La loi Laken Riley : Une nouvelle ère d'implication des États dans la politique fédérale d'immigration
Kris Quadros-Ragar • February 6, 2025
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Le 29 janvier 2025, le président Trump a promulgué la loi Laken Riley, qui modifie considérablement la manière dont les politiques d'immigration sont appliquées aux États-Unis. Cette loi accorde aux procureurs généraux des États et à d'autres fonctionnaires autorisés un pouvoir sans précédent pour interpréter et mettre en œuvre les politiques fédérales en matière d'immigration. Elle leur permet également d'intenter une action en justice contre le gouvernement fédéral s'ils estiment que l'application des lois fédérales sur l'immigration a des répercussions négatives sur leur État. Grâce à cette nouvelle autorité, les États jouent désormais un rôle direct dans l'orientation des résultats en matière d'immigration, une responsabilité traditionnellement assumée par le gouvernement fédéral.
L'un des effets les plus immédiats de la loi Laken Riley est qu'elle permet aux États de demander une injonction pour bloquer la délivrance de visas aux ressortissants de pays qui refusent ou retardent de manière déraisonnable l'acceptation de leurs citoyens qui ont fait l'objet d'une mesure d'éloignement des États-Unis. Cela signifie que si un pays ne coopère pas aux efforts d'expulsion des États-Unis, ses ressortissants, quel que soit leur statut juridique, pourraient rencontrer d'importantes difficultés pour obtenir ou renouveler leur visa. Par conséquent, les ressortissants étrangers de ces pays peuvent être confrontés à une incertitude accrue lorsqu'ils voyagent à l'étranger ou obtiennent un permis de travail aux États-Unis.
Au-delà du traitement des visas, la loi introduit un nouveau niveau d'imprévisibilité dans le système d'immigration. En permettant aux procureurs généraux des États d'intervenir dans les procédures fédérales et les politiques d'immigration qui peuvent désormais varier en fonction des décisions prises au niveau de l'État. Dans les mois à venir, il reste à voir comment les différents États exerceront ce pouvoir - s'ils chercheront activement à bloquer la délivrance de visas ou s'ils feront pression en faveur de mesures plus larges d'application de la législation sur l'immigration.
Pour les ressortissants étrangers et les employeurs, il est plus important que jamais de se tenir au courant des pays considérés comme « non coopératifs ». Les personnes qui doivent faire renouveler leur visa ou qui prévoient de voyager à l'étranger doivent se préparer à d'éventuels retards et demander l'aide d'un professionnel pour faire face à ces incertitudes.
La loi Laken Riley oblige également les autorités fédérales chargées de l'immigration à détenir et à expulser les personnes sans statut légal qui sont accusées de certains délits, notamment de vol mineur ou de vol à l'étalage, d'agression contre un agent des forces de l'ordre et de délits entraînant la mort ou des blessures corporelles graves. Cette disposition souligne une approche plus stricte de l'application de la législation sur l'immigration, qui concerne les personnes accusées de délits mineurs ou graves.
Les politiques d'immigration étant désormais soumises à un nouveau niveau d'implication de l'État, il est plus important que jamais de rester informé et de se préparer à des défis potentiels. Si vous vous interrogez sur la manière dont la loi Laken Riley peut affecter votre statut d'immigrant ou votre entreprise, contactez le cabinet Santos Lloyd Law Firm pour obtenir des conseils stratégiques adaptés à vos besoins.
Ce blog n'est pas destiné à fournir des conseils juridiques et rien ici ne doit être interprété comme établissant une relation avocat-client. Veuillez prendre rendez-vous avec un avocat spécialisé en droit de l'immigration avant d'agir sur la base de toute information lue ici.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its final rule eliminating the longstanding "duration of status" (D/S) policy for F, J, and I visa holders, replacing it with a fixed period of admission effective September 15, 2026. This rule requires that those who need additional time to complete their programs must file Form I-539 with USCIS or travel abroad and seek to reenter to extend their authorized period of stay. F and J visa holders present in the U.S. and in valid status on September 15, 2026, will be allowed to remain in the United States until the Program End Date listed on their current Form I-20 (for F-1s) or Form DS-2019 (for J-1s), up to a maximum of four years (until September 15, 2030) plus a 60-day grace period for F-1s and a 30-day grace period for J-1s, without filing an Extension of Status request with USCIS. However, this safety net only applies while staying in the U.S.; international travel and subsequent reentry after September 15, 2026 will result in readmission under the new rule with an I-94 that expires on the Program End Date or Employment Authorization Document (EAD) expiration, but no later than four-years after their date of re-entry. Additionally, once re-admitted under the new rules, F-1s will only receive a 30-day grace period. Immediate Practice Tips: Any F-1 or J-1 nonimmigrant currently in the U.S. who plans to change programs, start a new degree level, or needs more time to complete their studies must work with their school or program sponsor to update their SEVIS record and receive an extended Form I-20 or DS-2019 before September 15, 2026. Eligible F-1 students should submit their post-completion OPT or STEM OPT work authorization applications (Form I-765) before September 15, 2026, to secure their status and drastically reduce the likelihood of needing a Form I-539 extension application. Any F-1 student who is eligible to apply for OPT or STEM OPT before March 18, 2027, should do so as soon as they are eligible to file their Form I-765. Since F-1s can file OPT applications up to 90 days in advance of graduation, F-1 students graduating before June 15,2027, should be able to file their OPT applications before March 18, 2027, and should do so to avoid also having to file Form I-539 to extend their stay. Thus, most F-1 students graduating in December 2026 and May/June 2027 should be able to take advantage of the transition rule’s delay in having to file Form I-539 applications and should only need to file Form I-765 to apply for OPT. Incoming F-1 and J-1 students who can enter the United States before the September 15, 2026 effective date (within the permissible 30-day window prior to their program start) should do so to benefit from the transition rules, including the full 60-day F-1 grace period and deferred extension requirements. Students (F-1 and J-1) who are planning international travel should return before the effective date if possible to preserve their transition benefits. There are many parts of the rule that are not discussed here. If you are currently an F-1 or J-1 visa holder, you should proactively coordinate with your institutions and international office to protect your status and stay informed.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released updated policy guidance detailing how officers will evaluate "public charge" inadmissibility for individuals applying for green cards through adjustment of status. This update follows a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) final rule that rescinds the 2022 public charge regulations. The new policy takes effect on September 18, 2026 , and applies to all green card applications (Form I-485) postmarked or submitted on or after that date. Who Is Subject to the Public Charge Rule? Most family-based and employment-based green card applicants will be subject to the public charge ground of inadmissibility. This includes spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, as well as most employment visa preference categories, investors, and diversity visa applicants. Certain categories remain explicitly exempt under immigration law. These include: Asylees and refugees Victims of human trafficking (T visa) or crime (U visa) Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitioners Special Immigrant Juveniles Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants Certain military-related applicants and other designated humanitarian groups How USCIS Will Make Determinations USCIS officers will evaluate whether an applicant is likely to become a public charge by reviewing the totality of their circumstances on a case-by-case basis. Key factors include: Five Statutory Factors: Age, health, family status, assets/financial resources, and education or skills. Affidavit of Support: Submission of Form I-864 executed by a sponsor. Use of Public Benefits: USCIS will look at means-tested public benefits, such as cash assistance for income maintenance, housing assistance, food stamps (SNAP), or college financial aid. Note on timing: For benefits received before September 18, 2026, USCIS will only consider public cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term institutionalization at government expense. For benefits received on or after September 18, 2026, the broader consideration of all listed means-tested benefits will apply. Public Charge Bonds If an officer determines that an applicant is inadmissible solely on public charge grounds, USCIS may issue a Notice of Intent to Deny that invites the applicant to post a public charge bond using Form I-945. If an invited applicant successfully posts the required cash or surety bond, USCIS may approve the application for permanent residence. Public charge bonds can only be submitted if explicitly invited by USCIS. Santos Lloyd Law Firm will continue to monitor immigration developments closely and provide updates as further implementation details are released. For more information, please access: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-issues-guidance-on-making-public-charge-inadmissibility-determination
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering a regulatory proposal that would remove the discretionary 60-day grace period currently available to certain nonimmigrant visa holders (including H-1B, L-1, TN, E, and O-1) and their dependents. The draft rule is currently undergoing interagency review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and has not yet been formally published for public feedback. What This Means Right Now Nothing changes today. The 60-day grace period remains in effect while this rule goes through the approval process. Under current rules, if your job ends early, you have up to 60 days (or until your I-94 expires) to leave the U.S., find a new sponsor, or apply to change status. What Could Change If approved, foreign workers who lose their jobs would no longer get automatic time to find a new employer or change status from within the U.S. They would generally be required to leave the country immediately. Next Steps Once the OMB finishes its initial review, the proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register, opening a public comment period of 30 to 60 days. Based on feedback received during this time, DHS may decide to alter, withdraw, or proceed with the proposal. If the government decides to finalize the rule, the entire process will likely take several months before taking effect. Santos Lloyd Law Firm will continue to monitor developments closely and will share updates on our immigration blog and social media pages as more details emerge.
