Latest news with #USDepartmentofHomelandSecurity
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Mexico seeks return of 14 nationals held at US ‘Alligator Alcatraz' facility
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday said that 14 Mexican nationals are currently being held at a US detention center, 'Alligator Alcatraz,' and that her government is working to have them repatriated immediately.'All arrangements are being made to ensure they are repatriated immediately to Mexico,' Sheinbaum said during her daily news those detained are brothers Carlos and Alejandro Gonzalez, whose father, Martin Gonzalez, shared their story with local radio station W. He said Carlos, 26, was visiting the U.S. on a valid tourist visa when he was pulled over by a state trooper for not having a car registration. When Alejandro arrived to provide the missing document, he was detained as well. Both were then transferred to the detention 'The facility is completely sealed off—no sunlight, lights on 24 hours a day. They don't know if it's day or night,' their father said. 'Obviously, my sons are desperate to get out of this situation.'The facility, located about 37 miles from Miami in a dense subtropical wetland known for its population of alligators, crocodiles, and pythons, has drawn attention for its harsh conditions. US officials have reportedly used the facility's remote and intimidating environment to demonstrate a tougher stance on immigration under President Donald Trump's administration. Since Trump took office on January 20, a total of 73,533 people have been returned to Mexico, 67,008 of them Mexican nationals, according to US Department of Homeland Security has not commented on the brothers' case. Meanwhile, Mexico's consul in Orlando, Juan Sabines, stated in a video shared Monday that the brothers remain in 'legal limbo,' as their appointed lawyer does not have access to their case file, and no judge has been assigned yet. - EndsMust Watch
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Trump's ‘big new' visa fee could slug thousands of Australian travellers
Thousands of Australian business travellers, students and workers heading to the United States are set to be charged a $US250 ($383) visa application fee as part of changes introduced under President Donald Trump's 'big beautiful bill'. Most Australians visiting the US as tourists enter the country under the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, known as the ESTA waiver program, and will have to pay a small increase for the cost of the waiver – from $US21 ($32) to $US40 ($60). The US Department of Homeland Security has the authority to begin the new 'visa integrity fee' from October 1. It can be applied to anyone who is not eligible for the ESTA visa waiver, including the Visa H-1B (specialty occupations), Visa F-1 (academic student), Visa B-1/B-2 (business visitor/tourist visitor), and Visa J-1 (exchange visitor). People will need to pay the charge once their visa application is approved – in addition to the cost of the visa. The fee will also apply to intra-company transferees (Visa L-1) or the visa category for extraordinary ability or achievement in arts, athletics and sciences (Visa O-1). Not everyone can qualify for the ESTA waiver. Among exclusions are people with criminal records or certain dual-nationalities. Travellers in line to be slugged by the 'visa integrity fee' could be eligible to recoup the full cost after legally exiting the country.
The Age
a day ago
- Business
- The Age
Trump's ‘big new' visa fee could slug thousands of Australian travellers
Thousands of Australian business travellers, students and workers heading to the United States are set to be charged a $US250 ($383) visa application fee as part of changes introduced under President Donald Trump's 'big beautiful bill'. Most Australians visiting the US as tourists enter the country under the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, known as the ESTA waiver program, and will have to pay a small increase for the cost of the waiver – from $US21 ($32) to $US40 ($60). The US Department of Homeland Security has the authority to begin the new 'visa integrity fee' from October 1. It can be applied to anyone who is not eligible for the ESTA visa waiver, including the Visa H-1B (specialty occupations), Visa F-1 (academic student), Visa B-1/B-2 (business visitor/tourist visitor), and Visa J-1 (exchange visitor). People will need to pay the charge once their visa application is approved – in addition to the cost of the visa. The fee will also apply to intra-company transferees (Visa L-1) or the visa category for extraordinary ability or achievement in arts, athletics and sciences (Visa O-1). Not everyone can qualify for the ESTA waiver. Among exclusions are people with criminal records or certain dual-nationalities. Travellers in line to be slugged by the 'visa integrity fee' could be eligible to recoup the full cost after legally exiting the country.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
End of H-1B visa lottery? DHS plans to replace model with ‘weighted selection process'
The H-1B visa system might be in for a major shake-up. The Trump-era proposal is making waves again, as the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has submitted a fresh draft that could replace the current random lottery with a 'weighted selection' method for issuing H-1B visas, according to a Forbes report. H-1B visa lottery system might end(shutter stock) H-1B visa lottery to end? What to know Right now, the process is pretty straightforward: eligible applications are submitted, and then a computer-generated lottery picks who gets the limited spots. Around 85,000 visas are available each year under the cap, with 20,000 of them set aside for people who have a Master's degree or higher from a U.S. institution. But every year, demand far outpaces supply. So, what does 'weighted selection' mean exactly? That part is still unclear. The DHS has not shared many details publicly yet, but early analysis suggests that applications could be ranked based on factors like salary, education level, or even seniority. If that happens, it could completely change who benefits from the H-1B program. A study earlier this year by the Institute for Progress showed that if salaries were prioritized over random chance, the average H-1B recipient's pay could jump from about $106,000 to $172,000. That would make things much harder for outsourcing firms who rely on hiring large numbers of lower-wage workers, but could be a big plus for researchers, PhD holders, and senior-level tech professionals. Experts like Connor O'Brien from the Economic Innovation Group are in support of the change. He posted on X (formerly Twitter) that 'random allocation is insane' and that ranking by salary would better reflect the country's needs. For Indian workers, who made up over 70% of H-1B recipients in the last two years, these changes could have mixed results. Those with higher degrees or specialized roles might benefit, while others could find it harder to secure a visa. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is still working on the final draft of the rule, and it is expected to go through public review before anything is set in stone. But if passed, the new system could be in place as early as next year. FAQs 1. What is the new proposed change to the H-1B visa process? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed replacing the random H-1B lottery system with a weighted selection process that may prioritize applicants with higher salaries or advanced qualifications. 2. Will the H-1B lottery system be eliminated? Yes, if the proposal is approved, the current random lottery system could be replaced by a merit-based or salary-ranking system, especially for the capped portion of the H-1B visa program. 3. How will the new H-1B selection process affect Indian applicants? Indian nationals, who make up over 70% of H-1B recipients, may face tougher competition. The new system may favor highly paid or specialized applicants, possibly impacting outsourcing firms. 4. What is the current annual cap for H-1B visas? The H-1B visa program currently has an annual cap of 85,000 visas, including 20,000 spots reserved for applicants with a U.S. master's degree or higher.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘Great': Elon Musk on Trump admin's proposal to overhaul H1-B visa lottery system
The Donald Trump-led administration plans to overhaul the H1-B visa lottery system, replacing it with a more weighted and wage-linked selection process. The visa system has been a topic of debate between Trump and his supporters.(Bloomberg) According to a filing by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on July 17, the administration has proposed the introduction of a "weighted selection process" for the capped category of the system. The proposal has been submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Reacting to the development, Elon Musk gave a one-word response on social media platform X. 'Great,' the Tesla CEO said. Musk has in the past said that the H1B visa system is 'broken', while pledging that he would 'go to war on this issue'. 'I've been very clear that the program is broken and needs major reform,' Musk said last year. The visa system has been a topic of debate between Trump and his supporters. The US President's MAGA base has also opposed Musk's take on the immigration policy. The proposal by the DHS looks to prioritise some applicants on the basis of additional criteria. This could be wage-linked selection, which would favour highly-skilled professionals. However, the DHS has not provided details on the revamping of the programme. At present, 85,000 new H-1B visas are issued annually, including the 20,000 which are set aside for applicants who have a Master's degree or higher from an educational institution in the US, Business Today reported. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allocates visas through a random lottery system, which means that the applicants are on the same scale, despite their skills or compensation. Largely a majority of the beneficiaries of non-immigrant H1-B visa programme are Indians. 77 per cent of the approved visas from the 320,000 alloted ones belonged to Indians, India Today reported. In 2023 too, Indians made up for more than 70 per cent of the approved visas.
