A Lei Laken Riley: Uma Nova Era de Envolvimento Estadual na Política Federal de Imigração
Kris Quadros-Ragar • February 6, 2025
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Em 29 de janeiro de 2025, o presidente Trump assinou a Lei Laken Riley, alterando significativamente a forma como as políticas de imigração são aplicadas nos Estados Unidos. Esta legislação concede aos procuradores-gerais dos estados e outros oficiais autorizados uma autoridade sem precedentes para interpretar e implementar as políticas federais de imigração. Ela também os capacita a tomar ações legais contra o governo federal caso acreditem que a aplicação federal das leis de imigração impacta negativamente seu estado. Com essa nova autoridade, os estados agora desempenham um papel direto na definição dos resultados da imigração—uma responsabilidade tradicionalmente atribuída ao governo federal.
Um dos efeitos mais imediatos da Lei Laken Riley é que ela permite que os estados busquem liminares para bloquear a emissão de vistos para cidadãos de países que se recusam ou atrasam de maneira injustificada a aceitação de seus cidadãos que foram ordenados a serem removidos dos Estados Unidos. Isso significa que, se um país não cooperar com os esforços de deportação dos EUA, seus cidadãos—independentemente de seu status legal—podem enfrentar dificuldades significativas para obter ou renovar vistos. Como resultado, cidadãos estrangeiros desses países podem enfrentar maior incerteza ao viajar internacionalmente ou ao conseguir autorização de trabalho nos EUA.
Para cidadãos estrangeiros e empregadores, manter-se informado sobre quais países são considerados “não cooperativos” agora é mais importante do que nunca. Aqueles que precisarem renovar seus vistos ou planejam viagens internacionais devem se preparar para possíveis atrasos e buscar orientação profissional para lidar com essas incertezas.
A Lei Laken Riley também obriga as autoridades federais de imigração a deter e deportar indivíduos sem status legal que sejam acusados de certos crimes, incluindo furto simples ou furto em lojas, agressão a um agente da lei e crimes que resultem em morte ou lesões corporais graves. Esta cláusula destaca uma abordagem mais rígida na aplicação das leis de imigração, afetando indivíduos acusados de infrações tanto menores quanto graves.
Com as políticas de imigração agora sujeitas a uma nova camada de envolvimento estadual, é mais importante do que nunca estar informado e preparado para potenciais desafios. Se você tem preocupações sobre como a Lei Laken Riley pode afetar seu status de imigração ou negócio, entre em contato com a Santos Lloyd Law Firm para um aconselhamento estratégico adaptado às suas necessidades.
Este blog não se destina a fornecer aconselhamento jurídico e nada aqui deve ser interpretado como estabelecimento de um relacionamento advogado-cliente. Por favor, agende uma consulta com um advogado de imigração antes de agir com base em qualquer informação lida aqui.
On January 14, 2026, the Trump administration announced a freeze on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries . The administration states that this “visa freeze” is intended to review security protocols, “reduce risks,” and control immigration flows. However, the immediate reality is that this change in policy has temporarily suspended visa processing and restricted travel for applicants from numerous countries across the globe. While the legal landscape surrounding these suspensions is highly fluid and subject to change, it is important to consider how this “visa freeze” might impact your current status or immigration plans. The scope of the restrictions varies drastically depending on your country of origin and specific visa category. Most notably, a nationality-based travel ban restricts visa issuance for 19 countries : Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Beyond this targeted ban, a broader freeze affects applicants from a designated list of up to 75 countries, leading to indefinite delays for many visa petitions. However, it is important to note that immigrant visa applications first need to be processed through USCIS, which has not paused processing applications from the 75 countries. Thus, it is important to contact an attorney to understand at what point in the process this visa freeze may affect your case. While Brazil is included in the list of 75 countries, at the time of this publication, the freeze does not include non-immigrant visas for Brazil . Non-immigrant visas are granted to foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States on a temporary basis for specific purposes, such as tourism, studying, or temporary work. This means that Brazilian applicants can still safely pursue non-immigrant employment options, such as O visas for individuals with extraordinary ability or P visas for internationally recognized athletes, without being subjected to the current travel bans or suspensions. This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. There are many changes and uncertainties, so please consult with a qualified attorney at Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C. to understand how these evolving policies might affect your specific case
Recent data in 2026 shows a sharp increase in Requests for Evidence across employment-based visa categories such as EB-1, EB-2 NIW, O, and H-1B. Requests for Evidence (RFEs) are no longer reserved for borderline cases; even robust petitions for high-level talent are facing unprecedented scrutiny. The expansion of the USCIS Vetting Center means automated tools are cross-referencing every petition, triggering RFEs for even the smallest inconsistencies. For EB-2 NIW petitions, adjudicators are increasingly questioning the "National Importance" of a candidate’s endeavor. Even for those with impressive credentials, USCIS now demands evidence of how their work specifically benefits the U.S. on a prospective basis. For O-1A and O-1B visas, officers are applying narrower interpretations of "distinction" and "extraordinary ability," often mischaracterizing evidence already present in the record. Additionally, a troubling 2026 trend is the correlation between Premium Processing and RFEs . For discretionary categories like EB-1A and EB-2 NIW, Premium Processing has increasingly become a "fast track" to a poorly reasoned RFE. Reports indicate that adjudicators, pressured by 15-business-day timelines, may be relying on AI-assisted vetting tools that trigger automated RFEs with general and boilerplate language, rather than a thorough review and analysis of supporting documents and evidence filed. With USCIS employing more rigorous AI-driven vetting and a narrower interpretation of visa criteria, the margin for error has disappeared . As such, ensure you consult with an experienced immigration attorney before filing a petition. ' If you have any questions, please schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, and we will be more than happy to assist you.
In recent weeks, the U.S. government has moved to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for multiple countries, sparking a wave of last-minute litigation and creating significant uncertainty for beneficiaries. This shift is having a profound impact on those who rely on TPS for lawful presence and work authorization in the United States. Across the country, federal courts have intervened to pause or block scheduled TPS terminations for several countries, including Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, and Syria. In response to these court orders, USCIS has updated its webpages to indicate that TPS status and related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) are extended for these populations. However, USCIS is intentionally not providing specific new end dates for EAD validity while the litigation remains in flux. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has prominently noted that it "vehemently disagrees" with these court orders and is actively working with the Department of Justice on next steps. This legal landscape remains highly unpredictable and varies drastically depending on the country of origin. For example, on February 9, 2026, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay allowing the government to proceed with the termination of TPS for Nicaragua, Honduras, and Nepal while the underlying legal challenges continue. Because of this ruling, the automatic extension of work authorization for these individuals has ended, and employers are now required to reverify the work authorization of affected employees, who must present alternative valid documentation to continue their employment. These rapid changes and the lack of clear end dates are causing complications beyond the workplace. Because driver's licenses often track the length of an individual's authorized stay, many DMVs are currently declining to issue or renew driver's licenses for impacted TPS populations. For employers, managing internal communications, avoiding onboarding errors, and navigating Form I-9 compliance has become increasingly complex. It is more important than ever to be well-prepared and proactive in monitoring these rapid changes. At Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C., our immigration attorneys are ready to guide you through this evolving process and ensure you are informed, and supported. Please contact us if you have questions or need assistance.
