Federal Judge Dismisses Texas Lawsuit Over Biden Immigration Rule

A federal judge in Texas has dismissed the state's challenge to the Biden administration's "public charge" immigration rule, citing lack of standing due to insufficient evidence. The rule, implemented in 2022, makes it easier for immigrants receiving public benefits to obtain permanent U.S. residency by only considering those "primarily dependent" on government subsistence as public charges. Texas had argued that the rule would increase immigration and subsequently raise state spending on various services, but Judge Drew Tipton found that the state failed to provide evidence supporting this claim. This decision upholds the Biden administration's revised definition of a public charge, which replaced the Trump-era regulation that deemed any immigrant receiving food stamps or Medicaid a public charge.
Lawsuit Seeks to Open UC Jobs to Undocumented Students After Newsom Veto
A lawsuit has been filed against the University of California system, accusing it of discriminating against undocumented students by denying them on-campus jobs due to their immigration status. The plaintiffs, a UCLA alumnus and lecturer, argue that federal law does not prohibit public universities from hiring undocumented individuals. They claim the University's hiring policy violates California's Fair Employment and Housing Act, which prohibits state employers from discriminating based on immigration status. The lawsuit follows Governor Gavin Newsom's veto of Assembly Bill 2486, which aimed to allow undocumented students to work at public universities. Newsom cited concerns about potential federal liability for state employees. The University of California receives over $12 billion in annual federal funding and fears losing it if they hire undocumented students. The plaintiffs hope a favorable ruling will prompt California State University to also open employment opportunities to undocumented students, who make up approximately 55,500 of the state's public college students.
USCIS Issues New Guidance on EB-1 Eligibility Criteria for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued new policy guidance to clarify evidence requirements for EB-1 extraordinary ability immigrant visa classifications. This update confirms that team awards and past memberships will be considered under specific criteria. Additionally, the guidance removes language requiring published material to demonstrate a person's work value and clarifies that non-artistic exhibitions will only be considered as comparable evidence.