Non-Minister Sunset Provision Updates
The Non-Minister Sunset Provision is a temporary law that allows religious brothers, sisters, and foreign nationals working in a religious occupation to become permanent residents.
On Friday, March 11, 2022, President Biden signed a continuing resolution, the “Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act” (H.J. Res. 75) into law, funding the federal government through March 15, 2022, which also extended the Non-Minister Sunset Provision to March 15, 2022.
A new appropriations bill, the “Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022” (H.R. 2471), is scheduled to be signed by President Biden this week. This bill will fund the government through the current fiscal year September 2022 extending the Non-Minister Sunset Provision to Sept. 30, 2022. Therefore, once the bill has been signed the Non-Minister Sunset Provision will be extended to Sept. 30, 2022.
We will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as they arise. For more information, please contact your RIS attorney directly.
The Latest Executive Proclamation Explained - How it Effects Religious Workers
On June 22, 2020, President Trump issued an Executive Proclamation titled, “Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak.” This announcement follows the April 22, 2020, Proclamation suspending entry of immigrants for permanent residence and extends that Proclamation through Dec. 31, 2020.
A Juneteenth Message from RIS
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to proclaim the end of the Civil War and that those enslaved were now free. Word of the Emancipation Proclamation was not widely known in Texas up to that point, and it had not been enforced, even though it took effect two years earlier. The day became known as “Juneteenth” and for many it is a day of remembrance, freedom and celebration of Black culture.
DACA Update: Supreme Court Issues Its Final Ruling June 18
On June 18, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its final ruling on Department of Homeland Security et al. V. Regents of the University of California et al., stating that the Trump administration failed to provide an adequate explanation for their termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, immigration program and it, therefore, should remain.
Travel Advisory - March 12, 2020
Because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, on March 11, 2020, President Trump issued a new travel proclamation suspending entry of all immigrants and non-immigrants who were physically present in the following 26 European countries. The countries include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. If you are physically present in any of these countries during a 14-day period preceding your entry or attempted entry into the U.S., you will not be permitted to enter the U.S.
Travel Advisory - March 4, 2020
As you are most likely are aware, the coronavirus (COVID-19) is becoming a more immediate health concern in the U.S. As such, the government has already begun limiting visitors to the U.S. (non-U.S. citizens) who may have recently traveled to the following countries: China, S. Korea, Iran and Italy.
