EP316 Recent Developments in Immigration & Global Conflicts, With Andy Semotiuk

I caught up with immigration lawyer and Forbes contributor Andy Semotiuk to discuss the latest developments in US immigration law and international conflicts, specifically focusing on the situation in Ukraine.

Andy highlighted a significant US Supreme court decision affecting over 500,000 immigrants under humanitarian parole programs. We also touched on the cancellations of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans and the U4U program for Ukrainians (archive- DHS 2022). These changes are leaving many individuals in limbo, unsure of their legal status and ability to work. When asked if he was surprised, Andy expressed shock at this week’s ruling, emphasizing that these individuals are actually legally in the country, allowed in by the prior administration, something very different from deporting criminal migrants, something that has consensus.

We shifted gears to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Andy provided an update on the situation, discussing the challenges of peace negotiations with Russia and emphasizing the human cost of the conflict, particularly in Russian-occupied areas of Ukrainian territory. Andy also touched on the evolving role of the US in the conflict and the importance of international support for Ukraine. Lastly, Andy hit on the middle-east situation and the actions taking place in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Some key takeaways from our discussion include the significant impact of recent immigration policy changes and the complex, ongoing nature of the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. If you want to learn more from Andy, you can visit his website at PaceLawFirm.com.