They say that time wounds all heels. In the case of President Trump’s immigration advisors–who implemented racist and anti-Muslim policies, separated parents from children, and generally tried to destroy due process of law in our immigration system–that old saw is largely dis-proven, at least for most of the people we’ve managed to track down. A year and half after Mr. Trump left office, many of his senior advisors seem to be doing just fine. Some have retired. Others have moved on to (seemingly) lucrative employment in high-level private sector positions. Here, we’ll catch up with a few of our old friends from the prior Administration, and find out: Where are they now?
Jeff Sessions
Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions was an early supporter of the Trump campaign, and so it was not a surprise when he was nominated for U.S. Attorney General. Mr. Sessions served as AG from February 2017 to November 2018, when President Trump forced him to resign. During his tenure, Mr. Sessions helped implement the Administration’s anti-immigrant agenda and made it more difficult for asylum seekers to obtain protection in the United States. In 2020, after his resignation, Mr. Sessions tried to return to the U.S. Senate, but he lost in the Republican primary to Tommy Tuberville (who went on to win the general election). President Trump was a key factor in this election and he publicly endorsed Mr. Tuberville over his old Attorney General. In 2021, Mr. Sessions, age 75, announced that he had no further plans to run for office and he wanted new people to take the lead of our country. After his 2020 loss, which effectively ended his political career, he noted that, “I leave elective office with my integrity intact.”
Kirstjen Nielsen
Ms. Nielsen originally joined the Trump Administration as Chief of Staff to Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly. After Mr. Kelly started a new position in the White House, Ms. Nielsen was sworn in as DHS Secretary in December 2017. During her year and a half in office, Ms. Nielsen pushed for a border wall, oversaw the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and most notoriously, implemented the Administration’s policy of separating families at the border. She was forced to resign in 2019 because President Trump wanted someone “tougher” on immigration. A few months ago, Ms. Nielsen joined cryptocurrency company Astra Protocol as a strategic advisor. Her job is to help “efficiently navigate an ever-changing governmental and regulatory landscape while forging new institutional partnerships.” She also works as a cyber-security policy consultant. After she left office, Ms. Nielsen was subject to a campaign by immigrant and civil rights advocates to convince Fortune 500 companies and academic institutions to refuse employment to former high-level Trump Administration officials. Whether that campaign limited her options, it is difficult to say, but certainly she has not done as well as some other DHS Secretaries, including Janet Napolitano, who left DHS to become President of the University of California and Jeh Johnson, who is a partner at a major law firm and who serves on the boards of directors of several large corporations.
Stephen Miller
Stephen Miller, age 36, was Senior Policy Advisor to President Trump from 2017 to 2021. Mr. Miller is well-known as the force behind many of the Trump Administration’s most vicious anti-immigration policies (I previously wrote about him here). Shortly after President Trump left office, Mr. Miller and a number of other white men from the Trump Administration launched a new legal group called America First Legal. The tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization aims to “oppose the radical left’s anti-jobs, anti-freedom, anti-faith, anti-borders, anti-police, and anti-American crusade” through impact litigation and public policy advocacy. Mr. Miller is married to Katie Waldman, who formerly worked for Vice President Pence, and the couple has two young children.
E. Scott Lloyd
E. Scott Lloyd worked as the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement at the Department of Health and Human Services from 2017 to 2018 (I wrote about him here). Although he had no prior experience resettling refugees or running a large organization, he was tasked with overseeing the U.S. government’s $1.5 billion refugee resettlement program. In that role, Mr. Lloyd pushed a pro-life agenda and personally intervened to try to block pregnant migrant teens in ORR custody from seeking abortions. In 2020, Mr. Lloyd ran for town council in Front Royal, a lovely small town in rural Virginia, and won a four-year term. However, he resigned in March 2022 after only 15 months due to “potential conflicts of interest between his personal business interests and public service as an elected official.” While on the council, he initiated an unsuccessful effort to re-name a local road after President Trump. Presumably Mr. Lloyd will be pursuing his business interests and spending time with his large family–he is married and has seven children.
John Kelly
After a long career in the military, John Kelly was confirmed as President Trump’s first Secretary of Homeland Security in 2017. He soon became White House Chief of Staff, where he served from 2017 to 2019. General Kelly played a role in forming Administration policy concerning immigrants and refugees, including the border wall and the “Muslim ban.” He reportedly stated that if it were up to him, the number of refugees admitted into the U.S. would be between zero and one. After General Kelly left the Administration, he joined the board of directors for Caliburn International in 2019. Caliburn (now called Acuity International) is the parent company of Comprehensive Health Services, which operates shelters for unaccompanied minor children (a/k/a baby jails). More recently, General Kelly has publicly spoken out against Mr. Trump, referring to the former President’s “narcissistic outrages where he was screaming and yelling at no one in particular.” After the January 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol, General Kelly stated that if he were still a member of the President’s cabinet, he would support removing Mr. Trump pursuant to the 25th Amendment.
As Mr. Trump contemplates another run for office, it will be interesting to see who of his old advisors–if any–joins in that effort. Will they publicly support him? Or, in the case of General Kelly, will they speak out against him? Only time will tell.
Special thanks to our summer intern Michelle Maffe for her work on this article and for all her excellent work on behalf of our clients.
Hi,
What is the fee for RTD as an asylee for the first time ?
filing fee and biometrics services fee for my wife 30 Years old ?
Thanks
RTD price is $220 for each person after you granted asylum, I’m using that document and lovin it!
Take care.
Hi jason,
My father is a brain stroke patient and lost his speech and his brain is no longer 100% sane.
1- he has b1-b2 visa can he travel to the USA with that visa or they would ask for guardianship or any official documents other than the medical reports ? I’m us citizen and I will be with him?
2- can he apply for asylum?
3- can his case gets expedited based on his health condition?
4- if he passed away right after the approval, can his child overseas come to USA (under 21) ?
Thank you
1 – Maybe. I guess it would depend on his condition and whether the airline would let him fly. Also, he will have to pass through US customs and I do not know how that would work if he is unable to communicate. Maybe someone would have to travel here with him. 2 – Yes. 3 – Maybe, though given what you are saying, he may have a difficult time to do the case, depending on his ability to communicate. Maybe it would be possible to have a family member assist him at the interview, but I have not done that before and so I am not sure how that would work. 4 – I am not sure about that – there is a link under Resources called I-730 Family Reunification Manual. Maybe that addresses your question. If not, you can have a lawyer look into it. Take care, Jason
It is $220. Take care, Jason
Hi sir my fiance came from maxico border he is south asian .His asylum case is pending can he get a greencard without going back to his country i m citizen.How can i help him to get greencard.please reply sir thanks godbless you
You should talk to a lawyer, but once you are married, you can file for him. Most likely, he would need to leave the US to get a GC based on the marriage, but it depends on the circumstances and you would need to discuss the specifics with a lawyer. I did a series of posts on August 8, 2018, August 28, 2018, and September 6, 2018 where I talk about this issue, and maybe those would be worth a look. Take care, Jason
Hello Jason,
I have got citizenship interview notice which is due after 24 days and I have filled A-11 form to change my home and Mailing address which is just one mile away from previous address in same county.will it postpone my interview?
Second question do I need change address on my driver license too? what if addresses on Interview notice and Driver license are different? will they accept it?
Hi Jason,
I want to travel with my travel parole but my asylum decision is pending will my case be considered abandoned if I receive any type of decision while I’m abroad?
Thanks
Assuming you have Advance Parole, you should be able to return, even if your case status changes. However, if the case is denied and you are sent to immigration court, you may be stopped upon re-entry and I suppose you could be detained. I think this is a very unlikely outcome, but if you have a court case and are re-entering, it is not impossible. That said, I have had clients in court who have traveled with AP and returned with no problem. Generally, though, the purpose of AP is to allow you to return, and so as long as the AP document is valid, you should be able to get back to the US. Take care, Jason
I don’t get it. Is it possible to travel while the asylum case is pending? Are they going to give me AP to visit my wife and kids in a third country?
You can apply for AP, but you need a “humanitarian reason” (as they define this term). I wrote more about it in the September 11, 2017 blog post. If you get AP, you can use your passport to travel and the AP document to return to the US. Take care, Jason
Hello Jason, I have recently file my N-400 for naturalization. I am from PA. I sent it to USCIS PO Box in carol stream in IL
1- I have just received a text message with my receipt number which has IOE even though it is a paper application , so which office will handle my case so I can lookup processing times
2- About an hour later, I got another notification that USCIS is actively working on my case, does this mean anything .
3- I forgot to include my recent self-employment in my work history, would it be a problem to tell the office about it at the interview.
Thanks,
1 & 2 – Normally, you look at the processing time for the office where you sent the application, but I am not sure which office will review the case or whether they are actually working on it. I filed an N-400 in May and it is already scheduled for an interview – for late August. So that is very fast. Whether other cases will go that fast, I do not know, but it is a positive sign. 3 – I would write it down and give it to them at the beginning of the interview. Take care, Jason
Thanks for replying back. Is the case you filed in May was also a Pennsylvania case and was sent to Carol Stream, IL. Also, when they scheduled the interview, was it the USCIS field office that is most close to the applicant address according to USCIS office locator or different. I live near Philadelphia USCIS office, do you have any experience with them lately or how quick they are.
Thanks,
I do not remember where it was initially sent, but the applicant lives in Virginia and the case will be interviewed there. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason!
I have been on asylum for 7 years now, and still didn’t get the interview.
The country which I am originally from was recently added to a TPS. Can the US government give greencards to people who have been staying on TPS? Is it possible to enroll in TPS and not lose your asylum claim(I. E. Stay in both statuses)? Is changing to TPS is going to block me from getting the gc through other routes(like jobs, marriage, work)?
If you qualify, you can apply for TPS. TPS does not result in getting a GC (though if Congress changed the law, it could), but it could open the doors to other opportunities to get a GC (maybe through employment of family, for example, if you have a sponsor). TPS also makes travel outside the US and return easier. But if you do not want to travel and do not have any paths to get a GC, then TPS probably will not help you. It may be worth talking to a lawyer to go over the options. Take care, Jason
Hello Jason,
I have got a citizenship interview notice after 24 days and I have applied for AR-11 address change which is 1 mile away from previous address (under same office jurisdiction).will it delay or postpone my interview?
Second-what is I have different address on my license and Interview notice.. will it work?
That should have no effect on the interview unless you moved to another state. It is probably better to change your license, as they may ask for it at the interview. However, I guess you can explain that you did not have time yet to change it. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason thank you for all your efforts to help us, I have a question I was granted asylum by the judge my lawyer received a count letter from the judge but myself I didn’t receive anything yet and I have an appointment with USCS for the info pass in 2 weeks times so I would like to know if there’s an other court letter ( original) that the judge will send to my address or I will use only the one the judge sent to my lawyer…
Thanks
Normally, the judge sends a letter to the lawyer only; the lawyer is required to share it with you, and so if the lawyer did not give you a copy, you can ask for that (and the lawyer must give it to you). You need that letter for the Info Pass appointment. Take care, Jason
I appreciated, if anyone could share his experience/
timeline/info of receipt (by email or physical mail)
of NVC welcome letter including cases numbers,fee
invoices and invoices numbers of USCIS approved immediate family petition I-730,asylum based pending for 465 days at NVC!
We have seen it take a few months from the time the I-730 is approved to first contact from the NVC. Take care, Jason
Interesting! These people are all making a lot of $$$ but some of them cut the high pay and go to public service with evil agenda!!
Meanwhile I am expecting who is who from Biden Administration, it looks that they are not even doing anything. I dont know what legacy they leave behind once they are replaced by Trump team🤷🏽♂️
Dear Jason
I applied for RTD last year August 23 2021 based on asylum!
Today update
Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken
As of July 22, 2022, fingerprints relating to your Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, Receipt Number MSC***************, have been applied to your case. If you move, go to http://www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.
My question is when will I expect to receive this travel documents and is it valid for one year!!!
Hello ellie
I applied for my RTD in August 2nd 2021 and still didn’t get it yet ! Unbelievable as I’m really frustrated and the status now is Name was updated so i tried to look online what does name was updated means and most of the answers were it means Uscis is touched your file and you should receive it soon but still 24 days since this status showed up and got nothing yet!
We see most RTDs take about 10 to 12 months (I think the processing time on the USCIS website is 12 months), so hopefully you will have it soon. Unfortunately, RTDs are only valid for a year. Hopefully, this will change, as a year is way to short a time, especially given how long it takes to process these cases. Take care, Jason
Thanks for your quick response. I was wondering if you are aware of any proposal to extend the duration of the RTD or something like that.
Thanks.
There was a proposal in 2007 or so, but I have not heard about that being revived. I having been arguing here that the RTD should be valid for 5 or 10 years, but aside from me yelling into the void, I have not heard about any recent efforts to to do that (which does not mean it is not happening – I just have not heard about it). Take care, Jason
Next Wednesday it will be marked 12 months since I applied for RTD and didn’t get it yet!!! What can i do jason? Tried to expedite and it got denied and now the processing time on USCIS website is 12.5 months not 12 months anymore! What can i do ? I’m depressed as hell
Aside from keep trying to expedite (or maybe filing a lawsuit against USCIS), I do not know what else can be done. Given how long you have waited so far, I expect you will receive the RTD soon, but this wait time is ridiculous. Take care, Jason
Dear Jason,
I’m US citizen,
My wife and my son are in Turkey I married 4 years a go and my son was born in Turkey, than I petition them, I wasn’t able to make enough money then I had a joint sponsor than the guy who was acted as joint sponsor withdraw his sponsorship, then my VISA was in NVC and immigrant was approved , they scheduled immigrant visa interview on 28 July 2022 in few days, for my wife and son , but yesterday we got notification that they asked me to submit I 864ez form, I have a lot of concerns in five days they have scheduled their interview , why would they ask this form again although initially they accepted my affidivate of support,
It may be that they just need an updated form. I would just provide them with what they need. If you need a new joint sponsor, you should try to get that as well. Typically, if you do not have everything they ask for, they will tell you to get whatever is missing and come back later, but if you can get it done beforehand, that is better and faster. Take care, Jason
Appreciated if someone has successful experience with a lawyer for file NIW green card application send me contact information to Rexcolo2019@gmail.com
Really thanks for your help my friends
My friend wife is due to come for a 3 months conference with CDC in the US. he applied for asylum 6yrs ago but no decision from the court yet. He has 4 kids in his home country? what can he do if he wife comes?
If the husband’s case is in court, the wife cannot be added to that case (though if he wins in court, he can file to give her asylum, and also the children if they were under 21 years old when he initially filed for asylum and they are still unmarried). If the wife has a case for asylum, she could file herself. Take care, Jason
I have had my final hearing but stay waiting for the judge to rule for 6 months now those I the messages case pending each time I get to check the court online case. its frustrating. I had been waiting for almost 6yrs now for my asylum case final decision. stay waiting. what do u think will happen that the final result has take over 6 months now going?
I am stay waiting anyway but wondering what might be going on.
what do you think? if that a sign of good result? have u had a case after final hearing to be pending Judge decision this long? what can I do?
in court the immigration lawyer for the govt said I was not an enforcement priority which we all judge and the judge said she can’t make any decision now, so we should not write or call to ask for a decision but she will decide. when? we don’t know.
what do you think?
Different judges have different ways of doing things, and some judges take a long time to make a decision. You can call the court and talk to the judge’s clerk to inquire about the case, and maybe get the clerk to ask the judge about it (again, some clerks are more willing to help than others). You can find the phone number of you follow the link under Resources called Immigration Court. Take care, Jason
Hi jason,
I have a question. I applied for a new RTD (and i sent the old one with the application). I was under tye impreasion they will ask for biometrics. However, the case status changed to finger prints were taken. Do you know if they usually just apply old bionetrics or ask for new ones.
Thanks!.
USCIS is often re-using biometrics for people who have done them before, and so I think this is normal and hopefully they will issue the new RTD soon (though the time frame seems to be 10 or 12 months). Take care, Jason
Dear Jason,
I hope you can help me out with this one. I am commercial driver’s license holder (CDL). I’m not sure that DMV would extend it with EAD receipt notice. Especially with my previous experience with them and how uninformed they were. When I applied for initial cdl, with my EAD I had hard time convincing them that I am allowed to get one. I’m guessing this time it will be worse, if they are even allowed to issue new license with this receipt notice. Have you ever had experience with something like this?
Thank you in advance
They should extend it, since the federal government has indicated that the EAD is valid for 540 days after the expiration date (assuming you filed to renew before the old card expired). I did a post about this on May 11, 2022 with some links that may help. If the DMV does not agree, try to talk to a supervisor, and if that does not work, you may need to speak to a lawyer who knows about DMV issues. Take care, Jason
Yes, I filed everything on time, got receipt notice with 540 extension, and I have that link you are talking about already saved. I always have to prepare for dmv like I’m going to court (god forbid). Thank you so much for your response, and thank you for keeping us sane.
Hi Jason,
Should I answer a YES or NO to this question “have you ever been arrested, cited, charged or detained by law enforcement official” on form i485. I had a stop sign ticket and a speeding ticket different year apart that was paid off and driving classes attended. And also an at fault accident on driving record, no injuries involved just a police report for insurance settlement.
I would think that none of these are arrests, but if you think they may be, you can circle the question, write “see cover letter,” and include an explanation in the cover letter, with copies of the documentation. Take care, Jason
I have changed my address using the online tool with the USCIS. At the end of the process, the tool confirmed that “Success! Address change request submitted”. Then, there was a button with “Print completed AR-11 form”. I have printed the form. Inside the form it was instructed to “mail your form to Attn: Change of Address, 1344 Pleasants Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22801”. I am not sure, should I still mail the printed form or no need for that?
It should not be needed – but I do not recall seeing that when we print the AR-11. Maybe it is just standard language in the instructions? If so, you should be fine, but if it is something specific to you, you should just mail an extra copy of the AR-11, maybe with a note attached that you already changed your address online. Take care, Jason
Hello,
The USCIS has requested the medical examination paperwork (i-693) in order to process the i-485 which I have submitted 2 years ago. My son, 11 years old, is a derivative asylee and I am the principal. i-693 instructions say that I have to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination to the surgeon. Does that apply to my son? I am vaccinated, but not my son. Do I have to inoculate him?
I am not sure about that, but the vaccine has been available to 11 year olds (and younger) for some time, so it may now be required. It is possible to get exemptions in some cases. Maybe ask the doctor’s office about what is required, as they should know. Take care, Jason
hello!
i just became eligible for adjustment of status based on asylum. i have two questions:
1) is the covid vacs required among the usual vacs needed for the green card? if so, are there exemptions? i talked to my doctor who advised me that I may not need a vacs since i recovered from covid.
2) do I need to retake vacs I have already taken?
when I first arrived in the US my host state gave us all the vacs that are usually required for a green card even though I was still through the asylum process, they gave us a yellow vacs card or vacs passport that shows a list of the vacs I received, I have since moved out to another state, would my vacs card suffice as proof to the immigration office?
thank you
1 – I believe it is required, but there are exemptions available, the same as any other vaccination. I believe the I-693 instructions discuss this (available at http://www.uscis.gov). 2 – I highly doubt you need to re-do the vaccines. Just bring your vaccine card to the doctor. Take care, Jason
Masham….
It’s required:
COVID vaksine
Hepatip B
TDAP
Variacela
MMR
Hi Jason,
Your help is always appreciated . Thank you for all you do. I filed for my greencard i485 in Dec 2020, i then filed for a travel document i131 in October 2021 and got an IOE receipt number. Exactly a month ago i got an update saying case closed benefits received through other means but I also got a new MSC receipt number for the same case i131 saying your case has been transferred to a new office. Last update on my i485 was in Aug 2021 saying your case is ready to be scheduled for an interview. I am just confused has anyone had this happen before?
The “case closed” message seems like an error. I would call USCIS about that and see if you can talk to someone (it is not easy). The number is 800-375-5283. You can also try to inquire online – there is a link under Resources called USCIS Help. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason, hope you’re doing well, just wanted to know your thoughts about the new “registry bill” that introduced by House democrats today, is there any hope that it will be passed this time by House and Senate to be come a law or it’s a political game as always?
Sorry, I rarely look at proposed bills as they almost always go nowhere, so I have no opinion. Take care, Jason
LOLZ.
No reform/bill ever gets passed. Immigration reforms are a deadlock.
Good, I like the status quo. Too positive and too negative development I want to see neither.
Hello ,
My wife she has an appointment for her Emergency travel ,apply for Refugee Travel Document as an Asylee after granted asylum from Immigration Court last April.
They sent me an email for the appointment next week and they mentioned that she has to bring her Valid Passport? Her passport is invalid and she will renew it this week ( She is from different country)
Does she has to go with valid passport ? As an Asylee why do they want Valid Passport to apply for RTD
Thanks
I do not know why they would need that, but she should bring whatever she has – the expired passport and any other photo ID documents. Take care, Jason
Dear Jason,
Thank you for your informative articles, and all the help that you do. i have one quick question, after initial acceptance of our I-485 forms, we have now received the request for evidence, medical forms for myself and my 3 kids. whereas the principal applicant who is my husband has not yet received his letter. I want to know if we should still send the medical forms for all of us as a family or should I only send mine and kids and wait for my husband’s to come? or should we all wait until we receive his? thankyou
jenny
Each case is separate, and so I would only send the medical exams for the people who received a request. In fact, I would not even do your husband’s exam yet, since USCIS might not request it for a while, and it could expire. It is pretty common for cases to move at different speeds, even for the same family, and so I do not think this is something to worry about, at least not for the next several months. Take care, Jason
Hey Jason
My individual hearing date is postponed to next year. Can I ask the judge through email in case if he has another date this year?
Thanks
You have to file a motion with the court, and send a copy to DHS (the prosecutor). I did a post about this on April 20, 2017. Take care, Jason
I feel you man
happened to me twice before few days of the appointment and 2nd time in the day of the court the judge didn’t show up with no reason