A Special 4th of July Message
As we celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States, we also celebrate the powerful immigration story that has shaped this nation from the beginning.
America has always been built by people who came here with dreams, courage, sacrifice, and hope. From early settlers to today’s students, workers, entrepreneurs, families, refugees, and new citizens, immigrants have helped build the economy, enrich communities, and strengthen the promise of the United States.
On this Independence Day, we thank all our clients, friends, and community members for trusting us with your immigration journey. It is our privilege to stand with you through every step of your American dream.
Happy 4th of July, and Happy 250th Birthday to the United States of America!
Supreme Court Issues Major Immigration Decisions; DHS Proposes Sharp Increase in Naturalization Fees
The U.S. Supreme Court closed its term with several significant immigration decisions that will have lasting implications for immigrants, employers, and practitioners. At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a proposed rule that would dramatically increase naturalization filing fees and eliminate fee waivers for many applicants.
Here are the key developments:
Supreme Court Upholds DHS Authority to Terminate TPS:
In one of the most consequential decisions of the term, the Supreme Court ruled that the Department of Homeland Security has broad authority to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for eligible countries. The Court held that the Immigration and Nationality Act largely precludes judicial review of DHS’s discretionary decisions regarding TPS designations and terminations.
The ruling is expected to affect hundreds of thousands of TPS beneficiaries from countries such as Haiti and Syria and may influence future TPS determinations for other designated countries.
Supreme Court Limits Asylum Access at the Southern Border:
The Court also ruled that migrants who remain on the Mexican side of the U.S.–Mexico border are not considered to have “arrived in the United States” for purposes of seeking asylum under the Immigration and Nationality Act. As a result, DHS may continue turning back certain asylum seekers before they physically enter U.S. territory.
This decision reinforces the federal government’s authority to implement border processing policies and significantly narrows asylum eligibility for individuals presenting themselves at ports of entry from outside the United States.
Birthright Citizenship Litigation Continues:
The Supreme Court also addressed litigation involving the administration’s executive order on birthright citizenship. While the Court limited the ability of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions in many cases, it did not decide the underlying constitutional question of whether the executive order is lawful.
As a result, birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment remains unchanged for now while litigation continues in the lower courts.
DHS Proposes Major Increase in Naturalization Fees
Separately, DHS has published a proposed rule that would substantially increase filing fees for naturalization and related applications.
Among the most significant proposals:
- Increase the Form N-400 naturalization filing fee from $760 to $1,330, representing approximately a 75% increase.
- Eliminate the reduced-fee filing option currently available to certain applicants.
- Eliminate fee waivers for Form N-400 and several related naturalization applications.
- Increase fees for additional naturalization-related filings.
The proposal is not yet in effect. DHS will accept public comments for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register before issuing a final rule.
What This Means
These developments underscore the rapidly evolving immigration landscape in 2026. The Supreme Court continues to grant broad discretion to the Executive Branch in several areas of immigration enforcement and humanitarian relief, while DHS is proposing fee increases that could make U.S. citizenship significantly more expensive for many lawful permanent residents.
Individuals eligible to apply for naturalization may wish to consider filing before any final fee increases take effect. Likewise, TPS beneficiaries and those seeking asylum should closely monitor future legal and policy developments.
USCIS Issues Temporary TPS EAD Guidance for Several Countries
USCIS has issued updated E-Verify and SAVE guidance confirming that certain TPS beneficiaries from Haiti, Syria, Ethiopia, Myanmar/Burma, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen may continue to remain and work in the United States while lower-court injunctions remain in place.
For affected TPS beneficiaries, EADs with category codes A12 or C19 currently have a temporary “placeholder” extension of work authorization through July 10, 2026. This date may change quickly depending on further DHS action and court orders.
USCIS has also noted that these EAD extensions are limited relief under existing court orders until the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts acts in response to the Supreme Court’s June 25, 2026 decision in Mullin v. Doe.
Employers should closely monitor USCIS TPS updates and be prepared to reverify affected employees’ work authorization when required. Affected TPS beneficiaries should also keep copies of USCIS country-specific TPS notices, EADs, and any updated guidance showing continued work authorization.
State Department Finalizes Changes to Diversity Visa Program Regulations
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has issued a final rule amending the regulations governing the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program. The rule, which became effective on April 10, 2026, introduces new documentation requirements designed to strengthen the integrity of the annual visa lottery process.
Under the revised regulations, Diversity Visa entrants are now required to submit valid, unexpired passport information along with a scanned copy of the passport’s biographic page when filing their electronic DV entry. Applicants who fail to provide the required passport information or submit an expired passport may have their entries rejected or deemed ineligible.
The final rule also updates and clarifies regulatory language to better reflect current program requirements and processing procedures.
The Diversity Visa Program, commonly known as the “Green Card Lottery,” provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. The Department of State stated that the new passport requirement is intended to reduce fraudulent or duplicate entries and ensure that applicants are properly identified at the time of registration.
Individuals planning to participate in future Diversity Visa lotteries should carefully review the updated requirements and ensure they possess a valid passport before submitting an entry. Failure to comply with the new documentation rules could result in disqualification from the lottery process.
CBP Expands Authority to Search Electronic Devices at U.S. Ports of Entry
Travelers entering the United States should be aware of significant changes in how U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may inspect electronic devices at the border. According to a recent comparison prepared by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), CBP’s 2026 guidelines reflect a broader and more expansive approach to searching cell phones, laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices than the agency’s previous 2018 policy.
The updated guidance, released on July 1, 2026, indicates that CBP officers have greater discretion to gather and review information from international travelers seeking admission into the United States. While border officers have long possessed authority to inspect electronic devices without a warrant at ports of entry, the new guidance expands the scope of information officers may seek during these inspections.
Under the revised policy, CBP may conduct both basic and advanced examinations of electronic devices when deemed necessary to enforce immigration, customs, national security, and other federal laws. The updated guidelines also place increased emphasis on collecting information that may assist in identifying immigration violations, fraud, criminal activity, or potential national security concerns.
Immigration attorneys note that the 2026 policy reflects the federal government’s heightened focus on border security and traveler screening. Foreign nationals—including temporary visa holders, lawful permanent residents, and even some U.S. citizens—should expect increased scrutiny of their electronic devices when entering the country.
Although travelers generally have constitutional privacy protections, those protections are significantly reduced at the border under the long-recognized “border search” exception. Refusal to unlock or provide access to an electronic device may result in delays, additional questioning, temporary seizure of the device, or, for non-U.S. citizens, possible denial of admission depending on the circumstances.
Attorneys advise travelers to carefully consider the information stored on their electronic devices before international travel. Sensitive attorney-client communications, confidential business information, and personal data may become subject to inspection during a border examination. Individuals with pending immigration applications or complex immigration histories should consult experienced immigration counsel before traveling internationally.
The updated CBP guidance underscores the government’s increasingly expansive use of electronic device searches as part of its border enforcement strategy, making digital privacy an important consideration for anyone entering the United States.
Sincerely, Keshab Raj Seadie, Esq. Law Offices of Keshab Raj Seadie, P.C. Disclaimer: This newsletter is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult an attorney for personalized advice.
