing exceptional abilities. The episode dives into the critical three-prong analysis from the Dhanasar case, which requires demonstrating substantial merit, national importance, and the benefits of waiving job offer requirements. Sophie discusses recent policy changes, highlighting the importance of a strong business plan, intellectual property contributions, and the need to prove legal work status to showcase progress in essential STEM fields. Listeners will also learn about the updated USCIS guidance that redefines how entrepreneurs can qualify for a National Interest Waiver. Sophie covers how the unique aspects of an entrepreneurial journey, such as ownership interests, active roles, or participation in incubators, can be crucial in qualifying for this green card. She further explains how the National Interest Waiver acknowledges the broader impact of startups, especially those positioned for disruption and growth. Additionally, Sophie examines the role of patents, grants, and commercial technology use in strengthening a case, offering a compelling narrative even when immediate economic impact is not evident. In this episode, you'll hear about: Insights into the EB2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) as a green card option for tech founders in 2025 Importance of advanced degrees or exceptional abilities for eligibility Analysis of the three-prong test from the Dhanasar case: substantial merit, national importance, and benefits of waiving job offer requirements Updated USCIS guidance for entrepreneurs, emphasizing unique career paths and business impact The role of business plans, intellectual property, and work authorization in strengthening NIW petitions Significance of participation in incubators, accelerators, and securing investment for NIW qualification Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.   Supporting Resources: Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiealcorn/  Website – https://sophiealcorn.com/ Alcorn Immigration Law: Subscribe to the monthly Alcorn newsletter Sophie Alcorn Podcast: Episode 16: E-2 Visa for Founders and Employees Episode 19: Australian Visas Including E-3 Episode 20: TN Visas and Status for Canadian and Mexican Citizens Immigration Options for Talent, Investors, and Founders Immigration Law for Tech Startups eBook

Immigration policy is changing fast in 2025. The Justice Pro Podcast by Justice Pro Network delivers daily updates and expert insights to help attorneys stay ahead of USCIS changes, enforcement shifts, and evolving legal challenges—without the overwhelm. Stay updated at: https://www.youtube.com/@JusticeProPodcast The Justice Pro Network City: Columbia Address: 8775 Centre Park Dr Ste 513 Website: https://justicepronetwork.com

In this episode, attorney Hillary Walsh walks you through specific steps you can take to speed up your family petition (I-130), even when the system feels slow and uncertain. From how to file an expedited request with USCIS to leveraging support from your congressional representative, you'll find real strategies that have helped thousands of families.Because every day matters when it comes to reuniting with the people you love.

In this week's episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, Senior Legal Fellow George Fishman explains that verifying Social Security numbers could be the solution to two issues: States' need for tools to help identify those eligible to vote in the United States and DHS's need for tools to uncover employers who are knowingly employing illegal aliens.Voter Eligibility VerificationExecutive Order: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it will be giving states and localities the ability to check SSNs of individuals registering to vote and those already on the voter rolls to verify citizenship.History: Fishman reflects on his role in proposing this idea nearly three decades ago as part of the 1997 Voter Eligibility Verification Act. How it will work: State and local governments will be given access to federal databases through an upgrade of USCIS's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system to confirm citizenship.Employment Eligibility VerificationNo-Match Letters: Although the administration has not announced any action on re-instating “no-match” letters, the SSA could revive the practice of notifying employers when a worker's Social Security number doesn't match the name listed in the SSA's database.History: The episode covers the history of no-match letters, including their origins, past implementations, and abandonment by the Obama and Biden administrations. Policy Recommendations: Fishman recommends that SSA resume issuing no-match letters and DHS reissue its regulations instructing employers that they may be found to know that they are employing illegal aliens if they don't take certain actions upon receipt of no-match letters.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration StudiesGuestGeorge Fishman is the Senior Legal Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies.RelatedThe Trump Administration is Empowering States to Verify Voters Citizenship“Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections”Reviving No-Match Letters: A powerful tool against illegal employmentIs the Harvard TRO Likely to be Effective?DHS Pulls Harvard's Student-Visa Certification AuthorityIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Xia v. Bondi, No. 24-2304 (2d Cir. May 19, 2025)Patel; no jurisdiction to review USCIS denial of adjustment of status United States v. Doe, No. 22-14307 (11th Cir. May 21, 2025)criminal penalties under 8 U.S.C. § 1253(a)(1) for obstructing his removal or not cooperating with the procedures for obtaining travel out of the country; INA § 237(a); no requirement for admission; IIRIRA legislative history; deportation and exclusion  Ramos Goncalves v. Bondi, No. 24-1511 (1st Cir. May 20, 2025)untimely petition for review; post hoc extension; prison mailbox rule Gonzalez-Juarez v. Bondi, No. 21-927 (9th Cir. May 20, 2025)exceptional and extremely unusual hardship; Wilkinson; standard of review; substantial evidence; Loper Bright; hardship in Mexico  Singh-Kar v. Bondi, No. 22-6309 (2d Cir. May 21, 2025)unable or unwilling to protect; ineffective assistance of counsel; Badal Party; Mann party; Sikh asylum claim; India Sponsors and friends of the podcast!Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A.Immigration, serious injury, and business lawyers serving clients in Florida, California, and all over the world for over 40 years.Cerenade"Leader in providing smart, secure, and intuitive cloud-based solutions"Demo Link!Click me too!Stafi"Remote staffing solutions for businesses of all sizes"Promo Code: STAFI2025Click me!Want to become a patron?Click here to check out our Patreon Page!CONTACT INFORMATIONEmail: kgregg@kktplaw.comFacebook: @immigrationreviewInstagram: @immigrationreviewTwitter: @immreviewAbout your hostCase notesRecent criminal-immigration article (p.18)Featured in San Diego VoyagerDISCLAIMER & CREDITSSee Eps. 1-200Support the show

We discuss three recent EB-1A denial cases involving dancers that were reviewed on appeal by the AAO. These cases highlight common pitfalls like relying on youth awards, vague evidence, or assuming an O-1 visa guarantees success. Whether you're an artist or performer aiming for a green card, understanding these missteps can help you strengthen your petition. Watch with us to learn key lessons and avoid costly mistakes.

В этом выпуске у меня в гостях Нисо Нигматуллина — основательница PR-агентства Satou, специалист по личному брендингу и обладательница виз O-1 и EB-1A. За последние годы её команда помогла десяткам экспертов из сфер IT, маркетинга, дизайна и предпринимательства оформить медиапортфолио, повысить узнаваемость и пройти по визовым кейсам талантов.Мы обсудили, как именно публикации в СМИ влияют на визы O-1, EB-1A и EB-2 NIW, какие издания и форматы подходят под требования USCIS, почему инфлюенсер — не то же самое, что эксперт, и как даже интроверт без публичности может выстроить PR-стратегию. Затронули критерии качества публикаций, реальные расценки на услуги пиар-агентств и почему статьи, написанные в ChatGPT, чаще вредят кейсу, чем помогают. Разобрали типичные ошибки, фейлы с «рекламными» материалами и то, как должен выглядеть идеальный медиапортфель под визу талантов.Нисо Нигматуллина (Niso Nigmatullina) -- основательница американского PR-агентства Satou, обладательница гринкарты таланта EB1, ex-Procter & Gamble.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nisonigmatullina/ Telegram: @nisonigmaПредыдущие выпуски с Нисо:Как получить визу О1 в США? Как улучшить качество публикаций и увеличить шансы? https://youtu.be/S_IXFDm8sIg Как русскоязычные иммигрантки из Forbes покоряют Америку. Релокация, нетворкинг и жизнь в США https://youtu.be/svZjlIoyHEk ***Записывайтесь на карьерную консультацию (резюме, LinkedIn, карьерная стратегия, поиск работы в США): https://annanaumova.comКоучинг (синдром самозванца, прокрастинация, неуверенность в себе, страхи, лень) https://annanaumova.notion.site/3f6ea5ce89694c93afb1156df3c903abОнлайн курс "Идеальное резюме и поиск работы в США":https://go.mbastrategy.com/resumecoursemainГайд "Идеальное американское резюме":https://go.mbastrategy.com/usresumeГайд "Как оформить профиль в LinkedIn, чтобы рекрутеры не смогли пройти мимо": https://go.mbastrategy.com/linkedinguideМой Telegram-канал: https://t.me/prodcastUSAМой Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prodcast.us/Prodcast в соцсетях и на всех подкаст платформахhttps://linktr.ee/prodcastUS⏰ Timecodes ⏰00:00 Начало11:47 Зачем нужен пиар и публикации для виз таланта в США?21:02 Какие требования к статьям для O1, EB1 и EB2NIW? Сходства и различия.28:47 Какие критерии к изданиям?43:00 Какие требования к содержанию публикаций?53:02 Можно ли написать статьи с помощью ChatGPT?1:03:12 Что делать, если я не публичный человек, интроверт и у меня нет публикаций?1:11:42 Сколько стоят статьи в СМИ?1:24:23 Кому не нужно пиар агентство?1:27:44 Ошибки при работе над публикациями1:31:22 Что можешь пожелать тем, кто решил переезжать в США по визе таланта?

Most companies have a mission statement. But few are truly mission-driven in practice. In this episode, Jason Fraser joins Ashok to unpack what it actually means to prioritize mission over profit — and how the best organizations are able to do both. Jason reflects on the differences between performative mission language and the kind of operational decision-making that aligns tightly with purpose. He shares the concept of “mission ratios” and how teams can use them to identify where they're constrained, where they have leverage, and how to get disproportionate outcomes from limited inputs. Drawing on examples from Patagonia, World Central Kitchen, and a federal asylum processing team, Jason walks through the tools and frameworks that mission-first leaders can use to improve focus, clarity, and measurable impact. Whether you're running a nonprofit, a B Corp, or just trying to do more meaningful work, this episode gives you language and direction to guide your team's decisions. Plus, Jason shares how to spot the ratios that matter most — and what to do once you find them. Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge. Inside the episode... What really defines a mission-driven organization Mission vs. permission work: how to make trade-offs without guilt Why purpose can actually boost profitability and team alignment Introducing “mission ratios”: the unit economics of social impact Frameworks for identifying your most limiting constraints How to apply the impact mapping tool to optimize outcomes Lessons from World Central Kitchen, Earthshot Prize, and a USCIS case study Tractability vs. leverage: how to prioritize what's actually solvable The hidden assumptions that reduce efficiency and how to challenge them How organizations can operationalize ethics without compromising viability Mentioned in this episode Jason and Janice's book, Farther, Faster, Way Less Drama  Jason's workshops and events: https://missionratio.com/events/ Jason's linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfraser World Central Kitchen Patagonia CERO Bikes The Earthshot Prize  Climatebase Fellowship Good Strategy, Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt Impact Mapping by Gojko Adzic Deloitte Study Target versus Costco  Value Chain  Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge. Subscribe to the Convergence podcast wherever you get podcasts including video episodes to get updated on the other crucial conversations that we'll post on YouTube at youtube.com/@convergencefmpodcast Learn something? Give us a 5 star review and like the podcast on YouTube. It's how we grow.   Follow the Pod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convergence-podcast/ X: https://twitter.com/podconvergence Instagram: @podconvergence

Musk leads implementation of the Gold Card through DoGE, while testing confirms integration across CBP, State Department, and USCIS systems.View the full article here.Subscribe to the IMI Daily newsletter here. 

Operation Bargain Brides: Analysis of USCIS-ICE Marriage Fraud Investigation. The USCIS-ICE investigation into a national marriage fraud ring represents a strong stance against immigration fraud. Through strategic inter-agency cooperation and diligent investigation, authorities dismantled a complex criminal enterprise. Future enforcement efforts will likely build upon such cases to ensure that marriage-based immigration remains a credible and lawful path for genuine couples.Other topics:Is NYS 50/50 Divorce? Dividing assets in a divorce is one of the most contentious aspects of dissolving a marriage. Many people assume that a divorce settlement means a 50/50 split of all assets, but this is not necessarily the case in New York State. Can I Sue a Government Entity for My Injury?If you were injured on public property, hit by a city vehicle, or harmed due to the negligence of a government employee, you may be wondering: Can I sue the government? The answer is yes—but suing a government agency in New York is different from filing a claim against a private individual or business.Warning for Non-Citizens – the Alien Registration Act. The deadline is May 10, 2025.Contact Figeroux & Associates for expert legal guidance on these and other matters in New York.

Dr. Li-Meng Yan w/ The Voice of Dr. Yan – The FBI currently leads U.S. counterintelligence, but the CCP is flooding its capacity with sheer volume. Thousands of ongoing China-related cases are stretching resources thin. Many of these cases require help from the CIA and USCIS, further overwhelming the system. The CCP's strategy relies on quantity over stealth, and it's working...

100 preguntas civicas, Entrevista de ciudadania en español 2025 NIVEL AVANZADOEn esta ocacion vamos a estudiar las 100 preguntas revueltas para no acostumbrarse a escucharlas siempre en el mismo orden, asi podremos agilizar mas el oido y aprender un poco mas.recuerden que tienen que estudiar las 100 preguntas civicas que están basadas en HISTORIA, GEOGRAFIA y formas de gobierno de los Estados Unidos. en tu entrevista de ciudadania 2025 el oficial te va escoger 10 preguntas aleatorias y tienes que responder por lo menos 6 respuestas correctas.el proposito de esta practica es repetir en vos alta la pregunta y la respuesta.recuerden que también parte de la entrevista son sus preguntas PERSONALES LAS CUALES ESTAN BASADAS EN LA FORMA N400#citizenship #EntrevisaDeCiudadania #usa #immigration Citizenship 100 civic questions 2025 Citizenship interview 2025 ENTREVISTA DE CIUDADANIA 2025

U.S. Citizenship Test Podcast: Learn, practice and test yourselves anywhere anytime. It's #39 Top Education Spotify Podcast in USA on February 17, 2025.Test Yourself at Try These Civics Tests?Practice 100 Civics Tests for 50 STATES in U.S.A.Practice 100 Civics Tests in RANDOMPractice Civics Test by CATEGORYPractice Civics Test by GROUPPractice Civics Test in ORDERPractice English Test: Reading & WritingPractice Form N-400 at Mock U.S. Citizenship Interview#uscitizenshiptest #uscitizenshipinterview #uscitizenshippodcast #uscitizenshipexam

U.S. Citizenship Test Podcast: Learn, practice and test yourselves anywhere anytime. It's #39 Top Education Spotify Podcast in USA on February 17, 2025.Test Yourself at Try These Civics Tests?Practice 100 Civics Tests for 50 STATES in U.S.A.Practice 100 Civics Tests in RANDOMPractice Civics Test by CATEGORYPractice Civics Test by GROUPPractice Civics Test in ORDERPractice English Test: Reading & WritingPractice Form N-400 at Mock U.S. Citizenship Interview#uscitizenshiptest #uscitizenshipinterview #uscitizenshippodcast #uscitizenshipexam

This week you'll hear our chat with the author of Countering Dispossession: Reclaiming Land: A Social Movement Ethnography, the political ecologist David E Gilbert (not to be confused with the former Weather Underground prisoner in the US). For this episode, David and I speak about the book, the small community in south Sumatra, Indonesia known as Casiavera, the legacy of colonial land grabs, the people who live there and the agro-ecology of the rainforest at the base of the Arin volcano. You can find more of David's work at https://DavidEGilbert.Com Links: The Black Snake: Standing Rock, the Dakota Access Pipeline, and Environmental Justice by Katherine Wiltenburg Todrys Via Campesina: https://viacampesina.org/ Landless Workers Movement (MST): https://mst.org.br/ Sarakhat Patani Indonesia (SPI): https://spi.or.id/ Mentions of Tan Malaka in the Southeast Asian Anarchist Library (https://sea.theanarchistlibrary.org/search?query=tan+malaka ) or writings on Marxists.Org (https://www.marxists.org/archive/malaka/ ) Feed'em Freedom Foundation (Detroit): https://feedemfreedom.org/ Our interviews on the ZAD: https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/?s=zad Grassroots Indonesian Eco-movement Wahli: https://www.walhi.or.id/ Announcement May Day Happy upcoming May Day, comrades known and unknown! I hope that wherever you are and whatever you do, you're surrounded by siblings in love and struggle, you can take pleasure in the beauty of the world around you, take strength from our predecessors who share our vision of a life unencumbered by state / capital & the other anchors foisted upon our shoulders, and with the energy to create a path towards our desires Ángel Espinosa Villegas We had an interview scheduled with Ángel Espinosa Villegas, a trans masc butch dyke, formerly a 2020 uprising prisoner who was transferred to ICE detention for deportation, however the screws seem to have decided to escalate the deportation to Chile rather than let hir continue to speak to the media. Keep an eye out for upcoming interviews with Ángel, and consider checking out hir GoFundMe. At the end of this post there are some statements from Angel... Supporting The Show Hey listeners… we've had a string of early releases with more on the way coming out through our patreon for supporters at $3 or more a month, alongside other thank-you gifts. If you can kick in and help, the funds go to our online hosting, and creation of promotional materials like shirts and stickers, but MOSTLY to funding our transcription efforts. We hate to ask for money, but if you have the capacity to kick us a few bucks a month, either through the patreon or via venmo, paypal or librepay or by buying some merch from us (we have a few 3x, 4x & 5x sized tshirts in kelly green coming soon), we'd very much appreciate the support. We're hoping to make a big sticker order in the near future. If you need another motivator, the 15th anniversary of The Final Straw Radio is coming up on May 9th, 2025 and we are not above accepting birthday presents. That's 15 years of weekly audio (albeit at the beginning it was more music than talk), including 8 of which 7 of which aren't in our podcast stream (you can find some early show examples in this link _by skipping to the last page of posts on our blog). Other ways to support us include rating and reviewing us on google, apple, amazon and the other podcasting platforms, printing out and mailing our interviews into prisoners, using our audio or text as the basis for a discussion of an ongoing movement, contacting your local radio station to get us on the airwaves, and talking about us to others in person or on social media. Alright, capping this shameless plug! Angel statements: These are press statements and direct quotes that Ángel Espinosa-Villegas has provided from inside Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, TX, where she was held from April 1 to April 25, 2025. Ángel is currently in transfer to an undisclosed location, but has not been able to contact loved ones yet. These messages were received by loved ones on the outside throughout the past 3 weeks and she has given explicit permission to publicize these statements. “We dance a lot, draw our hopes and homes on the walls of this place any way we can. We tell stories of home, hold each other past language barriers because we all know all too well what it's like to be torn away from our families, hold onto hope, only for it to be crushed cruelly by these heartless fascist traitors. To remain utterly powerless at the mercy of the abusers of gluttonous power. People are quite literally dragged out, hogtied, by these pirates that speak of protecting democracy yet dehumanize and humiliate us without so much as a look in our eyes before ripping us apart from our newfound friends, and, more distantly, our families we have here. They rob us of the little money we have and have no paths of recovery. They tell us clean water is a privilege and not a right. That speaking to our families is a privilege. That seeing the sun is a privilege. That if we get too loud of this constant mistreatment, then we should get ready to eat mace.” “Most people here don't have the means to speak out against these human rights' violations we face every day. But I will take any and every chance to fight, to expose the way they treat us that these human traitors have normalized.” “This was supposed to never happen again. But here it is again. We need everyone demanding our freedom, to expose all the vultures robbing these vulnerable people of everything from money to merely see our families and small children. We're not even allowed to say goodbye, to hug our children goodbye. What madness is this? How is this STILL happening to us, I ask myself when I wake up. Is this country for the free? For those yearning for a safe, happy life? If this country and its people care about freedom and safety, then people should refuse to let this government and administration work a second longer until they free us ALL.” “A lot of women here are fighting their cases because they've been following protocol to obtain legal papers or asylum or were just rounded up randomly from racial profiling. One woman here lost her purse with all her money on a train and went to church to seek help. The church called ICE on her because she couldn't speak English! Another woman here was late to her job and her boss called ICE on her. Few of us have criminal records. Most were just following advice from their lawyers and continuing their appointments with ICE and USCIS to get their visa or temporary protected status or whatever it was they were doing. But because of Trump's administration they're all rounded up by ICE and deported.” “I'm feeling alright, mostly numb since being locked up is so abusive and heart wrenching. Here... It's a rollercoaster. I witness, every single day, cries of agony and anger and despair. I see people hogtied and dragged out. People being yelled at to gather their things and go into the unknown, being threatened with PREA for hugging as we say our goodbyes and well wishes. This place is much worse than prison in many ways. I hear guttural wails and sobs so many times a day. It's like being at a perpetual funeral; laying to rest this person's life, that one's dreams, the other's hope. Knowing they'll be inevitably harmed, kidnapped, sometimes disappeared or even killed when they go and we can do absolutely nothing.” “We're just hostages. Being one for so long now... I'm so hollow on the inside. I haven't dropped any tears the last year and a half. I just can't. Not even when I was sentenced. I don't know how I'll even begin to heal, but I sure as fuck ain't ever gonna stop fighting. My hope and ambition to fight... I've just been refueling his entire time being down.” “Fighting brings me solace. Helping others brings me solace, some meaningfulness, a melting of stone in my petrified heart. I spend most of my time going around and helping people as much as I can; working the tablets, giving phone calls, cooking food, doing little chores and tasks for the older, sick, or disabled ladies.“ With love & solidarity, Free All Dykes . ... . .. Featured Track: Judas Goat by Filastine from Burn It (a benefit for Green Scare defendants)

Monica Harris, former DHS Senior IT Acquisition Advisor, joins Mike Shanley to discuss the federal funding market. The conversation focuses on how evaluation criteria are determined, government's evaluation and award process, proposal tips, and how to influence before the RFP drops. Resources: GovDiscovery AI Federal Capture Support: https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/ BIOGRAPHY: Monica Padron-Harris recently retired (Nov 2024) from DHS USCIS as a Sr. IT Acquisition Advisor supporting the Office of Technology (OIT) and the Office of Contracting (OCON). She was responsible for preparing and identifying the most effective procurement strategies for OIT's portfolio. This included determining the evaluation factors, contract vehicle, business size (full and open or set aside), authoring the RFI questions and answers, and preparing the procurement documentation to support the decision. This included the evaluation plan, market research, Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), and Acquisition Plan approvals. She also served as a technical advisor on the source selection panel. As an IT acquisition consultant with over 30 years of experience in a variety of Federal agencies (21 years at DoD/Navy), Monica specializes in identifying strategic acquisition targets and understanding the federal contracting marketplace, specifically within DHS. She spent the last 12+ years at USCIS as a Contracting Officer, Sr. Procurement Analyst (Policy), and Sr. IT Acquisition Advisor to the senior leadership team within OIT and the Office of Contracting. She has an intimate knowledge of the industry landscape within the DMV and specifically within DHS. Monica has excellent external and internal relationships within the Federal landscape and understands the importance and value of industry intelligence. She has the “inside” perspective of industry partners, expertise, and value to ensure partnerships are comprised of the best teaming arrangements to have the highest PWIN. LEARN MORE: Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Global Strategy Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

Abrego Garcia v. Noem, No. 25-1404 (4th Cir. Apr. 17, 2025)illegal abduction and disappearing of individuals with withholding of removal grants based on Executive overreach; facilitate Ebu v. USCIS, No. 24-5431 (6th Cir. Apr. 16, 2025)declaratory relief; naturalization with ongoing removal proceedings; INA § 318; INA § 336(b); legislative history Sponsors and friends of the podcast!Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A.Immigration, serious injury, and business lawyers serving clients in Florida, California, and all over the world for over 40 years.Cerenade"Leader in providing smart, secure, and intuitive cloud-based solutions"Click me!The Pen & Sword College (formerly The Clinic at Sharma-Crawford Attorneys at Law) Use Promo Code: ImmReview2025Link to Nonprofit: https://thepen-and-swordkc.org/ Link to books:https://www.rekhasharmacrawford.com/ Stafi"Remote staffing solutions for businesses of all sizes"Promo Code: STAFI2025Click me!Want to become a patron?Click here to check out our Patreon Page!CONTACT INFORMATIONEmail: kgregg@kktplaw.comFacebook: @immigrationreviewInstagram: @immigrationreviewTwitter: @immreviewAbout your hostCase notesRecent criminal-immigration article (p.18)Featured in San Diego VoyagerDISCLAIMER & CREDITSSee Eps. 1-200Support the show

Inside INdiana Business Radio for the morning of April 22, 2025. A Zionsville mom launches a startup to help other parents. Plus, two top Indiana officials file a lawsuit against a federal agency. Get the latest business news from throughout the state at InsideINdianaBusiness.com.

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In New York City, spirited badge-holders and independent music fans wove in and out of 150-person capacity clubs filled with groups from around the globe during the New Colossus Festival, held a few weeks ago. Now in its sixth year, 196 artists were scheduled to perform, more than half from outside the United States. But New Colossus may be an exception, not the rule, for international artists hoping to perform in the U.S. In the last few years, the process of obtaining necessary visas has grown much more arduous and expensive. "It's already at the maximum level of difficulty that we can rationalize," said Mischa Dempsey, frontperson for the thrilling Montreal band Knitting, who performed at New Colossus and described the process as "labor intensive." "I can't even think about it getting worse." On April 1, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced a visa fee increase, raising the cost from $460 to over $1,615 per musician application, the first bump since 2016. According to the USCIS website, the increase allows the organization to "recover our operating costs more fully and support timely processing of new applications." Nearly a year later, "we are seeing the opposite," immigration attorney Gabriel Castro said. "We are seeing cases actually slow down." Changes to the system have caused delays. According to Tamizdat, a nonprofit that advocates for international artist mobility, all visa petitions are now filed through a centralized service center in Texas and are randomly divvied up to preexisting California and Vermont service centers. The result has been slowed processing times. Matthew Covey, an immigration attorney and Tamizdat's executive director, says Vermont has gone from one month to three. In California, it previously took two to four months, but now, it's eight. "Nobody's filing petitions long enough in advance to sustain an eight-month delay," says Covey. "You got a 50/50 chance of it being done in a reasonable amount of time or having to pay an extra $2,800 to expedite it." This article was provided by The Associated Press.

DITCH YOUR DOCTOR! https://www.livelongerformula.com/wam Get a natural health practitioner and work with Christian Yordanov! Mention WAM and get a FREE masterclass! You will ALSO get a FREE metabolic function assessment! HELP SUPPORT US AS WE DOCUMENT HISTORY HERE: https://gogetfunding.com/help-wam-cover-history/ GET NON-MRNA FREEZE DRIED MEAT HERE: https://wambeef.com/ Use code WAMBEEF to save 20%! GET HEIRLOOM SEEDS & NON GMO SURVIVAL FOOD HERE: https://heavensharvest.com/ USE Code WAM to save 5% plus free shipping! GET YOUR APRICOT SEEDS at the life-saving Richardson Nutritional Center HERE: https://rncstore.com/r?id=bg8qc1 Josh Sigurdson reports on the newly leaked audio exposing the head of AIPAC among many members speaking off the record about how they control the United States government. AIPAC CEO Eliot Brandt admitted in the audio leak that he has "lifeline" access to Trump's top national security officials. The leak involves talk of stifling all pro-Palestinian influence in academia, stifling free speech, controlling AI and public discourse. This leak comes out ad President Trump appoints Chabad-Lubavitch Israeli born rabbi Yahuda Kaploun as the US Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. Essentially, a foreign agent was employed in the US government to stifle any free speech surrounding criticism of Israel. Many are calling this treason. This is the most woke free speech restriction we've seen as of yet. It should outrage the pro free speech groups yet most will bow to Trump and ignore it. Out of sight, out of mind right? Ignorance is bliss. Or should we say ignorance is strength as Orwell would say? Interestingly, this is becoming an incredibly Orwellian environment as pro free speech groups will cheer on the destruction of free speech as people are rounded up and deported for simply criticizing Israel. People who are legally in the United States we should add... This is happening as the USCIS expands social media screening for visa applicants to ensure none are critical of Israel. The Israeli government certainly controls US foreign policy. Netanyahu lobbied the US into the war in Iraq himself, making up the weapons of mass destruction myth. This lead to 2 million deaths and instability in the region which of course benefits Israel. They have killed around 100,000 women and children in Palestine throughout Gaza and elsewhere. They're devastating Lebanon. They just armed terrorists to takeover Syria as the CIA predicted in the 80s, attacking Alawites and Christians. They now have sights on Iran as the Greater Israel Project pushes forward. Conveniently, Trump, the so-called "peace president" who wants to cut wasteful spending announced alongside Netanyahu the largest defense spending budget ever. 1 trillion dollars. All to benefit Israel and devastate the Middle East. Welcome to the New World Order. Next stop, digital IDs and food rations. Stay tuned for more from WAM! Get local, healthy, pasture raised meat delivered to your door here: https://wildpastures.com/promos/save-20-for-life/bonus15?oid=6&affid=321 USE THE LINK & get 20% off for life and $15 off your first box! SIGN UP FOR HOMESTEADING COURSES NOW: https://freedomfarmers.com/link/17150/ Get Prepared & Start The Move Towards Real Independence With Curtis Stone's Courses! GET YOUR WAV WATCH HERE: https://buy.wavwatch.com/WAM Use Code WAM to save $100 and purchase amazing healing frequency technology! GET ORGANIC CHAGA MUSHROOMS HERE: https://alaskachaga.com/wam Use code WAM to save money! See shop for a wide range of products! GET AMAZING MEAT STICKS HERE: https://4db671-1e.myshopify.com/discount/WAM?rfsn=8425577.918561&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=8425577.918561 USE CODE WAM TO SAVE MONEY! GET YOUR FREEDOM KELLY KETTLE KIT HERE: https://patriotprepared.com/shop/freedom-kettle/ Use Code WAM and enjoy many solutions for the outdoors in the face of the impending reset! BUY GOLD HERE: https://firstnationalbullion.com/schedule-consult/ PayPal: ancientwonderstelevision@gmail.com FIND OUR CoinTree page here: https://cointr.ee/joshsigurdson JOIN US on SubscribeStar here: https://www.subscribestar.com/world-alternative-media For subscriber only content! Pledge here! Just a dollar a month can help us alive! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2652072&ty=h&u=2652072 BITCOIN ADDRESS: 18d1WEnYYhBRgZVbeyLr6UfiJhrQygcgNU World Alternative Media 2025    

We're in a season of disruption—political shifts, evolving policies, contracting delays, and social tensions are impacting how business gets done, especially in the federal space. If you're a small business owner or leader trying to make sense of how to stay relevant—or just stay open—you're not alone.In this episode, we're unpacking how to navigate the high-stakes environment of public sector contracting when the rules seem to keep changing. We'll explore how policy, politics, and procurement slowdowns intersect with real-world business survival.Then, we'll shift gears and talk about tangible strategies to pivot smartly—without losing your footing. Whether you're repositioning your offers, realigning with a new customer, or expanding to commercial markets, this conversation is your guide to pivoting with power, not panic.Guest Bio:Shaun Edens founded Lucky Rabbit in 2020 and has since led its growth into a trusted digital modernization partner for agencies like USCIS, OPM, CMS, GSA, and ED, as well as commercial clients like CrabPlace.com. With a background in senior roles at firms including CTEC, TechFlow, Enlightened, and Booz Allen Hamilton, he brings deep expertise in agile transformation, cloud migration, DevSecOps, and enterprise architecture.Shaun holds an MBA from the University of Illinois and a B.S. in Computer Science from Morehouse College. He's certified in SAFe, Scrum, Product Ownership, and AWS, and skilled in tools like ReactJS, Go, Python, and CI/CD pipelines. Focused on innovation and transparency, Shaun continues to lead Lucky Rabbit in delivering human-centered, secure digital solutions that drive real impact.Call(s) to Action:Help spread the word about Unveiled: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveiled-govcon-storiesDo you want to be a guest or recommend a topic that you would like to learn or hear about on the podcast? Let us know through our guest feedback and registration form.Links:Lucky RabbitLucky Rabbit BlueTechFollow Lucky Rabbit on LinkedInSponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today's complex business environment. Go to Withum's website to learn more about how they can help your business! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sponsored by WatersEdge: Invest with purpose? With WatersEdge Kingdom Investments, you can! We offer great rates that multiply your resources and build churches. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3CxWtFzTop headlines for Friday, April 4, 2025In this episode, we examine the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services' new policy manual reflecting the acknowledgment of only two biological sexes, exploring its implications. We then turn to Kentucky, where a new law has been enacted prohibiting the use of state and federal funds for gender transition procedures, following a legislative decision to override the governor's veto. Plus, we are joined by This is Us star Chrissy Metz, who shares insights from her heartfelt new book, When I Talk to God, I Talk about Feelings.00:11 USCIS updates policy manual to clarify there are only 2 sexes01:13 Pro-LGBT group calls Education Dept. cuts 'Christian nationalism'02:02 Oklahoma Education Dept. sues atheist group over school prayer03:04 Sponsor Message WatersEdge04:01 Kentucky bans taxpayer funding of sex-change surgeries04:53 Man to plead guilty to trying to assassinate Brett Kavanaugh05:36 Karoline Leavitt claims there's 'spiritual warfare' around Trump06:22 Chrissy Metz talks navigating faith in Hollywood, new bookSubscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercast⠀Follow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on TwitterChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTube⠀Get the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for Android⠀Subscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!⠀Links to the NewsUSCIS updates policy manual to clarify there are only 2 sexes | PoliticsPro-LGBT group calls Education Dept. cuts 'Christian nationalism' | EducationOklahoma Education Dept. sues atheist group over school prayer | EducationKentucky bans taxpayer funding of sex-change surgeries | PoliticsMan to plead guilty to trying to assassinate Brett Kavanaugh | PoliticsKaroline Leavitt claims there's 'spiritual warfare' around Trump | PoliticsChrissy Metz talks navigating faith in Hollywood, new book | Children's

Members of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency now have access to technical systems maintained by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, according to a recent memorandum viewed by FedScoop. The memo, which was sent from and digitally signed by USCIS Chief Information Officer William McElhaney, states that Kyle Shutt, Edward Coristine, Aram Mogahaddassi and Payton Rehling were granted access to USCIS systems and data repositories, and that a Department of Homeland Security review was required to determine whether that access should continue. Coristine, 19, is one of the more polarizing members of DOGE. He previously provided assistance to a cybercrime ring through a company he operated while he was in high school, according to other news outlets. Coristine worked for a short period at Neuralink, Musk's brain implant company, and was previously stationed by DOGE at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The memo, dated March 28, asks DHS Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar to have his office review and provide direction for the four DOGE men regarding their access to the agency's “data lake” — called USCIS Data Business Intelligence Services — as well as two associated enabling technologies, Databricks and Github. The document says DHS CIO Antoine McCord and Michael Weissman, the agency's chief data officer, asked USCIS to enable Shutt and Coristine's access to the USCIS data lake in mid-March, and Mogahaddassi requested similar access days later. A bipartisan bill to fully establish a National Science Foundation-based resource aimed at providing essential tools for AI research to academics, nonprofits, small businesses and others was reintroduced in the House last week. Under the Creating Resources for Every American To Experiment with Artificial Intelligence (CREATE AI) Act of 2025 (H.R. 2385), a full-scale National AI Research Resource would be codified at NSF. While that resource currently exists in pilot form, legislation authorizing the NAIRR is needed to continue that work. Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., who sponsors the bill, said in a written statement announcing the reintroduction: “By empowering students, universities, startups, and small businesses to participate in the future of AI, we can drive innovation, strengthen our workforce, and ensure that American leadership in this critical field is broad-based and secure.” The NAIRR pilot, as it stands, is a collection of resources from the public and private sectors — such as computing power, storage, AI models, and data — that are made available to those researching AI to make the process of accessing those types of tools easier. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Delligatti v. United States, No. 23-825 (U.S. Mar. 21, 2025)crime of violence; force through omission; New York attempted murder; Castleman; Stokeling; meaning of “use”; limits of Borden; bodily injury; “ordinary meaning”   Ayala Chapa v. Bondi, No. 21-60039 (5th Cir. Mar. 24, 2025)temporary appellate IJs; temporary Board member; Santos Zacaria; INA §  103(g)(1); Attorney General authority; ultra vires argument  Yocom, et al. v. USCIS, et al., No. 22-0839 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 21, 2025)discovery to challenge I-130 denial; INA § 204(c); deposition of ex-wife; deposition of USCIS; no requirement to submit sworn statement; Munoz; coercive behavior; due process violationSponsors and friends of the podcast!Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A.Immigration, serious injury, and business lawyers serving clients in Florida, California, and all over the world for over 40 years.Cerenade"Leader in providing smart, secure, and intuitive cloud-based solutions"Click me!The Pen & Sword College (formerly The Clinic at Sharma-Crawford Attorneys at Law) Use Promo Code: ImmReview2025Link to Nonprofit: https://thepen-and-swordkc.org/ Link to books:https://www.rekhasharmacrawford.com/ Stafi"Remote staffing solutions for businesses of all sizes"Promo Code: STAFI2025Click me!Want to become a patron?Click here to check out our Patreon Page!CONTACT INFORMATIONEmail: kgregg@kktplaw.comFacebook: @immigrationreviewInstagram: @immigrationreviewTwitter: @immreviewAbout your hostCase notesRecent criminal-immigration article (p.18)Featured in San Diego VoyagerDISCLAIMER & CREDITSSee Eps. 1-200Support the show

Episode Title: Immigration – Defining the System (Part 2)We're back with Part 2 of our immigration series, and this time we're taking a deeper dive—not into people, but into the system itself. In Part 1, we defined immigration. In this episode, we're asking: what do we mean when we say “the immigration system is broken”?Before we dive into the heavier topics, we start with a fun conversation: if we could live in any country outside the U.S., where would it be? From New Zealand to Singapore, our answers give a glimpse into how we each view the world—and what draws us to different cultures.Then we define the system:• What is the immigration system actually composed of?• Which agencies are involved (USCIS, CBP, ICE, EOIR)?• How do people enter, live, work, or become citizens?• And is the system truly broken—or is it the way we use (and change) it that causes the dysfunction?In this episode, we cover:• The impact of political cycles on the system's stability• The difference between flawed leadership and a flawed system• Why it's difficult to judge a system that keeps getting rewritten• The real cost of backlogs, delays, and inconsistent enforcement• How we talk about immigrants—and the power of our language• Whether it's possible to separate policy from people• The responsibility of the Church in this conversationThis episode asks hard questions and resists easy answers. We don't all agree on everything—but we're committed to wrestling through the conversation thoughtfully and biblically.We'd love to hear your input, questions, or feedback. You can reach us at aburdenforthetimes@gmail.com. Thanks for Listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

 En este en vivo estaremos hablando sobre las últimas noticias de inmigración y cómo podrían impactar a nuestra comunidad. Este es un espacio para mantenerte informado, analizar los cambios más recientes en las políticas migratorias y responder todas tus preguntas sobre inmigración en tiempo real.

As USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) site visits become more frequent, it's crucial for employers to be well-prepared. In this session we discussed best practices, compliance strategies, and what to expect during an FDNS site visit for H-1B and L-1 employees.Partner and Attorney Min Kim and Client Services Manager Arianna Gonzalez covered the following:• Understanding the FDNS site visit process• Employer obligations and compliance best practices• How to respond effectively to site visits• Preparing your HR and immigration teamsThis session is designed for employers, HR professionals, and immigration teams looking to stay ahead of increased USCIS scrutiny.Listen In!

Louise Trauma Center LLC v. USCIS

El efecto de los aranceles de Trump en la economía del país. Policías salva a niño que se ahogaba en piscina de un hotel. Aumenta el brote de sarampión. Intentaron enviar esqueletos por correo. USCIS busca fortalecer los controles migratorios. Vuelve la ejecución por fusilamiento. Tom Homan advierte sobre el aumento de operativos de ICE. Padre e hijo mexicanos fueron víctimas de ataque racista.Ponte al día con lo mejor de ‘La Edición Digital del Noticiero Univision' con Carolina Sarassa y Borja Voces.

Here are the 4 KEEN ON AMERICA take-aways in our conversation about the dysfunctional American immigration system with Felipe Torres Medina1) Background & Immigration Journey* Felipe Torres Medina is a comic writer for "The Stephen Colbert Show" and author of the new book America Let Me In about the US immigration system* Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Medina moved to the US at 21 on a student visa to pursue a master's in screenwriting at Boston University* Medina received an "alien of extraordinary ability" visa (talent visa for artists) after graduation, and eventually got a green card after marrying2) On the US Immigration System* Medina describes the immigration process as expensive (costing "tens of thousands of dollars" in legal fees) and filled with bureaucratic challenges* He emphasizes that legal immigration requires "tremendous privilege and money" that most people don't have* The book takes an interactive "choose your own path" format to highlight the maze-like nature of the immigration system* He points out that there hasn't been comprehensive immigration reform since the Clinton administration (nearly 30 years ago)3) Comedy as Commentary* Medina uses humor to process his experiences and create community around shared frustrations* He was inspired by writers like Julio Cortazar, George Saunders, Tina Fey, and Carrie Fisher* The book aims to educate Americans who "have so many opinions about immigration" but "don't know what it entails"* He mentions that making the book interactive and game-like adds "levity" to a tense topic4) How to Fix the System* While critical of Trump's immigration policies, Medina says the book isn't specifically about Trump but about a "flawed and messy" system created by multiple administrations* He suggests moving US Citizenship and Immigration Services out of the Department of Homeland Security to change the narrative that immigration is a security threat* His proposed reforms include creating better pathways for educated immigrants and hiring more USCIS staff to reduce backlogs FULL TRANSCRIPT* Andrew Keen: Hello everybody. It is Sunday, March the 9th, 2025. Interesting piece in the times. A couple of days ago, The New York Times, that is about the so-called British flame thrower who is a comic best suited to taking on Trump. They're talking about a man called Kumar. Nish Kumar looks very funny, and apparently he's very angry too. I have to admit, I haven't seen him. It's an interesting subject. It suggests that at the moment, even in spite of Trump and outraging many Americans, the state of American humor could be amped up a bit. My guest today is a writer on The Stephen Colbert Show and a comic, or certainly a comic writer in his own right, Philippe Torres Medina. He has a new book out on Tuesday. It's called America Let Me In, and I'm thrilled that he's joining us from Harlem in Manhattan today. Congratulations, Phillip, on the new job. What do you the new book? I was going to say job. That's a Freudian error here. What do you make of the Times's observation that American humor isn't in its best state when it comes to Trump?Felipe Torres Medina: Oh, wow. That's that's an interesting question. First of all, I love Nish Kumar. I think he's a wonderful, wonderful comedian. He's very funny. He has a level of wit and his observations are just wonderful. I hadn't seen this article, but I really appreciate that the times recognized him because he's been working very hard for a lot of years. I think more than American humor not being fit for the moment. I think at least personally for me, a little bit of addressing Trump again began. And addressing Trump in general is, you know, jokes have to be new. And after basically ten years of Donald Trump every day, all the time, it's certainly hard to continue to find new angles. Now, the dysfunction of the administration and perhaps sometimes the cruelty and whatever they're doing does provide you with material. But I think it can cause you as a writer to be like, oh God, here we go again. More Trump stuff. You know, because that's what we're talking about.Andrew Keen: Do you see your book, Philippe, as a Trump book? America? Let me in. It's about immigration. I mean, obviously touches on in many ways on Trump and certainly his hostility to immigration and immigrants. But is it a Trump book, or is it a broader kind of critique or observation about contemporary America?Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah, I never set out to write a book about Trump or a Trump book. My goal is to write a book about the immigration system, because I went through it, and as a comedian, I encountered in it many contradictions and absurdities that just kind of became fodder to me for comedy. So I try to write this book about the system, but the system was caused by many administrations in many parties, you know, now, the current hostility or the current everythingness of immigration, you know, immigration being kind of in the forefront of the national discourse certainly has been aided by Republican policy in the past ten years and by Donald Trump's rhetoric. But that doesn't mean that this is a book about Trump or as a response to Trump. It's actually a book responding to a system that is flawed and messy, but it's the one we have.Andrew Keen: Yeah. You described the book as a love letter to immigrants, but it's not a love letter to the system. Tell me your story. As you say. You went through it so you have firsthand experience. Where were you born?Felipe Torres Medina: So I was born in Colombia. I was born in Bogota, Colombia, which is the capital of Colombia. I lived there most of my life. I moved to United States when I was 21 on a student visa, because I came here to do my masters. I did my master's in screenwriting at Boston University. And after that, you know, I started working here as a comedian, but also as a writer. And I was able to get an alien of extraordinary ability visa, which is a very pretentiously named visa, kind of makes you sound like you're in the X-Men, but it it's just what they call talent visas for artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, educators, whatever. And so I got one of those and then several renewals of those. And then, you know, thanks to my work as a writer, as a comedian, initially as a copywriter in advertising, I was able to I bought I met the love of my life, got married, and then I have a green card and that's why I'm here.Andrew Keen: Yeah. As and quoting here, it sounds rather funny. An alien of extraordinary ability. Do you think your experience is typical? I mean, the even the fact that you came for grad school to to Boston puts you in a, in a kind of intellectual or professional elite. So is your experience in any way typical, do you think?Felipe Torres Medina: I wouldn't say typical. I would say my experience is the experience of many people who come here. And I think it's the experience of the people who are, quote unquote, the immigrants we want. Right. And, you know, if we're going to dive into the rhetoric of the of immigration these days, I came the right way and did everything, quote unquote, the right way. You know, but what this book and also this journey that I took to immigrate here proves is that it's it's only possible with tremendous amount of privilege and tremendous, tremendous amount of money. You know, it's a very expensive process for the majority of people.Andrew Keen: How much did it cost you?Felipe Torres Medina: Oh, I think in total since I started. I mean, when you count the fact that for most, like master's programs, you don't get any sort of financial aid unless you get, like a scholarship from your own country or a sort of like Fulbright or something like that. There's already the cost of a full master's program.Andrew Keen: But then you weren't coming. I mean, you didn't pay for your master's program in order to get immigration papers, you know.Felipe Torres Medina: Of course, that, but I, I had to pay for my master's program to be able to study here. You know, I didn't have I didn't have my any sort of aid. But, you know, discounting that in terms of immigration paperwork, I've spent tens of thousands of dollars because you have to hire immigration lawyers to make sure that everything's fine. And those are quite expensive.Andrew Keen: Was it worth it?Felipe Torres Medina: Well, yeah. You know, I met the love of my life. I live a.Andrew Keen: Very. I mean, there are lots of loves of. You could have met someone else, and that's true. Or you might have even you might have even met her or him at an airport somewhere else while they were on vacation.Felipe Torres Medina: That's that's possible. But yeah, I mean, I live a I live a good life. I do what I wanted to do, you know, I, I took got my master's because I wanted to write comedy professionally and I get to do that. And I do think when I set out to do this, I was like, well, the place with the best film and television industry in the world is and was then and still is the United States. So I was like, well, I have to go there, you know, and I was able to become a part of this industry and to work in this art form.Andrew Keen: You didn't get any job. You You got the combat job? Yes. I believe you drew the the short straw, right? I bet nobody else was right. Just Stephen Colbert.Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah, I'm very lucky. And but again, it's a mix of luck and hard work and all those things. So yeah, I don't I don't regret moving.Andrew Keen: So some people might be watching this maybe some some MAGA people. I'm not sure if MAGA people really watch this, but if they were they might be thinking, well, Philippe Torres Medina, he's a good example. He's the type of person we want. He jumped through many hoops. He's really smart. He's really successful. He brings value to this country. Is now a full time writer on the Colbert's show he came from it came from Latin America. And he's exactly the kind of person we want. And we want a system that's hard, because only guys like him have the intellectual and financial resources to actually get through it. Well, how would you respond to them?Felipe Torres Medina: I would say that I appreciate the compliment, but I wouldn't necessarily say that that's the best way to move forward on immigration now. I will say this book is a humorous take on the whole immigration journey. And so what? Like I tell different stories of different people coming here made up or inspired by real life. And one of the paths that you can take in this book, because this is kind of an interactive choose your own path book, is mine. But I think what this book tries to prove is that even if you do everything right, even if you, you know, have the money, sometimes it's very, very hard. And that, I think, does put us at a disadvantage when it comes to having a workforce that could be productive for the country, especially as birthrates are declining. You know, we are headed toward a but, you know, people have described as a barrel economy. If we don't simply up the population and the people who are upping the population and actually having children are immigrants.Andrew Keen: One other piece of news today, there's obviously a huge amount of news on the immigration front is apparently there's a freeze on funding to help green card holders. You've been through the process. You write about it in the new book. But how much more difficult is it now?Felipe Torres Medina: You mean under the current administration? Yeah. I wouldn't know. I you know, I think that.Andrew Keen: This idea of even freezing green card. Yeah. That holidays, even if you have a green card, you get frozen.Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah, exactly. And I think that that, you know, I think that that's what Trump did in his first term, more or less with legal immigration, was to create roadblocks and freezes and these kinds of things to kind of just like stymie the process and make it slower, make it harder, even for people who, again, are doing everything right to be able to remain in the country.Andrew Keen: And I'm guessing also some of the DOJ's stuff about laying off immigration judges and court stuff, they're taking office to leave. Apparently 100 immigration court staff are retiring. This adds to it as well.Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. I mean, Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS is a very particular part of the government because it is one of the few parts of the federal government that funds itself. Again, going back to cost the fees that they make are so big, they make so much money that if there's a government shut down, actually, USCIS does not shut down. It's one of the few parts of the government that didn't need to shut down, because they make so much money out of the immigrants trying to come here. So it's a really, really strange part of the government. It kind of doesn't know where it belongs. So seeing like the the DOJ's cuts that arrive into the and that may be implemented into USCIS. Kind I'm not familiar with any Dodge cuts recently on USCIS, but I suspect that they would be strange because it's a it's a very strange division of the federal government. It's not like the Department of Education or the like the Forestry Service. It's it's it's own kind of like little fiefdom.Andrew Keen: Are you wrote an interesting thing or you were featured recently on Lit Hub, where this show actually used to get distributed about how to write a funny book about American immigration. Of course, it's it's a good question. I mean, it's such a frustrating bureaucratic mess at the best of times. I do write anything funny, Philippe, about it.Felipe Torres Medina: Well, I think the, the to me, the, the finding a format to be able to explore this, this chaotic system. It's so, so complicated. It's like a maze. So to me, having this kind of interactive format allowed me to have some freedom to be like, okay, well, you know, one of the things that they taught me in my comedy education, when I was training at a theater here in New York, the Upright Citizens Brigade is the premise of if this is true, then what else is true? You know, so if this absurd thing is reality, then what? How can you heighten that reality? And for me, you know, the immigration system is so absurd. It's it's so Byzantine and chaotic that I was like, okay, well, I can heighten this to an extra level. And so when I keyed in on, on this format of like allowing the person who's reading it to be the many characters to inhabit the, the immigrants and also to be playing with the book, you know, going out and going to one page, making their own choices. It allowed me to change the tone immediately of the conversation because you say immigration and everyone's like, oh, you know, it gets tense. But if you're saying like, no, no, this is a game, you know, we're playing this game. It's about immigration, but it's a game. All of a sudden there's a levity to it, and then you take the real absurdities and the real chaos of the system and just heighten it, which is basically what you do with comedy at all times.Andrew Keen: Who are the the fathers or perhaps the mothers of this kind of comedy? The person who comes to my mind is is Kafka, who found his own writing very funny. Not, and I'm not sure everyone necessarily agrees. He, of course, wrote extensively about central mid European bureaucracy and its darkness and absurdity. Who's inspired you both as a comic writer and particularly in terms of this book?Felipe Torres Medina: Well, actually, Kafka also has a great book called America.Andrew Keen: Yeah. Which is a wonderful first paragraph about seeing this. Seeing the Statue of Liberty.Felipe Torres Medina: Yes. Which is also kind of about this. But I would say my inspirations comedically are, you know, I don't think I would have written this book without, like, the work of Tina Fey. I think Bossy Pants was a book where I was like, oh, you can be funny in writing. And Carrie Fisher is a big Star Wars nerd, you know, to like great, funny writer writers who are just, like, writing funny things about their lives. But I think the playfulness of it all, actually, I was inspired by this Argentine writer, Julio Cortazar, who wrote a novel that in English just translated as hopscotch. And this novel is a huge, like, structural disrupter, you know, in the like, what we call the Latin American boom of writing in the 60s, 70s and 80s. And he wrote this novel that is like a game of hopscotch. You're jumping from chapter two chapter. He's directing you back and forth. So I read a lot of that. And I, you know, I read that in my youth, and then I read it. I reread it as I was older. And then there are writers like George Saunders, who can be very funny while talking about very sad or very poignant things. And so that was also a big inspiration to me. But, you know, I am a late night writer, so I was interested in actually making it like, ha ha, funny. Not just, you know, sensible chuckle funny, you know, kind of like a very, like, intellectual kind of funny. So I was also inspired by, you know, my job and like Colbert's original character in Colbert's book, America, I am American. So can you the writing of The Onion and, you know, the book, The Daily Show Book America, which is just kind of like an explanation of what the federal government is and what the country is written in the tone of the correspondents or the the writers for The Daily Show back in the original Jon Stewart iteration. So those books kind of like informed me and made me like, realize, oh, I can you can make like a humorous guy that's jokey and funny, but also is actually saying something isn't just like or teaching you something. Because the biggest reason I started writing this book is that Americans don't know their own immigration system, and they have so many opinions about immigration, particularly now, but no one knows what what it entails. You know? And I don't just mean like conservatives, you know, I don't just mean like, oh, MAGA people. Like, I was living in New York in the Obama years or like the late Obama years, and none of my liberal Brooklyn, you know, IPA and iced matcha drinking friends had any idea what I was going through, you know, when I was trying to get my visas.Andrew Keen: The liberals drink IPA. I didn't know that I drink IPA, I mean, I have to change my. Yeah. It's interesting you bring up in the first part of that response, the, the the Argentine novelist. There's something so surreal now about America. An interesting piece in the times about not being able to pin Trump down because he says one thing one day, the next thing the next day, and everyone accepts that these are contradictions. Now, the times describes these contradictions as this ultimate cover. I'm not quite sure why they're a cover. If you say one thing one day, in the next something the opposite the next day. But is there a Latin American quality to this? I mean, there's a whole tradition of Latin American writing observing the, the cruel absurdities of of dictators and wannabe dictators.Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah. I mean, it's it's part of our literary tradition. You know, the dictator novel you have. But again, just as the feast of the goat, and you have Garcia marquez, my my compatriot, you know, like that.Andrew Keen: Was one of my favorite magnificent writing.Felipe Torres Medina: It's it's possibly, I hesitate to say, my favorite writer because it creates ranking, but.Andrew Keen: Well amongst your.Felipe Torres Medina: Favorite, among my favorite writers, 100 Years of Solitude. Obviously that is possibly my favorite novel, but he has also, I believe it's the Autumn of the Patriarch, which is his novel about. Exactly. Yeah. I mean, there is a there is. I wouldn't say it's a South American or Latin American quality to it. I think it's just once you encounter it, it is so absurd that art does have to come out and talk about it, you know, and, you know, you see the in a book like the Autumn of the Patriarch. That is a character full of contradictions. That is a character who, in chapter one, hates a particular figure because they he they think that they're against him and then is becomes friends with them and then hires him to be his personal bodyguard. You know, that is what dictators are, and that is what authoritarians do. It is the cult of the person. It is the whims of the person, and the opinion of the person are the be all and the end all to the point where the nation is. It is at the whims of, of of a a person, of those of those persons contradictions. So I wouldn't say it's necessarily a Latin American nature to this, but I think Latin America, because we experience dictatorship in many times supported or boosted by the United States. Latin Americans were able to find a way to turn this into art. And quite good art is what I would say.Andrew Keen: Yeah, and of course, it's the artists who are best able to respond to this. As you know, it's not just a Latin American thing. The Central Europeans, the Czechs in particular. Yes.Felipe Torres Medina: Milan Kundera.Andrew Keen: Yeah. Written a series of wonderful books about this. But the only way to respond to someone like Trump, for example, who says one thing one day, the next thing the next day when he talks about tariffs, he says, well, I'm going to have 25%. And the next day, oh, I've decided I'm not going to have 25%. Then the following day he's going to change his mind again. The policy people, I'm not very helpful here. We need artists, satirists of one kind or another humorist like yourself to actually respond to this, don't we?Felipe Torres Medina: I think so. I think that that that is what. Helps you? I mean, it's the emperor has no clothes, right? That's how you talk. And it's about all kinds of government, obviously. Autocracy or dictatorship is one thing, but at all in all systems of government, these are powerful people who think they have they know better and who think that they are invincible. And you know what? What satire or humor and art does is just point out and say like, wait, that's weird. That thing they just did is weird. And being able to point that out is, is a talent. But also that's why people respond to it so well. People say like, yeah, that is weird. I also notice that. And so you create community, you create partnership in there. And so all of a sudden you're punching up, which is something you want to do in comedy. You want to make fun of the people who have more power, and you're all punching up and laughing at the same thing, and you're all kind of reminding each other. You're not crazy. This is weird.Andrew Keen: Yeah. I mean, the thing that worries me. I was on Kolber on the Colbert Show a few years ago in the original show. I mean, it's brilliant comic, very funny. But him and Jon Stewart and the others, they've been going so long, and they. I'm not saying they haven't changed their shtick. I mean, writers like you produce very high quality work for them, but it's one of the problems that these guys have been going for a while and America has changed, but perhaps they haven't.Felipe Torres Medina: I mean, it's an interesting thing to bring up, particularly with with Stephen, because his show was completely different. Ten years ago, it was a completely different show. He was doing a character. Yeah, right. And now he's doing a more traditional late night show. I think I think the format of late night is a very interesting beast that somehow has become A political genre. You know, it didn't used to be with Letterman. Didn't you see with Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno? You know, they would dabble in politics. They would talk about politics because it's what people are talking about. But now it's become kind of like this world. It all has to be satire. And there's some there's some great work. And I do think people keep innovating and making, like, new things, even though the shows are about ten years old. You know, you have Last Week Tonight, which my wife writes for, but it's a show that does more like deep dive investigations and stuff like that. So it's more like end of the week, 60 minutes, but with jokes kind of format. But I do think, yeah, maybe like the shows, can the shows in the genre in general, like there's genre I could do with some change and some mixing it up and.Andrew Keen: Well, maybe your friend Kumar could.Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah. Well, what? Let us get.Andrew Keen: A slot to his own late night show. And I wonder also, when it comes to I don't want to obsess over Trump or that course it's hard not to these days, but because he himself is a media star who most people know through his reality television appearance and he still behaves like a reality television star. Does that add another dimension of challenges to the satirical writers like yourself, and comics like or satirical comics like Colbert and Jon Stewart?Felipe Torres Medina: I think it's just a layer of how to interpret him as a person. At least for me, it's like, okay, well, you have to remember that he is a show man, and that's what he's doing.Andrew Keen: Yeah. So they're coming back to your your metaphor of the air and power and not having any clothes on. He kind of, in his own nodding wink way, acknowledges that he's not pretending to wear any clothes.Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah, and, well, sometimes he is and sometimes he isn't. And that is. That's the challenge. And that's why writing jokes about him every day is hard. But, you know, we we.Andrew Keen: And the more I know I watched Saturday Night Live last week that Zelensky thing and it was brilliant. Zelensky and Musk and Trump. But I'm very doubtful it actually impacts in any way on anything. Well, and I.Felipe Torres Medina: Think that that's also a misconception people have about comedy. You know, comedy is there to be funny. You know, comedy isn't there to change your mind if it does that, great. But the number one impetus for For Comedy should be to make you laugh. And so the idea that, like, a sketch show is going to change the nation. I don't know. Those are things that I think are applied on to comedy. They're kind of glob down to comedy. I don't necessarily think that that's what it the, the people making the comedy set out to do so. I think if if it made you laugh and if it works. The comedy has done its job. Comedy, unfortunately, can't change the world, you know. Otherwise, you know, I'm sure there would have been a very. There are many good Romanian comedians who could have done something about it has.Andrew Keen: You know, time to time. I mean, Hava became Czech president for a while. You, you, you know, that you sometimes see laugh, laughter and comedy as a kind of therapy when it comes to some of the stuff you do with Kovat. Are you in in America? Let me in. Are you presenting the experience, the heartbreaking experience? So certainly an enormously frustrating experience of the American immigration system as a kind of therapy, both for people who are experiencing it And outsiders, Americans in general.Felipe Torres Medina: And for myself, I think.Andrew Keen: And of course, yes. So self therapy, so to speak.Felipe Torres Medina: I think so, I mean, it is for me a way to like comedy is a way to process things for me. It comes naturally to me, and it is inopportune at times when dealing with things like grief and things like that. But I mean event, anyone who's gone through grief, I think, can tell you there's one moment when things are going really bad and one of the people grieving with you makes one joke and you all laugh and you're like, this. This somehow fixed for one second. It was great. And then we're back to sadness. So I think comedy, you know, as much as again, I go back to what I said a second ago, it's about making you laugh and that making you laugh can create that partnership, can create that empathy and that that that community therapy, I guess, of people saying like, oh wait, yeah, this is weird, this is strange. And I feel better that someone else recognized it, that someone else saw this.Andrew Keen: It certainly makes you saying, hey, you wrote an interesting piece for The New Yorker this week. In times like these, where you, you write perhaps satirically about what you call good Americans. Is the book written for good or bad Americans or all Americans or no Americans? Who do you want to read this book?Felipe Torres Medina: Oh my God. I want everyone to read it and everyone to buy a copy so that I've got a lot of money. All right. No, I think it's written for most Americans and and immigrants as well. People living here. But I do think, yeah, it's written for everyone. I don't think I wrote it with particular like, kind of group in mind. I think to me, Obviously with my background and my political affiliations, I think liberals will enjoy the book. But I also think, you know, people who are conservative, people who are MAGA, people who don't necessarily agree on my vision of immigration, can learn a lot from the book. And I purposely wrote it so that these people wouldn't necessarily be alienated or dismissed in any way. You know, it's a huge topic, and I think it was more of a like, I know you have an opinion. I'm just showing you some evidence. Make with it what you will, but I'm just showing you some evidence that it might not be as you believe it is, both for liberals and conservatives. You know, wherever you are on the spectrum, liberals think it's super easy. Conservatives that think it's super easy but in a bad way to move here. And I'm here kind of saying like, hey, it's actually this super complicated thing that maybe we should talk about and we should try to reform in some way.Andrew Keen: Yeah. And I think even when it comes to immigration, often people are talking about different things. Conservatives tend to be talking about quote unquote, illegal immigration and progressives talking about something else, too. You deal with people who try to get into America illegally, or is that for you, just a subject that you're not touching in this book?Felipe Torres Medina: I address it very lightly toward the final pages of the book. I first of all, I can, like, claim ownership on all immigrant narratives. And I wrote this about the legal immigration system because it's what I've navigated. Again, I am not an immigration lawyer. I am not an activist. I'm a comedy writer who happened to go through the immigration like system, so I but I did feel like, you know, okay, well, let's talk for a second. You've seen how hard it is because I've shown you all this evidence in the first couple stories in the book. And again, I say in the last pages because because of the interactive nature of the book, this could there is potentially a way for you for this to be the first, one of the first things you read in the book, but to where the last pages of the book, I say, okay, let's talk about you. We've seen how hard it is. Let's talk about the people who do so much to try and come here and who go even harder because they do it in the like, in the unauthorized way, you know, or the people who come here seeking asylum, which is a legal way to come to the United States, but is very difficult. So I do present that, but I do think it is not necessarily the subject of a comedy book, As I said earlier, when you're dealing with comedy, you want to be punching up. You want to be making fun of people in authority figures or in a sort of status position that is above the general population or the the voice of the comic. And with with undocumented immigrants and people trying to come here in irregular ways. It's it's very hard to find the humor there because these people are already suffering very much. And so to me, the line is threading the line of comedy there. It can very quickly turn into bullying or making fun of those people. And I don't want to do that because a lot of people are already doing that, and a lot of people who are already doing that work on this in this administration. So I don't I don't really want to mess with that.Andrew Keen: Philip, I'm not sure if you've got a a Spanish translation of the book. I'm sure there will be one eventually.Felipe Torres Medina: Hopefully.Andrew Keen: If people start reading this in Colombia, where you're from, Bolivia or Argentina, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, they think themselves, this is so hard to get in, even legally. Even if you have money to pay for lawyers, they might think, well, f**k it, I'll just try and get over the border illegally. And do you think in a way, I mean, it's obviously designed as a humor book, but in a way this would encourage any sane person to actually give up. I mean, go try and try and go somewhere else or just stay where you are.Felipe Torres Medina: I think, I think the book has a tone of I'm I'm a pretty optimistic person. So I think the book does have a tone of optimism and love for America. I do love the United States, where I, while presenting it as a difficult thing, I am also saying, like it? It's pretty good. You're going to have a good time if you make it here. So I don't think it will be a deterrent. Whether it's some sort of Trojan horse to create more people, to try and go through the border. I don't know, it'd be pretty funny if a funny book tended ended up doing that, but.Andrew Keen: It'd be great if we just got hold of the book and blamed you for for for all the illegal immigrants. But in all seriousness, it was been a lot of pieces recently about, according to the New York Times, people going silent for fear of retribution. As a comic writer and someone clearly on the left, the progressive in American politics. Do you think that there is a new culture of fear by some of your friends and colleagues in the comedy business? Are they fearing retribution? Trump, of all people, doesn't like to be laughed that some people say that he he only wanted to be president after Obama so brilliantly and comically destroyed him a few years ago.Felipe Torres Medina: I think in comedy, you know, I think people are tired of talking of Trump because, again, as I said, ten years of writing about him. I don't think anyone is necessarily afraid of talking about him or making fun of him. I think that is or his administration. I think that is proven like this past week with explosion of memes, making fun of J.D. Vance, his face, you know, to the point where J.D. Vance has tried to hop on the meme and be like, ha ha! Yes, I enjoy this very much too. Good job members. So like, obviously, first of all, he doesn't like it, but I think everyone is. And I think this is something that America does so well. Americans like to make fun of politicians, period. And even though I think in certain spaces of, you know, politics and activism, there might be fear of retribution that is much more marked. I think the let's make fun of of the Emperor for having no clothes that make fun of them is an instinct that that it's not going away and it won't go away any, anytime soon.Andrew Keen: Philip, finally, you've written a funny book about immigration. But of course, behind all the humor is a seriousness. Lots of jokes. It's a very entertaining, amusing, creative book. But it also, I think, suggests reform. You've given a great deal of thought. You've experienced it yourself. How can America improve its immigration story so that we don't have in the future more satirical books like America Like Me and what are the the reforms, realistically, that can be made that even conservatives might buy into?Felipe Torres Medina: Well, I think one of the biggest things is, if you look at it historically, there hasn't been comprehensive immigration reform since Clinton. Which is ridiculous. You know, we're nearing on 30 years there, and we're. We're basically 30 years since. And, you know, I'm 33, so it's a whole lifetime for a lot of people with no changes to a system, no comprehensive changes to a system. And that just means that, like it is going to become outdated. So obviously it's very hard right now with the tenor, but what we really need is for people to sit down and talk about it as a normal issue. And this is not an invasion. This is not a national emergency. It is simply an issue, an economic issue. And I think one of the biggest things, and one of my personal suggestions is that. The US Citizenship and Immigration Service has always been, as I said, this kind of strange ancillary part of the government. It started as part of the Department of Labor, eventually joining the Department of Justice. Then it goes back to labor. It kind of always bounces around. They don't know where it fits. And in after 911, it became part of the Department of Homeland Security. And I think that creates a an aura around immigration as something that is threatening to homeland security. You know, which is not true.Andrew Keen: Yeah. I see what you're saying. It's become the the sex when it comes to, in the context of Victorian something that we don't talk about, and we use metaphors and similes to, to, to describe. And I take your point on that. But what about some and I take your point on the fact that the system hasn't been reformed since Clinton. But let's end with a couple of final, just Doable reforms, Philippe, that can actually make the experience better. That will improve that. That might be cheaper that the the Doge people might buy into that both left and right will accept and say, oh, that's fair enough. This is one way we can make immigrating to America a better experience.Felipe Torres Medina: I think, rewarding if we're talking about this idea of like, we want the best immigrants, educated people. I think actually rewarding that because the current system does not do that for most people trying to get a work visa. They're subjected to a lottery where the chances are something like 1 in 16 of getting a work visa to be here, and that is really bad for companies in general. It's something that the big tech firms have been lobbying against for years, and because there's no consensus in Congress to actually do something. We have been able to address that. So I think actually rewarding the kind of like higher education, high achievement immigrants. In a way that isn't just like if you have $5 million, you can buy a gold car. Yeah, and.Andrew Keen: That's what Trump promised.Felipe Torres Medina: Right? Actually rewarding it in a way that's like, okay, well, if you have a college degree, maybe you don't just get a one year permit to work here, you know, maybe you can. There is a path for you to if you made your education here, if you start your professional life here, if you are contributing because all these immigrants are paying taxes or contributing, maybe there's a path that isn't as full of trapdoors and pitfalls. I would say that that that's one of the biggest things. And honestly, higher up, like I, I do think maybe this is my progressive side of me, but it's like get more people working in USCIS so that these waits aren't taking forever and getting more immigration judges, you know, hire people who are going to make this system efficient, because that is, I think, unfortunately, what Dodge thinks that the, you know, we're going to slim it down so it doesn't cost that much. Yeah. But if you slam it down, you don't have enough people. And there's a lot of people are still trying to come here and they're still trying to do things. And if you don't have enough people like working those cases, all you're creating is backlogs.Andrew Keen: Yeah. I'm guessing when those transforms the American immigration system through AI, you'll have another opportunity for you to write a book. Yeah. I mean, I let me in an important book, a very funny book, but also a very serious book by one of America's leading young comic writers full time, writing for Stephen Colbert, Philippe Torres Medina. Philippe, congratulations on the book. It's out next week. I think it will become a bestseller. Important book. Very funny too, and we can say the same about you. Thank you so much.Felipe Torres Medina: Thank you so much for having me.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Apple's new gadgets this week were pretty minor updates, so of course we talk about them for a long time. Nilay and David are joined by The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes, and the three hosts discuss the latest iPad, iPad Air, MacBook Air, and Mac Studio. All three have... a lot of thoughts. After that, they run through some more tech news, including the Digg reboot, the end of Skype, VW's cheap new EV, and more. Finally, in the lightning round, they talk about the latest from DOGE and the Trump administration, Brendan Carr's latest assaults on free speech, and a smartphone that is mostly (but not entirely) a camera. Further reading: Apple iPad Air 2025: launch, price, and specs Apple refreshes the iPad but doesn't add Apple Intelligence Apple announces MacBook Air with M4 chip and a price cut Our first look at Apple's sky blue MacBook Air Apple launches new Mac Studios with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips Behold the maxed out Mac Studio. Digg is coming back, with founder Kevin Rose and Reddit's Alexis Ohanian Discord is reportedly exploring an IPO. Nothing's Phone 3A and 3A Pro use AI to organize all your stuff The Volkswagen ID. EVERY1 is an affordable EV for the masses Volkswagen's cheapest EV ever is the first to use Rivian software Microsoft is shutting down Skype in favor of Teams The Verge remembers Skype Big Tech is now slightly less silent on Trump's tariffs Trump imposes tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China Car prices expected to increase by as much as $12,000 thanks to Trump's tariffs Best Buy and Target CEOs say prices are about to go up because of tariffs What's an import? Trump to Cabinet: Musk has no authority to fire workers FAA staff reportedly ordered to find funding for deal with Musk's Starlink  Trump's USCIS wants to review all prospective citizens' social media accounts Senate votes to strip the CFPB of its power to regulate X MWC: FCC chair says U.S. will defend interests of its tech giants FCC's Carr defends broadcast probes, slams social media ‘threat' A camera for your cameraphone: Sony Cyber-shot QX10 and QX100 review Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a small update with a big periscope lens  Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The H1B Guy will be live on March 7, 2025 at 12:00 pm ET to kick off the H1B Lottery FY2026 on the first day that USCIS will allow for employers to petition for new H1B visas.Covering:Changes for the H1B lottery for FY2026.Estimating how many electronic submissions will be received for FY2026 H1B Lottery.Guessing the total revenue for USCIS from FY2026 H1B Lottery.What's the real probability of being awarded?Will there be more than one H1B Lottery held for FY2026?Your H1B Lottery stories!For more US employment based immigration coverage please check out TheH1BGuy.comFollow The H1B Guy: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, LinkedInThe H1B Guy is proudly sponsored by:Syndesus is the ideal Plan B for high skilled immigrants currently in the US whose status may be uncertain. Check them out: https://syndesus.com/contact/#H1B #H1BLottery #HCap2026 #USCIS #OPT #OPTSTEM

La agencia migratoria aplica las políticas del presidente Trump sobre el Gobierno federal, modificando formularios para peticiones de Green Card y otras visas.

Avoid mistakes on Form I-485 that could ruin your green card application! The new unlawful presence question is tricky, and even USCIS made errors in their own form. Misrepresentation can lead to fraud issues, but some exceptions apply, like for spouses of U.S. citizens, DACA holders, and more. Don't risk denial consult an immigration lawyer before filing!

A Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) is a letter that an applicant or petitioner receives from USCIS informing them that the government intends to deny the application based on the information and evidence initially submitted.  

Depending on the nature of your application and the workload at USCIS, the processing time for your application may change. Expedited case processing is when USCIS makes a decision on your application faster than the standard processing time.  

In today's episode of The LEO Podcast, we're breaking down three major headlines that are sending shockwaves through immigrant communities. First, ICE is ramping up social media surveillance—what does this mean for free speech and online activism? Then, Florida just passed one of the toughest immigration laws in the country, stripping in-state tuition from Dreamers and increasing enforcement. And finally, the Trump administration just fired over 400 DHS employees, including those at USCIS, which means massive delays for DACA renewals and immigration applications. What do these changes mean for immigrants? How can our communities prepare? Let's break it all down.  BONUS EPISODES Patreon: ✨www.patreon.com/latinamericaneo✨ 

IIUSA lawsuit challenges USCIS rules on EB-5 investment periods, splitting industry between regional centers and investor advocates.View the full article here.Subscribe to the IMI Daily newsletter here.

If you've been granted asylum in the U.S., applying for a green card is your next step toward permanent residency. But when should you file? How long does the process take? In this video, we will discuss a real-life case study of an asylee who successfully received their green card approval in just 9 months!

Train with Matt: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Tune into the Private Podcast Feed and Join Our Discord Discussions:  https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/ Contact: matt@sweatelite.co Matt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Matt Training Log - Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 In this 25th episode of the IMO on the Sweat Elite podcast, Matt shares updates about his recent experiences, including fascinating and challenging stories related to U.S. immigration and USCIS regulations. The episode covers various topics such as the journey towards obtaining a green card, dealing with unexpected delays and secondary screenings, and the decision to temporarily relocate to Japan and Europe due to visa issues. Plans for participating in the Osaka Marathon are also discussed, alongside a deep dive into the importance of running workouts, recovery strategies, and the potential benefits of substances like bicarb, creatine, and Ozempic. Additional segments include addressing listener questions, discussing the controversial Nick Bester situation, and speculating on the future performance of runner Shelby Houlihan post-doping ban. The host also makes a heartfelt appeal for support via their private podcast feed and community Discord channel. Topics: 00:00 Welcome to the Sweat Elite Podcast00:45 The Wild Immigration Story - Osaka Marathon18:58 Listener Comment: THC, CBD, and Pain Management22:15 Listener Question: Nick Bester Banned?31:01 Listener Question: BiCarb31:50 Listener Question: Training/Work Balance36:25 Listener Question: Recovery Supplements/Ratios41:49 Workouts Of The Week47:32 Controversial Topics: Ozempic and Shelby Houlihan59:07 Conclusion and Upcoming Plans WORKOUTS OF THE WEEK 5-10k: 5 or 6 x (1k @ 10km effort (1min) 500m @ 5k effort), R: 30sec/90sec. HM: 10k at HME, 2min rest, 2k @ goal pace M: 20k @ Marathon effort + 5k @ GMP inspired by Jake Barraclough      

In part one of this two-part podcast series on H-1B visa applications, Kara Lancaster (shareholder, Raleigh) and Meagan Dziura (of counsel, Raleigh) discuss recent updates from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and provide valuable insights on how to prepare for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B lottery. Meagan and Kara cover the basics of the H-1B visa, its benefits, and why it is a popular choice among employers. They share practical tips on what steps you can take now to prepare for the registration window, which typically opens in early March, including updates from USCIS and the importance of early planning. The conversation also covers the benefits of the H-1B visa, recent changes to the registration process, and the impact of increased fees on employers.

In this episode of The CX Tipping Point Podcast, we spoke to Vashon Citizen, the Acting Deputy Chief in the Office of Access and Information Services, External Affairs in the US Citizenship and Immigration Service within the Department of Homeland Security and 2024 Service to the Citizen Award winner.We explored the efforts that USCIS has made in improving public service delivery through a series of customer experience (CX) enhancements. USCIS recognized the importance of providing a modern, user-friendly experience for customers navigating the immigration journey. This commitment led to the implementation of innovative self-service tools aimed at resolving common inquiries and improving accessibility.Vashon described their key achievements which included:Text Ahead Feature which was introduced to notify customers before contacting them, reducing missed calls and improving communication efficiency.Online Change of Address Tool which simplified the process of updating addresses across USCIS systems, significantly reducing manual requests and saving operational costs.Appointment Web Form which enabled customers to request and reschedule appointments online, reducing wait times and administrative burdens.myProgress Tool which provides personalized case status information, accessed over 250,000 times daily, enhancing transparency and reducing the need for phone inquiries.Digital Transformation of H-1B Program which digitized the entire lifecycle of H-1B applications, streamlining processes for stakeholders and improving collaboration.These improvements have collectively enhanced efficiency, reduced customer frustrations, and provided a more consistent and responsive service experience. Thank you for listening to this episode of The CX Tipping Point Podcast! If you enjoyed it, please consider subscribing, rating, and leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners! Stay Connected: Follow us on social media: LinkedIn: @DorrisConsultingInternational Twitter: @DorrisConsultng Facebook: @DCInternational Resources Mentioned: Citizen Services Newsletter 2024 Service to the Citizen Awards Nomination Form

100 civic questions 2025 Entrevista de ciudadania en ingles 2025 aprende hoy las 100 preguntas cívicas en ingles para tu entrevista de ciudadania en ingles en este año 2025, repasaremos las 100 preguntas cívicas repitiendo 2 veces la pregunta y 2 veces la respuesta #usa #citizenship #100civicsquestions #immigration

Attention U.S. Employers! The 540-Day Work Permit Renewal Extension is now permanent—offering crucial relief for businesses facing delays in Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewals. Starting January 13, 2025, the automatic renewal period for employees awaiting visa extensions will be extended from 180 to 540 days, giving employers more time to avoid layoffs and keep their workforce intact. In this episode, Rhamy Alejeal, CEO of People Processes, explains the impact of this change on Form I-9 verification and how it affects your hiring practices.Book your FREE consultation today! Don't miss this opportunity to stay compliant and protect your workforce.

100 civic questions U.S CITIZENSHIP INTERVIEW JANUARY 2025 (VIDEO)

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe [CB][WEF] are pushing the blue states to push the climate hoax. NY signed a bill that will fine fossil fuel companies. Trump will break the manufactures but we will need qualified people to produce the products. We can not use temp workers this must people that believe in the US and they are the best of the best. The [DS] is continually revealing their plan to try to stop Trump. First they are packing the Federal Judges across the US, this way the Ds can push their agenda. The [DS] is planning to stop Trump from getting into office by having a vote during the certification process. The [DS] might try to delay the certification process. If the [DS] can do this beyond the 20th there would be no President. This is why Trump needed the people are in side. The people are the counterinsurgency.   (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); Economy Hochul Signs Bill That Will Fine Fossil Fuel Companies $75 Billion to Pay For Damage Caused to Climate New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a $75 billion climate change bill that will fine fossil fuel companies for the damage caused to the environment. “With nearly every record rainfall, heatwave, and coastal storm, New Yorkers are increasingly burdened with billions of dollars in health, safety, and environmental consequences due to polluters that have historically harmed our environment,” Governor Hochul said. “Establishing the Climate Superfund is the latest example of my administration taking action to hold polluters responsible for the damage done to our environment and requiring major investments in infrastructure and other projects critical to protecting our communities and economy.” The Marxist bill was carried by Democrat Senator Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz. “The Climate Change Superfund Act is now law, and New York has fired a shot that will be heard round the world: the companies most responsible for the climate crisis will be held accountable,” said Senator Krueger. Reuters reported:   New York becomes the second state to pass such a law after Vermont passed its own version this summer. The laws are modeled after existing state and federal superfund laws that require polluters to pay to clean up toxic waste. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1872377594831860187  of debt, marking a ~57% increase in just ~5 years. As we head into 2025, prediction markets see a 36% chance that @DOGE can cut at least $250 billion in government spending. Even a cut of $250 billion would barely make a dent in our deficit spending problem. What's the long-term plan here? https://twitter.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1872312139945234507 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1842023147719295450   the Biden administration has finalized changes to the rules governing H-1B visas. Here's an overview: H-1B Modernization Rule: On December 17, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security announced a final rule to modernize the H-1B program. The changes are set to take effect on January 17, 2025. Key Changes: Streamlined Approvals: The rule brings back deference to previously approved H-1B petitions, which means fewer delays for renewals unless there are significant changes in circumstances. Job Eligibility: There's now a stricter requirement for the alignment between the beneficiary's degree and the job they are applying for, ensuring that the H-1B visa is used for true specialty occupations. Increased Oversight: The rule codifies the authority of USCIS to con...