Author Archives: Frank Rizzo

For employers that rely on foreign talent, the Trump administration’s suspension of immigrant visa issuance for the nationals of 75 countries is creating practical problems, and a recently filed lawsuit challenging the pause could determine whether consular processing, for some, ceases to be an individualized process, says attorney Lisa Eisenberg.

The competitive card game Magic: The Gathering offers me a training ground for the strategic thinking skills crucial to litigation, challenging me to adapt to oft-updated rules, analyze text as complicated as any statute and anticipate my opponent’s next moves, says Christopher Smith at Lash Goldberg.

A D.C. federal judge denied a Minnesota human rights organization's request to block immigration judges from restricting public and press access to proceedings, ruling that it failed to show an immediate threat of future harm from unlawful hearing closures.

A Jamaican man who pled guilty to robbery should have been afforded youthful-offender consideration, a New York state appeals panel has ruled, reinstating his robbery conviction despite his not receiving an immigration warning, but sending his case back for resentencing.

The Fifth Circuit upheld the dismissal of a man's claims that an India-based information technology and professional services firm violated the False Claims Act via fraudulent visa applications and improper tax withholding, finding no specific payment obligations under the FCA itself.

Do not travel

in Chad for any reason due to risk of crime, terrorism, unrest, inadequate health infrastructure, kidnapping, and landmines. 

Outside of N’Djamena, the U.S. government has extremely limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Chad. U.S. government employees working in Chad need special authorization to travel outside of the capital due to safety risks. Embassy N’Djamena has implemented in-city restrictions for U.S. government employees, to include limits on areas acceptable for night driving and requirements for mandatory armored vehicle use.

Crime

Both violent and petty crime are a real danger in Chad. Violent crimes include muggings, purse snatching, armed robbery, home invasion, carjacking, and sexual assault. Common petty crime includes pickpocketing. Both visitors and residents face these threats.

•  Limited resources and inadequate law enforcement training hinder police response to serious crime in most areas.

Terrorism

There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Chad. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more.

Terrorist groups have targeted:

• Religious venues


• Schools


• Government buildings


• Police stations


• Transportation hubs


• Markets


• Areas visited by tourists, including national parks


• These attacks have resulted in the deaths of Chadians as well as foreign visitors. Americans should remain alert and avoid large public gatherings.

Unrest

• Protests can happen without warning. They often develop around special events or political issues like elections. When protests, strikes, and demonstrations escalate, security services have responded with force, deploying batons, rubber bullets, tear gas, and gunfire to disperse crowds.

Health

• Medical services in Chad are extremely limited. Access to routine and emergency medical treatment is often unavailable. There is limited access to medicines, including antibiotics. All medical services, from treatment for a minor health issue to one requiring medical evacuation, are at your expense. If you purchase additional medical insurance, be sure to keep records of all medical services paid for and provided. 

Kidnapping

• Kidnapping for ransom is common in Chad. Criminal groups and terrorist organizations target both locals and foreign visitors.

Landmines

Landmines and unexploded ordnance from prior and ongoing conflicts exist throughout Chad. Areas of greatest risk are:

• Northern Chad (Tibesti, Borkou, Ennedi-Est, and Ennedi-Ouest provinces).


• Sila province in eastern Chad.


• Moyen-Chari province in southern Chad.


• Not all landmine areas are clearly marked or easy to recognize. Stay on main roads and well-traveled areas.

This supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking re-opens public comment for certain topics and provisions that were addressed in HUD's May 29, 2024, proposed rule entitled "HOME Investment Partnerships Program: Program Updates and Streamlining." Among other changes, this supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking proposes to revise or revoke previously-proposed tenant protection provisions permitting participating jurisdictions to exceed the maximum per-unit subsidy for projects that met certain green building standards. This supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking would also create additional flexibilities related to scattered site manufactured housing rental projects.

On October 7, 2020, the Department of Justice ("Department") published an interim final rule ("IFR") amending the regulations governing the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer ("OCAHO"). The amendments reflected changes related to the creation of the position of the Chief Administrative Law Judge ("CALJ") and made additional related technical changes. This final rule adopts the provisions of the IFR with minor technical corrections.