US President Donald Trump has slammed federal judge James Robart who lifted the travel ban he had imposed on citizens of seven mainly-Muslim countries, taking an unusual jab at an independent branch of the US government as he vowed to bring back the restrictions.
Thanks to the world-wide media attention as well as the involvement of Democratic Congressman from Ohio, Dennis Kucinich, 6-year old Alyssa Thomas's name was removed from the no fly-list by the United States homeland security.
Since Monday, visitors arriving in the United States by air and sea are being fingerprinted and photographed as part of the Homeland Security Department's new biometric surveillance to prevent terrorists from sneaking into the country.
Even as the H1-B cap for the year was reached for regular and 'advanced degree' students, the Department of Homeland Security announced an extension of the Optional Practical Training period up to 29 months.
Venkayya, who announced that he will join the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, becomes the second Indian American to walk away, following close on the heels of Karan Bhatia, who resigned as deputy United States trade representative in October.
Kuwaiti authorities have identified the bodies of 45 Indians and three Filipino nationals killed in the tragic fire incident in a building housing foreign workers in the Gulf Kingdom, a top official said on Thursday.
The authorities at the American Mission have been warned of the attack by the US Homeland Security Department.
The number of Indians adopting US citizenship has decreased though they are the second biggest ethnic group to acquire the green cards. According to the Annual Flow Report issued by Department of Homeland Security, the total number of people becoming naturalised US citizens was 6,60,477 in 2007.
Increased security will be in effect for Sunday's Chicago Marathon, the first major marathon staged in the United States since the tragic April bombing at the Boston race, organizers and police said.
Quoting a US Department of Homeland Security report, mercurynews reports that Indians are the fastest-growing group of illegal immigrants.
The United States has restricted the entry of passengers from the three Ebola-stricken West African nations to five major airports conducting enhanced screening for the virus, safeguarding its citizens from the epidemic.
"They (Iranians) are the number one terrorist state. They're sending money all over the place -- and weapons. And can't do that," Trump told Fox News in an interview telecast during the Super Bowl tournament.
This is 4,000 more than 2016's figure of 46,188 Indian naturalisation and 8,000 more than 42,213 Indian citizenship in 2015.
Ludhiana-born Sandeep Singh, 23, a soldier in the US Army's 3rd US Infantry Continental Color Guard Team, said he had "followed his desire to serve his adopted nation after the terrorist attacks of 9/11."
Travelers from 6 countries will require a close family connections or business ties in order to enter the US.
Trump also raised the possibility of using light to combat the deadly viral infection.
Commuters are taking the threat seriously in view of earlier terrorist attacks in London underground trains and in Spain.
The United States has increased security at all its major airports and railway stations, and has taken a number of measures, that include temporary closure of its 22 diplomatic missions, following a "very specific" Al Qaeda threat emanating from the Arabian Peninsula.
The video will be the first new images of bin Laden in almost three years. He has not appeared in new video footage since October 2004, and he has not put out a new audiotape in more than a year, his longest period without a message.
The programme Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment is a storehouse for data about individuals that the intelligence community believes might harm the United States.
The emergency in Washington DC will be effective from Monday till January 24.
Officials said the former pop star was placed on the no-fly list in July after reports linking him with groups known to have terrorist ties.
A man who claimed to have a bomb was shot down by US air marshals on a boarding bridge at Miami International Airport.
Several individuals and organisations, including the US Chambers of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's recent rules related to the H-1B visa, terming them "arbitrary" and "haphazard" regulations that will undermine high skilled immigration into America. Early this month, the Trump administration announced new restrictions on H-1B non-immigrant visa programme which it said is aimed at protecting American workers, restoring integrity and to better guarantee that H-1B petitions are approved only for qualified beneficiaries and petitioners, a move which is likely to affect thousands of Indian IT professionals.
Mexico fights back, says it will 'not pay for any wall'
The threat is real the Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told reporters at a White House news conference.
While the US government did not reveal the nationality of the arrested people, names released by authorities indicate that 10 of them are either Indians or of Indian-origin.
Amid mass layoffs in the tech sector, the federal agency for immigration services has said it is wrong to assume that sacked workers holding the much-sought-after H-1B visas have to leave the country within 60 days, asserting they have multiple options to stay in the US. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.
Besides the athletes, the exemption applies to the sporting leagues' essential staff, spouses and dependents, the statement said.
A presidential advisory sub-committee has recommended the federal government to extend the grace period for H1-B workers, who have lost their jobs, from the existing 60 days to 180 days so that the workers have enough opportunities to find a new job or other alternatives. "The immigration subcommittee recommends the Department of Homeland Security and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to extend the grace period for H1-B workers, who have lost their jobs, from 60 days to 180 days," Ajay Jain Bhutoria, member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, said on Tuesday. In his presentation, Bhutoria highlighted the significant challenges faced by H1-B workers laid off from their jobs.
The Trump administration announced those F-1 and M-1 (non-academic and vocational students) visa holders planning to take online classes only will not be allowed to remain in the United State.
The proposals aims to impose new restrictions to prevent abuse and misuse of H-1B visas, besides ending the provision of granting extension for those who already have a green card.
Both sides remained tigh-lipped about the meeting between Sibal and White House cybersecurity coordinator Howard Schmidt, Christopher Painter as Coordinator for Cyber Issues and Bruce Mcconnell Senior Coordinator for Department Under Secretary Homeland.
Aseem Chhabra's Top 10 Films/ Series from TIFF 2024 includes films that he watched for the first time in Toronto. The films were impressive due to their rigor, passion, unique storytelling style and sometimes exploring the vulnerable sides of big name stars.
"Removing H-4 Dependent Spouses From the Class of Aliens Eligible for Employment Authorisation," said the US department of homeland security's unified agenda in the federal register notification of its semi-annual regulatory agenda.
