Last Week’s Highlights in Immigration: Bans, Backlash & Border Battles

Trump Signs Travel Ban Targeting 12 Countries

President Trump signed a sweeping new travel ban affecting citizens from 12 countries including Afghanistan, Iran, and Haiti. Travelers with valid visas or green cards are technically exempt, but may still face added scrutiny at ports of entry. The administration claims national security concerns; critics argue it undermines global mobility and disrupts families, universities, and multinational businesses.

The PERM Takeaway: Employers hiring from restricted regions may experience more barriers in onboarding talent—even for workers with valid documentation. Expect longer processing times and heightened border issues. Start the PERM process early for affected populations, and prepare for increased scrutiny in applications.

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Trump Bars Foreign Students from Harvard in Escalating Standoff

The administration escalated tensions with higher education by suspending entry for Harvard’s international students and threatening visa revocations. The move is widely viewed as retaliation for the university’s resistance to Trump’s cultural policy agenda.

The PERM Takeaway: Academic institutions are key launchpads for future employment-based green card applicants. Targeting student visas today means fewer PERM-ready workers tomorrow. Employers relying on OPT-to-H-1B-to-PERM pipelines should closely monitor and diversify recruitment channels.

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Supreme Court Allows Trump to Revoke Parole for 500,000 Immigrants

The Supreme Court permitted Trump to end humanitarian parole for over half a million immigrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua. The decision opens the door to mass deportations, removing protections previously granted under urgent humanitarian circumstances.

The PERM Takeaway: Though parolees aren't typically PERM candidates, this ruling signals a judicial green light for broader rollbacks in immigration relief. Employers should ensure strict compliance with PERM documentation standards and be prepared for volatile shifts in worker eligibility.

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ICE Told to Step Up Arrests, Including of Bystanders Without Warrants

New ICE directives encourage field agents to increase arrest quotas—even targeting undocumented individuals not originally sought in operations. The guidance bypasses warrant requirements in many cases and represents a major shift in enforcement aggression.

The PERM Takeaway: Aggressive enforcement climate increases anxiety in the immigrant workforce. Employers must double down on I-9 compliance and ensure clear documentation in the event of audits or unannounced inspections. Legal representation for workforce immigration matters is no longer optional—it's a safeguard.

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ICE Detains Family of Colorado Attack Suspect After Visa Revocations

ICE swiftly detained and revoked the visas of the family of a suspect in a high-profile attack. The administration framed the action as a preventive security measure, though civil rights groups raised concerns over collective punishment and lack of due process.

The PERM Takeaway: The visa landscape is becoming more reactive and punitive, even for family members not charged with wrongdoing. Employers sponsoring foreign nationals must remain vigilant about workers' visa status and consider contingency planning when political rhetoric accelerates enforcement.