Immigration Law

Recent Posts

Midwife Border Birth Citizenship Victory: Espinoza v. Pompeo
Posted on 25 Mar 2021 by Daniel M. Kowalski

Espinoza v. Pompeo "Plaintiff Roberto J. Espinoza (“Plaintiff”) brings this suit based on the U.S. Department of State’s denial of his application for a U.S. passport. After careful consideration, the Court finds that judgment... Read More

CA2 Passport Victory: Alzokari v. Pompeo
Posted on 26 Aug 2020 by Daniel M. Kowalski

Alzokari v. Pompeo "This case presents a question of first impression for this Court: can the Department revoke a citizen’s United States passport on the ground that he concealed his identity in applying for the passport, where the citizen... Read More

My Children Were Denied Passports Because They Were Delivered by a Midwife
Posted on 5 Sep 2018 by Daniel M. Kowalski

Debbie Weingarten, New York Times, Sept. 3, 2018 - "My sons have never been outside the United States, but their passport applications were denied by the State Department, pending more evidence of their citizenship, just hours after news broke that... Read More

Americans Stripped of Passports by State Department
Posted on 30 Aug 2018 by Daniel M. Kowalski

Kevin Seiff, Washington Post, Aug. 29, 2018 - "The Trump administration is accusing hundreds, and possibly thousands, of Hispanics along the border of using fraudulent birth certificates since they were babies, and it is undertaking a widespread... Read More

Pay Your Taxes or Lose Your Passport - FAST Act
Posted on 8 Dec 2015 by Daniel M. Kowalski

Robert W. Wood, Dec. 4, 2015 - "The passport provision is now official, as President Obama signed the 5-year infrastructure spending Bill. It adds a new section 7345 to the Internal Revenue Code. It is part of H.R. 22 – Fixing America’s... Read More

American Citizens Without Passports at Border May Face Fines
Posted on 25 Apr 2016 by Daniel M. Kowalski

Lorena Figueroa, El Paso Times, Apr. 22, 2016 - "U.S. citizens returning to the country without a passport could soon face fines. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is proposing to establish a non-compliant traveler fee to cover the costs of processing... Read More

Tags: passport , fines , border

Supreme Court Decides Passport Case re Jerusalem: Zivotofsky v. Kerry
Posted on 8 Jun 2015 by Daniel M. Kowalski

"The statement in question here is a congressional mandate that allows a United States citizen born in Jerusalem to direct the President and Secretary of State, when issuing his passport, to state that his place of birth is “Israel.”... Read More

Randy Quaid Wants His Passport Back
Posted on 16 Dec 2014 by Daniel M. Kowalski

"Actor Randy Quaid and his wife sued the State Department on Monday, demanding their passports back and claiming they are stranded in Canada without them. Quaid claims in Federal Court that the State Department revoked his and his wife's passports... Read More

DOS Finalizes Official Passport Rule
Posted on 9 Feb 2016 by Daniel M. Kowalski

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 9, 2016 - "The Department of State finalizes its amendment of the passport rules for issuance of an official passport to an official or employee of a state, local, tribal, or territorial government... Read More

Passport Interim Final Rule
Posted on 30 Sep 2016 by Daniel M. Kowalski

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 190 / Friday, September 30, 2016 - "This rule amends a regulation that establishes the different types of passports issued by the Department of State. A definition for special issuance passports is added." Read More

DOS, DHS Issue Final Rules on Waiver of Visa, Passport for NIVs
Posted on 3 Sep 2017 by Daniel M. Kowalski

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 5, 2017 - "This final rule clarifies procedures for waiver of documentary requirements due to an unforeseen emergency for nonimmigrants seeking admission to the United States. DATES: This rule... Read More

Advance Copy of DOS Interim Final Rule: Official Passports for Officials or Employees of State, Local, Tribal or Territorial Governments Traveling Abroad and Carrying Out Official Duties in Support of the U.S. Government
Posted on 14 May 2015 by Daniel M. Kowalski

"This rule amends the passport rules for the Department of State to authorize issuing an official passport to an official or employee of a state, local, tribal, or territorial government traveling abroad to carry out official duties in support of... Read More

Parallel Proposed Rules from DOS, CBP re Waiver of Passport, Visa Requirments
Posted on 8 Mar 2016 by Daniel M. Kowalski

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2016 - "This rule proposes to reinstate a 1996 amendment to a regulation in title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations regarding a discretionary waiver of certain documentary requirements for... Read More

Lawsuits Allege Illegal Passport Cancellations by State Department
Posted on 8 Feb 2014 by Daniel M. Kowalski

"Searches of public court records continue to expose the illegal actions of the U.S. Department of State in Yemen. One private attorney connected to cases in Yemen says “Issues with the U.S. Consulate in Sana’a are systemic and reach... Read More

CADC on Passport Law, Jerusalem: Zivotofsky v. Sec. of State
Posted on 23 Jul 2013 by Daniel M. Kowalski

"Section 214(d) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003, Pub. L. No. 107-228, 116 Stat. 1350, requires the Secretary (Secretary) of the United States Department of State (State Department) to record “Israel” as the... Read More