#USA Visa Policy

[usadvlottery]

Discover the nuances of U.S. visas in 'Unlocking the Secrets of U.S. Visas: Immigrant vs. Non-Immigrant Options.' This guide unveils the distinctions between temporary and permanent stays, providing insights into eligibility criteria and demystifying the intricacies of the U.S. visa landscape.

[npzlawyersforimmigration]

U Visa Applications: What Happens If You Leave the U.S.?

https://visaserve.com/u-visa-applications-what-happens-if-you-leave-the-u-s/

#UVisa #UVisaApplication #UVisaAbroad #UVisaProcessing #ImmigrationRelief #CrimeVictimsVisa #USImmigration #UVisaEligibility #UVisaFamilyMembers #UVisaChallenges

http://www.visaserve.com

[balu88r-blog]

Donald Trump - ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಟ್ರಂಪ್ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಆಘಾತ, 41 ದೇಶಗಳ ಜನರಿಗೆ ಅಮೆರಿಕಾ ಪ್ರವೇಶ ನಿಷೇಧ; ಪೂರ್ಣ ಪಟ್ಟಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿದೆ…!

Donald Trump – ಅಮೆರಿಕಾ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಡೊನಾಲ್ಡ್ ಟ್ರಂಪ್ ಅವರು ವಿಶ್ವದ 41 ದೇಶಗಳ ನಾಗರಿಕರಿಗೆ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಆಘಾತ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನ, ಭೂತಾನ್ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ 41 ದೇಶಗಳ ಜನರಿಗೆ ಅಮೆರಿಕಾಕ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಲು ವೀಸಾ ನಿಷೇಧ ಹೇರಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ನಿರ್ಧಾರವು ಟ್ರಂಪ್ ಅವರ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಭದ್ರತಾ ನೀತಿಯ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿದೆ. ಡೊನಾಲ್ಡ್ ಟ್ರಂಪ್ (Donald Trump) ಅವರು ತಮ್ಮ ಹಿಂದಿನ ಅಧಿಕಾರಾವಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ 7 ಮುಸ್ಲಿಂ ದೇಶಗಳಿಗೆ ಪ್ರವಾಸ ನಿಷೇಧವನ್ನು ಹೇರಿದ್ದರು. ಈಗ, ಅವರು 41 ದೇಶಗಳನ್ನು ರೆಡ್, ಆರೆಂಜ್ ಮತ್ತು…

[affairsmastery]

Vanuatu’s citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program, known as the “golden passport,” allows wealthy individuals to buy citizenship, raising concerns over security and transparency. The program grants visa-free access to 113 countries, ranking 53rd globally—higher than China (59) and India (80), according to the Henley Passport Index 2025.

As a tax haven, Vanuatu imposes no personal income, capital gains, or inheritance tax, making it attractive to high-net-worth individuals. However, critics argue that criminals and fraudsters exploit the scheme for money laundering and tax evasion, prompting scrutiny from the UK and EU.

Vanuatu, a South Pacific island nation with 83 islands and an active volcanic landscape, has its capital in Port Vila. Unlike Vanuatu, India’s citizenship laws, governed by Articles 5-11 of the Constitution, do not allow citizenship solely based on financial contributions.

[jamesanderson97]

How Are Immigration Trends Changing in the United States?

Since the immigration trend is on the rise, US immigration consultants have become a crucial figure. A large number of individuals are seeking opportunities for jobs and education and are starting a venture in the United States.

[head-post]

Northern border crisis gets worse, US attorney Wrigley says

North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley (R) has issued a stark warning about the flow of illegal immigration across the northern US border, arguing that the situation, which has intensified under the Biden administration, is likely to worsen, US Media reported.

Wrigley spoke on Wednesday at a field hearing hosted by the House Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The hearing “The Biden Border Crisis: North Dakota Perspectives” focused on how illegal crossings across the northern border are affecting North Dakota residents and communities. Only Republican legislators attended the meeting.

North Dakota is home to 18 land ports of entry along a 310-mile stretch of the 5,525-mile northern US border, and only three ports are open 24 hours a day. Wrigley stated:

“The situation has deteriorated significantly in recent years, and the current situation is untenable with millions of illegal entrants streaming across America’s southwest border. North Dakota is already experiencing negative law enforcement impacts due to the Biden Administration’s refusal to shut down the border, but my concern is that the worst is yet to come, both in terms of street crimes and national security.”

Wrigley reported that there were 4,444 migrant encounters in fiscal year (FY) 2023, a significant increase from 2,127 in FY 2022 and 548 in FY 2021. He also emphasised that preliminary data shows that the upward trend will continue in FY 2024.

Wrigley also noted the striking difference in drug prices at US borders, highlighting that fentanyl and synthetic opioids can be purchased for as little as 25 cents per pill on the southwest border, while North Dakota can fetch between $60 and $80 per pill, making it attractive to drug traffickers.

Read more HERE

[abroadstudydelhi]

MBBS (bachelor of Medicine, bachelor of surgery) aspirants To make it neat, it was about creating better opportunities for global students. This article delves into the benefits of this policy change for MBBS candidates

[carbonalchemy]

Important for the US trans people

Important to know: under EU law, individuals who face persecution based on their gender identity or sexual orientation can be eligible for asylum.

The EU Qualification Directive (2011/95/EU) says that persecution due to sexual orientation and gender identity can be grounds for refugee status. We've already received LGBTQ+ refugees from Russia for years.

So, if policy proposals such as Project 2025 come to be in the USA as they're now presented, transgender individuals from the USA could seek asylum in the EU. And I underline, not by finding a job and getting a visa first but as an asylum seeker.

The asylum process requires applicants to demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country. Each case is assessed individually, considering the specific circumstances and evidence presented, so if anything starts happening, document everything. The more, the better.

The LGBTQ+ right recognition varies between the member states so it's the safest, if things come to this, to look for the countries that have higher established protection for LGBTQ+ people (ie. Malta, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Germany, France). The local LGBTQ+ organisations often have legal resources and can consult as to what is required.

I know this is a horrifying situation and no one wants to leave their country and home and start new in a country where they possibly don't speak the language or have any support network, but if things come to this, the EU should be mandated to offer asylum.

For people in the EU, remember that your vote can help people in the USA. If you vote against refugees, you're also voting against people in situations like this.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Christopher Wiggins at The Advocate:

Germany has issued a warning that transgender and nonbinary travelers may face difficulties entering the United States under the Trump administration’s new policies. The warning, first reported by the German newspaper Rheinische Post on February 26, advises travelers to check with U.S. authorities before making their trip as the federal government moves to erase legal recognition of transgender people and restrict their ability to update official documents. A German official confirmed to The Advocate that “transgender and nonbinary individuals traveling from Germany to the United States should contact the responsible U.S. authorities prior to travel to the U.S. to inquire about current entry regulations.” The advisory follows an executive order from President Donald Trump on the day of his inauguration on January 20, mandating that all government-issued documents, including passports, reflect only an individual’s sex assigned at birth. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s State Department then issued a new directive requiring all visa applicants to list their sex at birth. Though the memo is framed as a policy aimed at transgender athletes, legal experts warn that it could be used to deny visas to transgender people more broadly. The policy instructs consular officers to flag applications where there is “reasonable suspicion” that an applicant is trans, a move critics say amounts to a ban on transgender visa holders. Germany’s warning underscores the growing international consequences of Trump’s anti-transgender policies. While the U.S. is restricting legal gender recognition, the German official noted that the European country is moving in the opposite direction. On November 1, the country’s Self-Determination Act went into effect, making it easier than ever for transgender and nonbinary individuals to update their legal documents.

[...] German citizens — whether in Germany or abroad — can now submit their declarations at local registry offices, consulates, or embassies instead of going through a court process, according to the German Embassy. The German government strongly encourages individuals to obtain a certificate confirming their gender marker change before applying for an updated passport.

Germany issues a travel warning for trans, intersex, and nonbinary people travelling to the USA due to the Trump Administration’s war on trans people.

See Also:

The Advocate: Germany issues travel warning about the US due to restrictions on trans people

[usadvlottery]

US Immigration and Customs Laws encompass a complex framework governing the movement of people and goods across the United States' borders. These laws are designed to regulate immigration, prevent illegal entry, ensure national security, and facilitate lawful trade and travel. They cover a wide range of topics, including visa requirements, border security measures, customs duties, import/export regulations, and enforcement mechanisms. Compliance with these laws is crucial for maintaining legal status, preventing unauthorized entry, and upholding the nation's safety and security. Various government agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, oversee the enforcement and administration of these laws.

[npzlawyersforimmigration]

Canada Immigration Pathways for U.S. LGBTQ2+ Community

https://visaserve.com/canada-immigration-pathways-for-u-s-lgbtq2-community/

#CanadaImmigration #LGBTQ2PlusRights #InclusiveCanada #ExpressEntry #PNPPrograms #SpousalSponsorship #LGBTQ2PlusSafety

http://www.visaserve.com

[bopinion]

2025 / 11

Aperçu of the week

"Power to the people, right on."

(John Lennon - nothing more to add here)

Bad News of the Week

I must already assume that the decline of the United States of America under Donald Trump will dominate my bad news this year. Not because there is a lack of other bad news that enlightened people have to deal with. It's simply because so much is going so wrong in our former role model country that it seems more monstrous than so much else. Even in a week in which the civil war in Syria is rearing its ugly head again, the ceasefire in Gaza is becoming more fragile and the Kremlin is still destroying Ukraine.

Donald Trump resembles an ancient god of vengeance who arbitrarily punishes anyone who does not pay him proper homage or question his genius. He clearly suffers from narcissism, which is a serious mental disorder and not just a strange self-image. In his infallibility, he assumes that anyone who doesn't see his personal standards, which are unfortunately anything but democratic, as the ultimate, is simply too stupid. Or malicious or ungrateful. And so he throws his lightning bolts from the Olympus of the Oval Office down on unworthy earthlings.

He is so predictable that he can easily be instrumentalized by those close to him. For example, Elon Musk, who persuaded him to promote Tesla, which was of course not a personal favor, but merely an underlining of the economic policy dogma that a good American must of course drive an American car. Or from JD Vance, who remarked that he had not yet received enough recognition that day and was therefore able to throw Volodymyr Selensky under the bus with a single perfidious sentence about his alleged lack of gratitude. After just two months in office (although you can't really say that about Musk), both of them have been certified as puppet masters.

It is now completely unclear whose interests are behind three seemingly harmless trifles that Trump has initiated in recent days. He puts Bhutan, a tiny peaceful Buddhist country in the Himalayas, on the list of red states, from where nobody is allowed to enter the US - just besides Afghanistan and Yemen. He invokes the Alien Enemies Act from 1798 to deport hundreds to El Salvador - despite a federal judge ruling a restraining order against it. He puts words like “climate crisis” or “indigenous people” on a list of 200 terms that federal authorities are no longer allowed to use. These three bizarre details stupidly represent three fundamental views that are highly questionable.

The example of Bhutan illustrates that literally anyone can be caught in the crosshairs without even suspecting it. While a travel ban for North Corea or Iran is still understandable, it is not for the “Land of Happiness”. Some sources suspect visa overstay rates and security vetting concerns behind that decision, according to recently published Department of Homeland Security data. The fact that this is enough to be lumped together with Libya shows frighteningly clearly that proportionality is not exactly being cultivated in the White House at the moment.

The example of the Alien Enemies Act illustrates that the separation of powers is obviously no longer respected. The law, which has only been used three times in history and most recently during the Second World War for the temporary internment of Japanese in the USA, is per se difficult to reconcile with the rule of law. It is inconceivable that a judicial decision is simply ignored in the process. And when the collaborator in this breach of the law, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, posted the court order with the comment “Oopsie... too late.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio also reposted it. Not even Viktor Orbán has ever allowed himself such a shrugging attitude towards the legal system.

The example of the speech ban illustrates that dissenting opinions no longer even have the right to free expression. Just like the banning of the Associated Press from the White House briefing room - because of the continual use of the term “Gulf of Mexico” - nothing other than censorship is happening. As already practiced in school libraries in Republican-leaning states (where classics such as Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin were banned because they “put slavery in a bad light”), a cancel culture from the right is taking place here. After the demonization of self-determination, inclusion and diversity, in which woke became a dirty word, there is now an arch-conservative furor. This no longer has anything to do with the “land of the free”, but rather with Myanmar.

All in all, this leaves me with a stale aftertaste. And even if Trump and his MAGA heads don't destroy everything in the world because they stay in NATO and don't invade Panama, the damage to the country itself will be immense. With a divided society in which racism and sexism are resurgent, more environmental damage and climate change consequences, an abolished Ministry of Education, a down-top distribution of money, a health minister who recommends cod liver oil against measles, a dysfunctional administration, alienated neighbors and much more - as mentioned: it's not even two months yet. That leaves 46. Ooph...

Good News of the Week

Angela Merkel's comparatively quiet 16 years at the head of the German government were based on four foundations: cheap energy from Russia, outsourcing security policy to NATO and the USA, reduced infrastructure maintenance and the fetishism of the so-called "debt brake". Today we are in dire straits, as the first two foundations no longer exist and the last two are currently blowing up in our faces. In principle, I appreciate Merkel, who has done a lot of things very right. But she also has done some things very wrong.

We now have the energy crisis more or less under control. Thanks to an increasing proportion of renewable energy sources and a significant increase in imports of liquid gas (mainly from Qatar and Norway, but also from the USA). This has caused prices to rise considerably, both for private consumers and for industry. While the former “only” hurts, the latter has become a real location issue. This is a veritable problem, as many industries in which Germany is strong - such as chemicals or mechanical and automotive engineering - are very energy-demanding. Together with high wage costs and social security contributions, this presents us with a fundamental problem that needs to be tackled.

While the state can only create the framework conditions in which companies and entrepreneurs can then operate when it comes to the necessary restructuring of our economy, it is itself the actor when it comes to security policy, infrastructure and the relevant financial budget. It is therefore a major plus that the two probable coalition partners in the next German government - the conservative CDU/CSU and the social democratic SPD - have already addressed this issue in the initial exploratory talks. And as much as I hate to admit it to the future Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whom I consider to be simply from the day before yesterday, he is doing a pretty good job of it.

The first decisive step was the realization that yes, Germany has to spend a lot of money on the necessary investments in security and infrastructure. Which is only possible with debt if you don't want to make massive cuts to the welfare state. However, in order to be able to incur this debt, the debt brake must be reformed, which sets strict limits on financial policy and makes it practically impossible to take on more debt. This is a point that has been under discussion for some time - mainly because Germany can afford it. For comparison: Japan has a national debt of 261% of its gross domestic product, Italy 145%, the USA 122% and Germany 67%. So there is no reason to stand on the brake.

The second decisive step was pragmatic logic: as the debt brake is in the Basic Law (our constitution) you need a 2/3 majority in parliament to change it. The Bundestag elections at the end of February ensured that the far-right AfD and the Left Party represent more than 1/3 of the new Bundestag, i.e. they have a blocking minority. And both do not want the debt brake to be relaxed, albeit for completely different reasons, as they have nothing in common politically. This means that the Greens would have to be persuaded to participate in the amendment to the Basic Law in the old parliamentary composition, in which the Social Democrats were not yet so massively weakened.

This has now been achieved. Since the Greens are still a fundamentally pacifist party, but not idiots who ignore the changed reality. This is why the Greens are now supporting the party alliance that will replace them in government - for the greater good. At the same time, they have negotiated perfectly sensible aspects into the plan. For example, the topics of intelligence services and cyber security in the financial package for defense. Or that sustainable aspects and climate neutrality are not neglected in the infrastructure, which not only includes railroads, highways, bridges, energy grids and digital, but also daycare centers, schools and healthcare.

There are still a few hurdles to overcome - such as the approval of the federal states - but it seems feasible. If you want to put a negative spin on it, you could call Friedrich Merz the biggest election liar in history. After all, he has now slaughtered the sacred cow of the debt brake during the election campaign even before the official coalition negotiations. But on the altar of pragmatism. Germany is thus demonstrating its ability to act in Europe. Which fits in well with the fact that his party colleague and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is also becoming clearer in her tone when she refers to Europe not just as an economic area, but blatantly as a geopolitical power. It looks like we've got the message.

Personal happy moment of the week

My Canadian wife and I were at the immigration office again after years. What an awful experience: facilities from 30 years ago, lots of forms, the charm of a hospital with security gates, unfriendly staff... You just don't feel comfortable. Nevertheless, there was one highlight: instead of a date and in line with our wedding vows, we entered “forever” in the “planned duration of stay” field. A small but heartfelt moment of happiness that even elicited a small smile from the strict official behind the glass.

I couldn't care less...

...about the Norwegian ski jumping cheating scandal. If secretly reinforcing seams in a suit really has a significant impact on performance, sprinters should also be banned from eating beans on the eve of the race - after all, they could fart illegal jet propulsion.

It's fine with me...

...that there are sometimes pretty fashionable allusions on the world political stage. First King Charles III wore a Canadian military uniform and then the German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas wore the Canadian national colors at the G7 summit in Québec (!). Both wanted to send a stylish message to the USA that they should drop their colonial claims. Baerbock's smug question to Marco Rubio “Do you still enjoy your job?” fits in with this.

As I write this...

...there are snow flurries in Munich at zero degrees Celsius. While at the same time it's eleven degrees plus in Montreal in the middle of the night. Crazy. Yet both my cities can count themselves lucky that they are only suffering from capricious weather and are neither burning nor being flooded.

Post Scriptum

All the media hyperventilation about the USA, Ukraine and Russia as well as the USA, Palestine and Israel, not to mention Europe and Germany, has allowed some things worth mentioning to slip through the cracks. After a lot of posts in the North American media, I actually had to go searching to discover some great news in the German media, namely a courageous uprising for democracy and pro-Europe, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets. No, not in Berlin, Paris or Madrid, but in places where precisely these values have had a hard time recently: in Romania, Serbia and even (drum roll please) Hungary!

This gives me hope, as Poland has also managed to leave a rather dark era behind it and has clearly bought a ticket to the future. In Donald Tusk, our eastern neighbors now have an avowed European as head of government who is increasingly less held back by the shackles of the past. I am therefore very sure that our new Federal Chancellor's first three trips abroad will be to Brussels, Paris and Warsaw - in whatever order. This welcome development was rounded off by similarly oriented demonstrations in Italy and even Georgia. Europeans are fighting not to lose democracy and freedom - or to get them in the first place. A momentum that makes me proud.

[somethingusefulfromflorida]

I don't believe there's going to be a mass exodus to Canada, but I do think Canada is going to tighten their border anyway, probably in collaboration with the trump government (both before and after the conservatives sweep Trudeau's party from power). They're gonna crack down on "medical tourism," make it so Americans can't get abortions in Canada, probably by making the procedure too expensive, requiring it to go through insurance so the states will know about it and prosecute you when you get home. This will only effect poor people.

If things get REALLY bad stateside, if the humanitarian crisis escalates to full scale brain drain, then Canada will close up shop entirely, no entrance without visas, no asylum. They already have a third-country policy with the USA, meaning that neither side accepts refugees from the other You can't, for example, go from Syria to Canada to the United States, you'd have to stay in Canada. You can't go from Honduras to the US to Canada, you'd have to stay in the US. Whichever country you get to first is the one you have to stay in. This would almost certainly be used to deny entrance to Americans seeking asylum. Canadians will treat Americans the way Americans treat Mexicans. "This is America's problem, not ours, why should our taxes pay for them to stay here?"

Again, rich people (especially rich white people) will have it easy, be able to find jobs and stay long term, but poor black and brown people, trans people, pregnant people, they'll be bussed back south and charged by the feds. Republicans already want to make it illegal to cross state borders to subvert them, do you think they'll go easier on people fleeing internationally? And Canada really has no obligation to help anyone, least of all "entitled Americans who have no one to blame but themselves," even though the people who need help are the victims.

Whatever you think the absolute worst is, it won't be that. It'll be bad, maybe just as bad or worse, but in a different way you can't even imagine. Who knows? None of my predictions have ever come true, even the ones I hedge. I was way off about the election itself, so the aftermath is completely unknown, I'm just thinking what would be the most advantageous to Republicans (they tend to get what they want).

[jaydendoodles]

summary of what these new executive orders will do for those who don't feel like reading all that shit. (source: https://www.wbaltv.com/article/track-the-executive-orders-president-donald-trump-signed-on-day-1/63458999)

all of the subtitles representing each order are shortened to 2 words based on the full order's title because i originally wrote this for something with a short character limit.

RESTORING NAMES: renames the mountain of Denali to Mt Mckinley. the Gulf of Mexico becomes Gulf of America (super cringe and i am never calling them that)

DESIGNATING CARTELS: cartels and foreign gangs are classified as terror groups, trump will use "Alien Enemies Act" to deport immigrants who were born in nations the gangs are from

REFORMING THE: no more diversity/equity rules for fed hiring. new guys must uphold "ideals of our american republic"

which most likely just means they are trump dickriders and other such fascists…

ENDING RADICAL: eliminates DEI and environmental justice requirements for hiring, as well as positions related to that, as well as any money going to diversity

DEFENDING WOMEN: trans people are no longer legally recognized by the state. redefines sex and gender to exclude trans people. he wants to undo any sex change on legal documents(?) ban the gov from supporting trans people. ban trans people from using preferred and they will require prisons to forcefully detransition trans people.

ESTABLISHING AND: creates "DOGE", also known as elon musk's position in trump's white house. to make the gov more "efficient".

AMERICA FIRST: prioritize USA and Trump's interests in america's global politics and actions.

PROTECTING UNITED: stricter screening and visas for new immigrants. will possibly ban people from certain countries from attempting to immigrate at all. they will try to deport a bunch of people.

UNLEASHING ALASKA: basically revokes any previous regulations that said that you can't drill for oil and gas in environmentally protected regions in Alaska

PROTECTING AGAINST (#10): gonna be stricter on immigration laws. make it a priority to deal with illegal immigrants. additionally will create Homeland Security Task Forces in every state. They want to try to identify every unregistered immigrant and announce it. Trump wants to make detention facilities (concentration camps) for holding the people who are apprehended. he wants state and local cops to be allowed to act as immigration officers. will undo most of the biden admin's actions regarding immigration. will prohibit federal funding from going to any city/state that refuses to comply with this/acting as sanctuary for these undocumented people. ban any money from going to things that he finds to be benefitting undocumented migrants. he's also gonna be hiring a lot more immigration cops...

tl;dr for PROTECTING AGAINST… increase the police state so that they can deport or detain as many undocumented migrants in concentration camps as possible

REEVALUATING AID: all foreign aid must align with donald trump's foreign policy and it'll be paused for 90 days for him to evaluate it all.

DECLARING ENERGY: declare a national energy emergency and allow energy resource collection on federal lands. allow agencies or governors to possibly be exempt from the regulations of the endangered species act. in other words, reckless oil drilling.

RESTORING DEATH: the AG must now pursue the death penalty for all crimes that are severe enough. he wants to try to reimprison the people on death row that biden let go. attempt to overrule supreme court precedents that make it harder to execute someone.

SECURING BORDER: build a wall. try to punish those who violate immigration laws and any citizen who may aid those people. deport more people. arrest and deport more migrants.

VALUE CITIZENSHIP: no more birthright citizenship… you're not a citizen if your mom wasn't documented (or if both your parents just weren't citizens even if they were legally here) at the time of your birth.

REFUGEE ADMISSIONS: revokes biden admin rulings about refugees being allowed to seek refuge in the USA. entry via the US Refugee Admissions Program is suspended and any refugee attempting to come in will only be allowed case-by-case until homeland security says it is in the so-called national interest to allow USRAP.

AMERICAN ENERGY: no EV requirement anymore. freedom of gas stoves lmao. encourage oil drilling and other energy collection much more domestically. revokes 12 biden climate change executive orders- (good strat if we want to all die.) sigh. abolishes American Climate Corps. abolishes any agency created by the revoked executive orders.-

-yknow what? just assume if it's a climate regulation, it just got shot in the back of the head. new interstate oil pipelines. bye bye Green New Deal. aghhhhh!!!

MILITARY ROLE: have the military at the borders to seal them and prevent 'invasion' by illegal migrants.

HOLDING FORMER: 50 people have their security clearance terminated.

RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY (20): reinstates a 1st term trump order with some amendments. basically just says he can fire people in the executive branch if they disobey him or his higher-up underlings that also have to obey him.

WITHDRAWING FROM: we are no longer part of the World Health Organization and won't follow its rules.

APPLICATION OF: TikTok must follow trump's rules about national security if it wants to not be banned in the USA.

INITIAL RESCISSIONS: he revokes 67 other biden executive orders (which trump summarizes as "radical DEI ideology")

it would just be easier to link to the document than send screenshots of the list of all 67 orders so https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/initial-rescissions-of-harmful-executive-orders-and-actions/

notable ones he revoked include "Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad" and "Promoting Access to Voting" and "Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government" or "Protecting Worker Health and Safety" as well as "Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals" because he totally really loves the working class and minorities ( :/ )

RESTORING FREEDOM: he wants to investigate the executive branch's activities during biden's term to determine if they violated the first amendment particularly about alleged censorship of protected speech on social media.

ENDING THE: trump admin appears to want to free the jan 6 rioters. the fed totally isn't allowed to go after political opponents anymore. anyway, this is going to be used to go after political opponents for supposedly violating this order during the biden admin and remedying what violations they find.

PUTTING AMERICA (26): leaving the Paris Agreement. leaving any agreements made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. revoking the US International Climate Finance Plan. this will somehow make the US a leader in climate and energy.

[beardedmrbean]

LOS ANGELES (AP) �� A California woman was sentenced Monday to more than 3 years in prison in a long-running case over a business that helped pregnant Chinese women travel to the United States to deliver babies who automatically became American citizens.

U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner gave Phoebe Dong a 41-month sentence and ordered her immediately taken into custody from his federal court in Los Angeles. Dong and her husband were convicted in September of conspiracy and money laundering through their company, USA Happy Baby.

The sentencing came as birthright citizenship has been thrust into the spotlight in the United States with the return of President Donald Trump to the White House. Since taking office, Trump issued an executive order to narrow the definition of birthright citizenship, a move quickly blocked by a federal judge who called it “blatantly unconstitutional.”

Dong and her husband, Michael Liu, were among more than a dozen people charged in an Obama-era crackdown on so-called “birth tourism” schemes that helped Chinese women hide their pregnancies while traveling to the United States to give birth. Such businesses have long operated in various states catering to people from China, Russia, Nigeria and elsewhere.

Under the 14th Amendment, any child born in the United States is an American citizen. Many have seen these trips as a way to help their children secure a U.S. college education and a better future — especially since the tourists themselves can apply for permanent residency once the children turn 21.

During her sentencing hearing, Dong wiped away tears as she recalled growing up without siblings due to China’s strict “ one-child ” policy and told the court that the Chinese government forced her mother to have an abortion. Moving to the United States was challenging, she said, but Dong grew hopeful after having children of her own and saw she could help Chinese women who want to have additional children in California.

“I don’t want to lose my kids,” she told the court. “I hope you can give me fair judgment. I will take all my responsibility.”

Federal prosecutors sought a more than five year sentence for Dong and argued that she and Liu helped more than 100 pregnant Chinese women travel to the United States. They said the pair worked with others to coach women on how to trick customs officials by flying into airports believed to be more lax while wearing loose-fitting clothing to hide their pregnancies.

“For tens of thousands of dollars each, defendant helped her numerous customers deceive U.S. authorities and buy U.S. citizenship for their children,” prosecutors said in court filings. They declined to comment after the sentencing.

In December, Liu was also sentenced to 41 months in prison. Dong's lawyer, John McNicholas, asked that she be allowed to serve her term after Liu completes his sentence because of their three children. The youngest is 13.

Federal prosecutor Kevin Fu agreed to the delay but Klausner refused and had her taken into custody immediately. Dong removed a necklace and gave it to a family member before she was led away.

The USA Happy Baby case was part of a broader probe into businesses that helped Chinese women travel to give birth in California. The operator of another business is believed to have fled to China, McNicholas wrote in court filings, while another was sentenced in 2019 to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy and visa fraud for running the company known as “ You Win USA.”

McNicholas said he feels Dong was given a much longer sentence because the government and Klausner blame her for the babies that were born U.S. citizens. That, he said, is unrelated to the allegations that she and Liu helped women travel to the United States to give birth.

“Our position was these children are born in America. They’re citizens,” McNicholas said, adding that Dong will appeal. “Implicitly, he’s saying being born here is not enough.”

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil Alters Reception Policy for Afghans and Wants to Stop Being a Route to the USA

Change in the granting of humanitarian visas to those fleeing the Taliban faces criticism

The Brazilian government has announced a change in the humanitarian reception policy for Afghans on the grounds that Brazil has established itself as a gateway for immigrants who, fleeing the Taliban, seek to emigrate to the United States along dangerous routes.

The ordinance published this Tuesday (26) establishes that, from October onwards, visas will only be granted to Afghans if the availability of places in shelters is proven — which would happen through cooperation agreements signed between civil society organizations and the state.

The change comes months after an outbreak of scabies among immigrants from the country who lived at São Paulo International Airport, in Guarulhos. However, the alteration has raised concerns among activists and experts.

Continue reading.