Market Intelligence

U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide continue to pause immigrant visa interviews two months after the State Department mandated public charge training for consular officers. The new DHS public charge rule, which took effect in September 2026, eliminates the 2022 regulatory framework and allows officers to consider a broader range of factors when evaluating whether applicants are likely to become public charges. Consulates are now sharing detailed interview guidance covering housing, employment, health in

On August 6, 2026, in Afzal v. Ramineni, No. 09-25-00138-CV (Tex. App.—Beaumont Aug. 6, 2026) (mem. op.), the Texas Ninth Court of Appeals issued an important reminder that not every contract provision tied...

Kate Kalmykov and Jen Hermansky examine the expanded public charge framework that took effect in September, exploring how immigration officers now evaluate green card applicants across multiple dimensions including age, health, household composition, finances, education, and earning potential. They discuss the implications for employment-based, EB-5, and family-based immigration cases, and explain why certain means-tested benefits and need-based programs may now influence admissibility determinations.

When individuals were detained without legal basis during heightened immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, Littler attorneys launched a habeas initiative to provide urgent legal representation. Lawyers and professional staff from across the country collaborated with community partners to navigate unfamiliar legal territory and serve people facing extraordinary circumstances.

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a suspension of permanent labor certification applications for major technology and consulting firms, raising critical compliance questions for employers nationwide. What legal basis supports this action, and how does a processing suspension differ from formal debarment? Companies operating PERM programs now face heightened scrutiny and must evaluate their recruitment practices, recordkeeping systems, and H-1B wage compliance to mitigate operational and legal risks

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is permanently disposing of E-Verify records last updated before December 31, 2016, giving employers until January 8, 2027, to download critical compliance documentation. Companies must act now to preserve historical case data needed for audits, government investigations, and Form I-9 system transitions while ensuring their E-Verify account information remains current and accurate.