AILA and Members Sue Administration Over Arbitrary Mandatory Form Changes
AILA has sued the Trump Administration after USCIS required new versions of Forms I-864, I-864A, and I-864EZ with no advance notice or grace period. Rekha Sharma-Crawford, AILA Second Vice President and counsel in the case, warns that the abrupt change could trigger rejected filings, lost work authorization or travel permission, missed filing dates, and even […]
Immigrants jailed in Kentucky won in court, but many still can’t be freed on bond
Louisville Public Media reports that many immigrants detained in Kentucky are still unable to secure release even after a federal appeals court affirmed their right to bond hearings. Immigration attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford calls the current process a “sham,” warning that immigration judges are applying increasingly broad standards for flight risk and danger that can keep […]
New visa rules worry Iowa’s international students
Axios reports that new DHS rules ending open-ended “duration of status” for certain student visas are creating fresh uncertainty for international students in Iowa. Immigration attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford warns that tightening restrictions on lawful visa holders could ripple beyond campuses—hurting university enrollment, college-town businesses, and local economies that depend on international students. Read the full […]
Green Card Shock: Even Minor Traffic Violations Under Scanner
GreatAndhra reports that green card applicants are facing heightened USCIS scrutiny over even minor traffic violations, signaling a stricter approach to immigration adjudications. The development adds fresh uncertainty for applicants who may have long-resolved or seemingly insignificant infractions in their records. Read the full article on GreatAndhra →
Green card, visa applicants face greater scrutiny over past traffic, other violations
The American Bazaar features immigration attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford on a troubling shift in USCIS adjudications: even minor traffic violations and long-resolved issues are resurfacing in green card and visa reviews. Sharma-Crawford points to a physician with no criminal history whose adjustment-of-status application was denied in part over two traffic tickets, warning that otherwise approvable cases […]
Trump Urges Kids to Deport Themselves in New $2.3BN Scheme
PunchUp reports on a proposed $2.3 billion expansion of the federal self-deportation program that would include stipends tied to unaccompanied migrant children and “rover” teams tasked with enrolling detainees. Immigration attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford sharply questions the proposal’s safeguards and voluntariness, saying the arrangement “looks and feels a lot like human trafficking.” Read the full article […]
Trump’s new plan for children terrifies policy experts: ‘Looks like human trafficking’
Raw Story highlights immigration attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford’s warning over a proposed $2.3 billion expansion of the federal self-deportation program, including incentives involving unaccompanied migrant children and efforts to enroll people already in detention. After reviewing the proposal, Sharma-Crawford said the arrangement “looks and feels a lot like human trafficking,” raising urgent questions about safeguards, coercion, […]
‘Chaos & Uncertainty’: Immigration Attorney Warns of Impact of New US Immigration Policy || The Gist
In this The Gist interview, immigration attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford breaks down new USCIS guidance creating widespread uncertainty for green card applicants—particularly professionals seeking to complete the process through adjustment of status in the United States. She explains what the policy says, why it may steer more applicants toward consular processing abroad, and why legal challenges […]
Kansas ‘Halo Act’ law restricts how close ICE, local law enforcement can be videotaped
KMBC examines Kansas’ new HALO Act, which can require members of the public to remain at least 25 feet from police, ICE agents and other first responders during active operations. Supporters frame the law as a safety measure, while civil-liberties and press advocates warn it could restrict the public’s ability to document law-enforcement activity and […]
Lens of a Lawyer: Rekha Sharma Crawford – Crime & Immigration
In this episode of Lens of a Lawyer, immigration attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford challenges the political narrative that treats immigration as a criminal justice issue. She explains the crucial distinction between civil immigration proceedings and criminal courts while bringing clarity to the legal realities, public fears, and human consequences shaping today’s immigration debate. Listen to the […]