ICE PRODUCTIVITY 2020
U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (U.S.ICE) published numerical results of its efforts in 2020:
185,884 aliens have been removed (deported).
Of those removed, 118,949 had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges.
There is no doubt that some of the removed criminals were dangerous people, like robbers, rapists, drug dealers, etc. (U.S. ICE claims that 4,276 were known or suspected gang members). But how many of them were convicted for minor offenses such as driving without licenses, etc.?
How many MIXED families were disrupted by ICE productivity?
BLANK IS NOT A SIN
For about a year, since 2019, U.S. CIS adopted a policy of NO BLANK SPACE, meaning: if any response field on a FORM is left BLANK (unfilled), the form in its entirety is rejected. For example: if the FORM asks for an ADDRESS and provides spaces for Street, City, State or Province, Country, Postal Code – but the applicant’s country has no “State or Province” and the applicant leaves this space BLANK, U.S.CIS will reject the Form.
Finally, somebody filed a lawsuit against U.S.CIS challenging the “NO BLANK SPACE” policy, and U.S.CIS agreed not to reject FORMS with BLANK SPACES as of December 28, 2020.
Still, our advice is TRY NOT TO LEAVE ANY BLANK SPACES. Whenever possible, fill in an answer. If an answer is not called for, just put in N/A.
HOPE
Our office has been serving clients with immigration issues since 1964, more than half a century. We have seen many changes, many ups and downs, many periods of tough going and periods of happy liberalizations.
Our conclusion: NEVER LOSE HOPE. Better days are here again – in 2021.