Latest news with #ImmigrationLaw
Civil.ge
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Civil.ge
Latvia Sanctions Another 55 Georgian Citizens
Latvia has imposed entry bans on 55 additional Georgian citizens, Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said on July 14. 'I have included 55 Georgian citizens on Latvia's persona non grata list, imposing a ban on their entry into Latvia. This decision was made in accordance with Section 61(2) of the Immigration Law,' Braže said on social media. The individuals' identities have not been disclosed. Latvia joins Lithuania and Estonia in sanctioning an extensive group of Georgian officials and other individuals amid the EU's ongoing struggle to adopt broader measures, which require the unanimous support of all member states. On April 15, Lithuania disclosed a list of 102 sanctioned individuals, which included senior members of the Georgian Dream government, GD MPs, Interior Ministry officials, and judges. Also Read: This post is also available in: ქართული
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats push bill that would ban ICE agents from wearing face masks
Immigration law enforcement officers would be required to identify themselves and the agency they're affiliated with while carrying out public operations under a new bill introduced by Democratic senators on Tuesday. In an effort to increase transparency between the public and federal law enforcement officers during the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts, Senators Alex Padilla of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey are introducing the Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act. The long-shot act would require officers in the Department of Homeland Security, such as personnel in Customs and Border Patrol or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as local officers deputized to assist in federal immigration enforcement, to clearly display their name or badge number and agency affiliation. Those immigration-related enforcement personnel would also be prohibited from wearing non-medical face coverings that obscure their identity or facial visibility – with exceptions for environmental hazards or covert operations. It has become increasingly common for law enforcement personnel to cloak their identities while carrying out immigration raids or individual confrontations. In several instances, officers have worn plainclothes when approaching individuals to detain them. Padilla and Booker say that practices cause unnecessary confusion, fear, and mistrust in communities and raise tensions between civilians and enforcement officers. 'When federal immigration agents show up and pull someone off the street in plainclothes with their face obscured and no visible identification, it only escalates tensions and spreads fear while shielding federal agents from basic accountability,' Padilla said in a statement. 'Immigration agents should be required to display their agency and name or badge number — just like police and other local law enforcement agencies,' he added. Booker agreed in a statement saying, 'The lack of visible identification and uniform standards for immigration enforcement officers has created confusion, stoked fear, and undermined public trust in law enforcement.' The two also warn that allowing for face concealment increases the opportunity for people to impersonate law enforcement. ICE Director Todd Lyons has previously defended agents' use of facial coverings, saying it was a way to protect their identities. 'I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line, because people don't like what immigration enforcement is,' Lyons said at a news conference in June. In a statement to The Independent, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for DHS, said, 'Senator Padilla and Senator Booker have clearly never been on an ICE operation because they would see our officers verbally identify themselves, wear vests that say ICE/ERO or Homeland Security, and are flanked by vehicles that also say the name of the department.' 'When our heroic law enforcement officers conduct operations, they clearly identify themselves as law enforcement. These arguments are getting a little desperate,' McLaughlin said. Padilla and Booker emphasized that the bill would not prohibit face coverings when necessary for officer safety and would not limit their enforcement ability. Scott Shuchart, a former ICE and DHS official, said he supports the VISIBLE Act for reducing instances of violence and fear 'As much as the cop in blues is a staple of American life, the masked bandit is a symbol of fear, and having government agents dressed like paramilitaries is un-American. Based on my experience in government, the VISIBLE Act makes good sense and would be straightforward for DHS officials to implement,' Shuchart said in a statement. The act would also require DHS to investigate complaints against officers through its Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, establish disciplinary procedures for personnel who violate rules, and provide an annual report to Congress on compliance. McLaughlin said masks protect ICE or border patrol personnel from being doxed, targeted by 'known and suspected terrorists,' and 'attacked' by rioters. She referenced a border patrol agent who was shot on Monday as one of those examples. 'Not only is our ICE law enforcement facing a nearly 700 percent increase in assaults against them, but we've also seen thugs launch websites to reveal ICE officers' identity and even their families and children be doxed and targeted,' McLaughlin added.
Washington Post
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Judges consider whether Trump can use wartime act against Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua
Immigration and administration lawyers on Monday battled over whether President Donald Trump can use an 18th century wartime act against a Venezuelan gang in a case that is likely to ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. The attorneys sparred before a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, the latest step in a tangled legal battle over Trump's March invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 against the Tren de Aragua gang.
Local Spain
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Local Spain
Spain to fast-track admission for foreign students blocked by Trump
President Donald Trump has recently been cracking down on higher education, telling US embassies around the globe to half student visa interviews as his administration expands social media vetting for these applicants. In a bid to try and attract those foreign students who can't or may not want to study in the US anymore, the Spanish government is to approve a new fast-track programme on Tuesday which will allow those affected by the immigration restrictions imposed by the Trump administration to study at Spanish universities more easily. Although the visa suspension has now been lifted, pending reviewal of students' social media profiles, the situation is precarious, and many are reconsidering a move to the US. The programme has been dubbed "EduBridge to Spain". This fast-track solution for international students allows candidates to benefit from the offer at different stages of their education, from high school to university or even from Bachelor's to a Master's. It will allegedly mean that students will not experience delays in continuing their studies in Spain while qualifications from their countries of origin are being recognised, quite the claim by authorities given that Spanish bureaucracy is notoriously slow and painstaking. The fast-lane approach will also include different measures such as the easy transfer of academic records, and validation of completed courses if the student is already studying for a university degree in the United States. According to the Spanish government, they will ensure that consular offices in the United States will expedite the granting of visas and that police stations will also expedite the issuance of Foreigner Identity Cards (TIE) for students, professors, and researchers. 'Spain wants to be a country where knowledge opens the way, even when others block it; we want to offer these young people the opportunity to continue their education in our country, contributing to their talent. Their future cannot be trapped by decisions unrelated to their efforts and merit,' explained the Minister of Migration, Elma Saiz. One issue that the new programme may run into, however, is that Spain also recently passed a new Immigration Law, which came into force on May 20th, featuring a raft of new measures for many types of visas, including student visas. This could actually make it more difficult for US students to get visas due to a reduction in the length of stay before getting a residence permit, changes to deadlines for submitting academic reports, medical insurance and proof of accommodation. The unintended situation has already led to dozens of applications being frozen or denied, according to various reports in the Spanish press. The Association of American University Programmes in Spain (Apune) explain that the requirements are ambiguous and, in many cases, difficult to comply with as prior payment of enrolment fees is required, but many Spanish universities do not charge tuition fees until September. In addition to students, Spain has also been trying to attract US scientists fleeing the Trump administration with €200k in extra funding. Spanish Minister of Science and Innovation Diana Morant explained that the focus is on researchers who are being "disregarded" by the Trump administration. She said that US-based scientists selected for this programme will receive additional funding of €200,000 for each project they're working on.
Local Spain
18-06-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
What Non-Lucrative Visa holders should know about Spain's annual tax declaration
Taxes For Members If you live in Spain on the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), then it's important to be aware that you'll still be taxed here and you will have to fill out the annual income tax return. The general rule is that anyone who lives in or stays in Spain for more than 183 days a year is considered to be a tax resident and must fill out the annual income tax form known as la declaración de la renta. The rules of the NLV state that you are that you are not allowed to work while in Spain, either for companies here or abroad, but you will still be taxed on your passive income and savings. Even though it has always been the case that you can't work, there has long been confusion about this, with many believing that it only meant you couldn't work for a Spanish company here, but you could still work remotely for clients abroad or online. To clear up any confusion, the Spanish government has actually made it crystal clear in the legal text of its new Immigration Law that you can't work while on the NLV. This means you can't work full stop – not even remotely. If you want to do this, you need to apply for the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) instead. In order to be eligible for the NLV though, you have to be receiving a certain amount of passive income or have a certain amount of savings in order to be able to support yourself to live here. This is €2,400 per month or savings of €28,800 for the year. Passive income could be in the form of receiving rental payments for a property you own abroad, pension payments, returns on investments or capital gains from the sale of assets for example. As you are considered to be a Spanish resident while on the NLV, you must still pay tax on your passive income. Spanish law states that you must pay income tax on your worldwide income and capital gains. You must file la declaración de la renta each year between April and July. This year, campaign for filing your taxes for 2024 opened on April 2nd 2025, and will close on June 30th 2025. You can either complete it online yourself via the Agencia Tributaria website provided you have a Digital Certificate or a Cl@ve pin. It's important to keep in mind, however, that the process is quite complicated, even for native Spanish speakers, so if you're not sure what you're doing, it's worth hiring a gestor to help you out and file it for you. If you make a mistake, it could be very costly as it's likely you will be fined for it. A gestor will ask for information and evidence including: Information on dependents - husband/wife/legal partner/children and NIE/Resident cards Interest received from investments or bank account abroad The total amount you received from renting a property abroad and a copy of the rental agreement. Documentation of any property sold in Spain or abroad Pension payments As well as any income / profit you made passively from anything else. You may also be able to offset certain amounts you paid for private health insurance, dental work etc. but this will depend on your individual circumstances, as well as what region of Spain you live in. Ask your gestor what you're able to claim back where you live. You must also inform Tax Agency of any changes to your circumstances such as change of address, a new member of the family born during that year etc. The tax on savings includes interest and dividend income, capital gains made on the sale or transfer of assets, income derived from life assurance contract and pensions annuity income. In 2025 these tax rates are as follows: Up to €6,000 - 19% €6,000 to €50,000 – 21% €50,000 to €200,000 – 23% €200,000 to €300,000 – 27% € 300,000 upwards – 30% Pensions and rent are taxed the same as general income tax: From €20,200 to €35,200, the tax rate is 30% From €35,200 to €60,000, the tax rate is 37% From €60,000 to €300,000, the tax rate is 45% More than €300,000, the tax rate is 47% Be aware that you may also need to declare and pay wealth or solidarity tax on large fortunes during the same time as your income tax return. Each region has slightly different rules on this, so ask a professional in your area. You are required to pay wealth tax if after applying for regional allowances, the net result is positive or if the total gross value of your assets exceeds €2 million. Spanish Wealth tax is a progressive tax, so the more you have, the higher the tax you have to pay. The general rates range between 0.20 and 3.50 percent, depending on how much your assets are worth. The highest rates are payable for those with a taxable base above €10,695 million. Solidarity tax rates and allowances are the same across the country and only applies to those with net wealth above €3 million.
