Latest news with #USCIS
Forbes
10 hours ago
- General
- Forbes
New FBI Attack Warning — Hang Up And Do This Now
Beware this US visa attack campaign. Cybercriminals thrive on fear, uncertainty and doubt. That's why so many phishing attacks aim to leverage the urgency and knee-jerk reaction that come when a seemingly worrying scenario confronts a victim. From the classic and shameful Hello Pervert campaign, attacks against Gmail users that claim their account is, oh the irony, being attacked by a hacker, and even concerns over President Trump's tariff plans, all are employed in this way. And talking of Trump plans, this latest warning from the FBI reveals that deportation fears are coming into play as a dangerous and costly new attack campaign is underway. Imagine being a lawful foreign student in the U.S. with a perfectly valid visa, already somewhat spooked by media reports of others being arrested and deported. Now imagine that you got a phone call, text, or email message from what appears for all intents and purposes to be the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, or US Citizenship and Immigration Services informing you that there are problems with your visa. Imagine no more, because that's exactly what is happening, according to a new public service advisory from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI alert, I-051325-PSA, confirmed that attackers are targeting those foreign individuals who are studying perfectly legally in the U.S. and threatening them with prosecution or deportation for totally false visa violations. Unless, that is, the victim pays for unnecessary administration and legal fees to correct the issue that doesn't exist in the first place. At the time of the alert publication, most of the victims were known to be those studying in the U.S. from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan. Given the success of the campaign, there's no reason to expect the attackers to stop there, and other foreign students are likely to be targeted down the road. 'In 2024,' the FBI said, 'government impersonation fraud schemes such as this cost the American public over $405 million in losses.' Given that these attacks are happening now, targeting those already in the U.S., and employing people (or potentially AI-powered imposters) with a professional manner and correct use of language for the victim concerned, along with spoofed telephone numbers and website URLs of the agencies being impersonated, it's imperative for all foreign students to take mitigating action now. The FBI recommended the following: If you think this campaign may have already targeted you, you are advised to contact the FBI or the Bureau of Diplomatic Security at the Department of State, along with the diplomatic security office at your home country's embassy.
News18
15 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Challenges Mount For International Students As Trump's USCIS Nominee Eyes OPT Ban
Last Updated: President Trump's USCIS nominee, Joseph Edlow, plans to eliminate the OPT programme, worrying international students. Amid ongoing uncertainties surrounding their academic future, international students in the United States face a fresh challenge, with President Donald Trump's nominee for the top role at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Joseph Edlow, indicating that he intends to eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme if selected for the job. Edlow made the statement during a recent confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, reigniting concerns among international students already navigating a complex immigration landscape, as reported by Financial Express. In recent weeks, reportedly, many students currently on OPT have received alarming letters from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), threatening termination of their SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) records and possible deportation. One such letter, accessed by The Times of India, warned students about the absence of employer details in their SEVIS records, noting that this could count as unemployment — a violation of OPT rules. The letter gave recipients 15 days to update their records or face immigration proceedings. What Is OPT And Why Does It Matter? The Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme is a key pathway for international students in the U.S. to gain hands-on work experience after completing their degrees. Under this programme, eligible students are allowed to work for up to 12 months in their field of study. Those with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) can apply for a 24-month extension, known as STEM OPT. Students must report employment information in the SEVIS system to remain compliant. As per current regulations, OPT participants are allowed a maximum of 90 days of unemployment within the standard 12-month period. For those on STEM OPT, an additional 60 days is permitted. A move to end OPT will deeply impact the Indian students in the US, who form one of the largest international student populations in the country. According to the Open Doors 2024 report, there were 331,602 Indian students in the US during the 2023–2024 academic year. Of these, 97,556 were participating in the OPT programme — a staggering 41% increase from the previous year. If the OPT programme is indeed dismantled, it could severely limit post-study work opportunities for Indian students and disrupt the educational and career plans of thousands. The proposed changes could also make the US a less attractive destination for higher education. First Published: May 28, 2025, 10:52 IST
.JPG&w=3840&q=100)
Miami Herald
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘El Funky will not be deported': Cuban rapper says his immigration case was reopened
Cuban rapper Eliexer Márquez Duany, known as El Funky, one of the musicians who performed on Cuban protest anthem 'Patria y Vida,' announced that his immigration case has been reopened after U.S. authorities denied his application for permanent residency. El Funky made the announcement on Saturday after media reported that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denied his petition under the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 and gave him 30 days to leave the country or face deportation. 'To all my brothers and followers, I want to give you good news. Thanks to my legal team, my residency case has been opened. I have great faith in this government and the legal process. Also, regarding the rumors and fake news circulating on social media, we clarify that El Funky will not be deported,' the Cuban musician said on his Instagram account. His lawyer Miguel Inda-Romero commented, 'As I said from day one, our time was coming and @elfunkycuba wasn't going anywhere! Keep talking without knowing, cases are won legally, not by talking on social media! Thank you all for your support!' On Friday, Politico reported that Cuban rapper faced deportation from the United States and would likely be imprisoned in Cuba, given that his music helped fuel Cuba's largest anti-government protests in decades. The outlet reported that after his residency application was denied 'without any explanation,' the artist hired a new immigration lawyer and 'is now rushing to file an asylum application. His new lawyer told him there were 'errors in the original application,' but couldn't specify which ones.' Immigration authorities reportedly informed him that the request was denied because the criminal record he provided from the Cuban Ministry of Justice shows a 2017 conviction of 'one year and three months in prison' for the alleged 'possession and trafficking of illegal drugs and other similar substances' on the Caribbean island, according to the USCIS document obtained by Cuban news website El Estornudo. El Funky denied that accusation on May 16, saying that the Cuban regime 'fabricates crimes' against its opponents. El Funky along with Yotuel, Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona (Randy Malcom and Alexander Delgado), received Latin Grammy awards in November 2021 for Song of the Year and Best Urban Song for 'Patria y Vida,' which became an anthem for Cubans who took to the streets in July of that year to protest against the communist regime. 'The most important thing is that this puts my life at risk,' the rapper told the Spanish newspaper El País. 'My life is in danger. They could fabricate a crime against me, and if I'm going through this situation, it's because of a crime also created by the dictatorship. I think the United States authorities need to study my case and realize the great harm they want to do to me.'
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump pauses student visas as administration drills down on applicants' social media: report
The Trump administration has ordered a pause on all new interviews for student visa applicants as the White House threatens to strip federal funding from Harvard University and prevent the college from enrolling international students. The White House froze new student visa interviews on Tuesday as the government prepares to expand how it reviews applicants' social media profiles after President Donald Trump took aim at college campuses over pro-Palestine demonstrations. A cable from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, that was seen by Politico orders all U.S. embassies and consulates to immediately suspend visa appointments 'until further guidance is issued' to implement new social media vetting. The freeze targets all visa applicants in both academic and vocational studies (F and M visas) as well all applicants in educational and cultural exchange programs (J visas). The Independent has requested comment from the State Department and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. Last month, USCIS announced the agency was 'immediately' reviewing immigrants' social media accounts for what it considers 'antisemitic activity' that could be used as evidence to deny them legal status in the United States. 'This will immediately affect aliens applying for lawful permanent resident status, foreign students and aliens affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemitic activity,' according to the agency. Immigration officials are reviewing 'social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity as a negative factor,' according to last month's memo. A separate cable from State Department officials last month called for a review of social media accounts belonging to foreign students and student exchange visitors. The cable also suggested visas could be denied for perceived 'hostile attitudes' towards the United States. Tuesday's directive follows a series of high-profile arrests and deportation threats after the administration revoked international student visas in response to campus demonstrations against Israel's war in Gaza. Trump has zeroed in on campus activism at prestigious universities, including Harvard, one of a handful of institutions that has pushed back against the administration's threats. Homeland Security accused the university of fostering 'anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators.' On Tuesday, the General Services Administration ordered all federal agencies to consider canceling government contracts with Harvard, which is accused of continuing to 'engage in race discrimination, including in its admissions process and in other areas of student life' and failing to protect students from antisemitism. 'In light of this deeply troubling pattern, each agency should consider its contracts with Harvard University and determine whether Harvard and its services efficiently promote the priorities of the agency,' the letter says. The Department of Homeland Security has also ordered the administration to 'terminate' the university's certification for enrolling international students, and commanded all currently enrolled foreign students to leave the university or risk losing their legal status in the country. Last week, a federal judge temporarily blocked the order. The Ivy League university's lawsuit warned that the order would trigger an 'immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders' attending the school. Trump signed two executive orders that critics fear are being used to chill speech in support of Gaza and Palestine by conflating demonstrations with antisemitism and support for Hamas. One declares U.S. policy to 'ensure' noncitizens 'do not … advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security.' A fact sheet for another executive order pledges 'immediate action' to 'investigate and punish anti-Jewish racism in leftist, anti-American colleges and universities' with a promise to 'deport Hamas sympathizers and revoke student visas.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
'This will devastate the economy of India': Republican leader's dire warning amid H-1B row
Republican leader Virgil Bierschwale who has emerged as a prominent voice against the H-1B visa program that allows US companies to hire skilled people from foreign countries, has sounded a dire warning for the Indian economy. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Reacting to the news that India is set to emerge as the 4th largest world economy, the Republican leader said India's economy is built by American corporations. The Republican leader said it is India's mistake that they did not hire Americans to work in America. "India's mistake. By not hiring Americans to work in America, they have woken a sleeping giant," he said. "Now they are bragging that their economy will soon surpass others not realizing that there (sic) economy is built by American corporations whose executive officers are in the process of being named, identified and held accountable for the destruction they have done to the people of America and their communities. This will devastate the economy of India," the post read. The anti-India post comes amid a few row over H-1B visas as the USCIS has revealed that they selected over 120,000 H-1B visa applications for 2026. MAGA activists were up in arms as they expected the Trump administration to crack down on the H-1B visa programs which, they allege, rob Americans of their jobs. "Every politician, corporation, CEO and individuals enabling the Indians must be prosecuted for treason and jailed. We need the help of the legal community in ending this madness," one wrote, commenting on the post. "They should stay home and manufacture sewage systems. That would be of genuine benefit to India," a hateful comment read. According to US tech workers, US companies like Walmart are cutting jobs because they want to hire cheap labor from outside. Many tech workers on social media blamed Walmart's Global CTO, Indian-origin Suresh Kumar, for the layoff.
