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What to Do If ICE Asks You to Sign
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USCIS Just Changed the Rules for Special Immigrant Juveniles. Here's What Families Need to Know.

If you have a child in your care who may qualify for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, there is a policy change you need to understand right now.
What Changed
On April 10, 2026, USCIS announced the rescission of the 2022 SIJ deferred action policy. The new policy took effect May 10, 2026. For all SIJ-based Forms I-360 filed on or after that date, USCIS will no longer automatically conduct deferred action determinations for SIJs who cannot apply for adjustment of status solely because an immigrant visa is not immediately available.
In plain English: before this change, when a child was approved for SIJ status but could not yet get a green card due to visa backlogs, USCIS would automatically consider protecting them from deportation and allowing them to work legally while they waited. That automatic protection is now gone.
Who Is SIJ Status For?
If you are in the United States and need the protection of a juvenile court because you have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by a parent, you may be eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile classification. If SIJ classification is granted, you may qualify for lawful permanent residency.
San Francisco's immigration court is officially closing

The Montgomery Street location already shut down May 1st. The Sansome Street location, the last one standing, closes permanently on September 4, 2026.
That means nearly 180,000 combined cases are now being transferred to the Concord Immigration Court.
If your case was in San Francisco, it is moving to Concord. You will receive a new hearing notice. Do NOT miss it.
Here's what you should do right now:
✅ Update your address with the court
✅ Check your case status on the EOIR portal
✅ Talk to an attorney before your new hearing date
Immigration Scammers Are Targeting Desperate Immigrants. Here Is How to Protect Yourself in 2026

Immigration scams are surging across the country in 2026. These are not small time con artists. These are sophisticated criminal operations that look completely real. They have professional websites, hundreds of social media followers, official looking logos, and in some cases, they even set up fake immigration courts complete with a person dressed as a judge, all over a video call.
Real people are losing thousands of dollars. Real families are having their cases destroyed. And in many situations, victims are too afraid to report it because of their immigration status.
Who Is Being Targeted?
Scammers target immigrants who are scared. It is that simple.
In the current climate, with mass deportation fears, policy changes happening every week, and courts backed up for years, millions of immigrants are desperately looking for help. That desperation is exactly what these criminals exploit.
The communities most commonly targeted include:
Habeas Corpus vs. Mandamus: Two Legal Tools Every Immigrant Needs to Know

If you or someone you love is navigating the U.S. immigration system right now, there are two legal tools that could change everything: Habeas Corpus and the Writ of Mandamus. They sound complicated, but understanding the difference between them could be the difference between freedom and detention — or between waiting years for an answer and finally getting one.
At Hafey & Karim, we help immigrants across the country fight back using every legal tool available. This guide breaks down both options in plain language.
What Is Habeas Corpus in Immigration Cases?
US Visa Applicants Must Now Make Social Media Profiles Public. Are You Ready?

If you are applying for a US visa right now, there is a new rule you need to know about before your interview.
The US Department of State now requires certain visa applicants to set all of their social media profiles to public before their consular interview. This is not optional. If your profiles are private, or if you do not disclose your accounts, your visa could be delayed — or denied.
This rule has been expanding fast. It started in June 2025 for students and exchange visitors, grew in December 2025 to include H-1B workers, and expanded again in March 2026 to cover a much wider group of visa categories. If you have an upcoming visa interview, this may already apply to you.
Which Visas Are Affected?
As of right now, the following visa categories are required to have their social media profiles set to public:
Since June 2025:
- F visa (academic students)
It’s Been a Minute: Updates from Our Immigration Law Firm

It’s Been a Minute
It’s been a minute since we’ve published anything here—and it’s not because we’ve been out of the loop.
If you’ve been following us, you’ve probably seen that we post almost daily on social media. We cover immigration news, policy updates, changes in immigration law, and share practical tips people can actually use. A lot of the time, that’s the fastest way for us to get information out, especially with how quickly things change.
That said, the blog still matters. It gives us space to slow things down and explain things more clearly—whether you’re trying to understand your options, a specific visa, or what it’s like working with an immigration lawyer in Texas.
What’s Changed Since Our Last Post
A few things.
We moved into a larger office—not anything excessive, just a space that better fits where we are and where we’re going.
San Francisco Immigration Court to Close, Cases Move to Concord Court
If you have a case at the San Francisco Immigration Court, you are probably wondering what is going to happen to your case. The San Francisco Immigration Court is closing, and most cases will be moved to the Concord Immigration Court. This is causing confusion and fear for many families whose loved ones have upcoming appointments that were meant to be heard this year.
If your case is being moved from San Francisco in 2026, our Concord immigration attorneys are right here and ready to help.
What Is Happening to the San Francisco Immigration Court in 2026?
The San Francisco Immigration Court is shutting its doors by January 2027. All remaining court personnel are being transferred to the Concord Immigration Court, which is about 30 miles away. A small number of courtrooms at the Department of Homeland Security's San Francisco detention facility at 630 Sansome Street will remain open, but the main courthouse is closing.
What Happens to the People Arrested by ICE?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests have made headlines around the world in 2026. Muslim communities have faced particularly aggressive enforcement. In Minnesota, Operation Metro Surge targeted Somali neighborhoods, with community leaders reporting that families are afraid to leave their homes, skip medical appointments, and avoid going to mosques out of fear of arrest.
The situation has created widespread panic in immigrant communities across the country, including here in the Bay Area. If you or someone you know has been arrested by ICE, you need to understand what happens next. Having a San Francisco removal defense attorney who will actually fight for you in court can make the difference between deportation and staying with your family in the United States.
What Authority Does ICE Have to Make Arrests?
ICE agents are federal officers under Section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which gives them broad authority to arrest people they believe are in the United States without legal immigration status. Under this federal law, ICE can arrest someone without a warrant if the officer has reason to believe the person is in the country illegally.
State Department Halts Immigrant Visas from 75 Nations
The U.S. State Department announced on January 14, 2026 that it will suspend immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries beginning January 21. The administration cites concerns about public benefit usage as the justification for this sweeping pause.
For Bay Area families with ties to these nations, this creates immediate problems. Cases that were weeks away from completion now face indefinite delays. If you are wondering what this policy change means for you and your loved ones, call our San Francisco immigration lawyers right away.
Can the Trump Administration Legally Freeze Immigration Visas?
The government is using a law called the public charge rule. Under Section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the United States can deny visas to people who might need government assistance for basic needs like food or housing. Usually, immigration officers look at each person's case individually to decide if they might become a "public charge."

