After receiving Senate confirmation for an undersecretary position earlier in the day, Chad Wolf was sworn in and placed as the next Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
Continue Reading Chad Wolf Becomes New Acting Secretary of Homeland Security

Robert Y. Maples˘
Robert Y. Maples is experienced in the Washington, D.C. federal, state and public affairs arenas. He has also been an advocate for building pragmatic alliances to resolve major social issues and has pioneered strategies for addressing complex public affairs crises in collaborative versus confrontational contexts. He continues his advocacy of pragmatic alliances in furtherance of client/government collaborations among the Congress and federal agencies, and serves as state counsel on complex client public policy matters. He is experienced in complex problem solving in regulatory and legislative environments and his client interests have led to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) activities and cybersecurity representation.
˘ Not admitted to practice law.
Poland Designated 39th Member Country in Visa Waiver Program
As reported previously, President Trump announced that his administration has nominated Poland as a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) participating country. Today, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan formally…
Continue Reading Poland Designated 39th Member Country in Visa Waiver Program
Comprehensive EB-5 Modernization Legislation Introduced in the U.S. Senate
Today, Senators Graham (R-SC), Rounds (R-SD) and Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the “Immigrant Investor Program Relief Act” (S. 2778, the Act) proposing long overdue improvements to modernize the EB-5 program in…
Continue Reading Comprehensive EB-5 Modernization Legislation Introduced in the U.S. Senate
Extension of El Salvador TPS Wind-Down Through Jan. 4, 2021, Announced
Today, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele announced on Twitter a one-year extension (through Jan. 4, 2021) of the wind-down period of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 200,000 El Salvadorians…
Continue Reading Extension of El Salvador TPS Wind-Down Through Jan. 4, 2021, Announced
Will the Congress Yield – for Immigration Reform?
On Oct. 17 a fiery debate occurred on the U.S. Senate floor. Two great supporters of immigrants and immigration reform, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL, Minority Floor Leader) and Mike…
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Trump Administration Nominates Poland for U.S. Visa Waiver Program
Today, President Trump announced that his administration has nominated Poland as a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) participating country. Entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism, business, or in transit for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa.
President Trump stated: “…This is an important step in continuing to increase economic, security, cultural, and people-to-people connections between our two nations. Now that Poland has been nominated, the Department of Homeland Security will take necessary action, as soon as possible, to assess Poland’s entry into the program. If Poland is designated as a Visa Waiver Program country, its nationals would be authorized for visa-free travel to the United States for business and tourism. The bilateral relationship between the United States and Poland has never been stronger, and this would serve as a remarkable accomplishment for both countries.”…
Continue Reading Trump Administration Nominates Poland for U.S. Visa Waiver Program
President Signs Continuing Resolution Into Law
President Trump signed the latest Continuing Resolution into law Friday night (Sept. 27) extending government operations and vital programs, such as EB-5, through Nov. 21 –
Bill Announcement
Issued
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Senate Approves CR to Fund Government, Including Vital Programs Like EB-5
Today, the U.S. Senate approved the House-passed Continuing Resolution (CR; H.R. 4378 ) to fund the U.S. government through Nov. 21 by a bipartisan vote of 82-15. The last step …
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Administration Concludes Rulemaking Providing Temporary Protected Status for Syria
As previously reported, the rulemaking extending TPS for Syria has concluded:
AGENCY: DHS-USCIS | RIN: 1615-ZB72 | Status: Concluded |
TITLE: Extension of the Designation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status | ||
STAGE: |
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Continue Reading Administration Concludes Rulemaking Providing Temporary Protected Status for Syria
House Passes Continuing Resolution to Fund Government, Including Vital Programs Such as EB-5
Yesterday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) introduced a continuing resolution (CR) to fund government from end of the current fiscal year, Sept. 30, until Nov. 21, 2019. By a vote of 301-123, the House today passed H.R. 4378, the CR that will fund the government through Nov. 21.
To EB-5 advocates, this timing is significant in that this CR extends the program coterminous with implementation of the recent Obama-era regulations. This timing continues to provide the opportunity for stakeholders to advocate and negotiate needed legislated industry reforms and a programmatic “better way forward” from the Obama-era regulations.…
Continue Reading House Passes Continuing Resolution to Fund Government, Including Vital Programs Such as EB-5