Welcome to this weekʼs DHS update—where the biggest headline is sweeping new powers now in the hands of USCIS, the agency that processes visas and immigration benefits. As of this week, USCIS is authorized to hire its own special agents, deputized as law enforcement officers—a first for the agency, according to the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers. These agents can investigate immigration-related crimes, make arrests, and even carry firearms, signaling a major shift toward tougher, in-house enforcement of fraud, national security, and public safety issues tied directly to the visa process.

This development comes just as the Department of Labor launches Project Firewall, a new initiative to crack down on H-1B visa compliance, with the Labor Secretary now empowered to personally certify certain investigations. The move includes stepped-up enforcement tools like back-wage recovery and possible debarment for noncompliant employers, especially those in research and higher education.

Turning to policy, the H-1B program itself is seeing significant changes: a beneficiary-centric selection process started this year, aiming to cut down on lottery system manipulation, and streamlined approvals for extensions and amendments took effect in January. Meanwhile, the White House has rolled out a suite of executive actions, including reinstating broader immigration enforcement in all workplaces and new social media screening measures—both expected to slow processing times for some applicants and add paperwork for employers.

This week also saw the announcement of another round of targeted visa restrictions, this time against current and former Thai officials involved in forced returns of Uyghurs to China—a clear signal the State Department is continuing its aggressive use of immigration policy as a diplomatic lever, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s March announcement. On the southern border, enforcement priorities are clear: expanded physical barriers, more detention and removal operations, and a revival of the controversial Migrant Protection Protocols, all under the January 2025 White House executive orders.

For businesses, these changes mean more compliance headaches and potential hiring delays, especially for tech, healthcare, and engineering sectors reliant on skilled foreign workers. For state and local governments, the new USCIS enforcement authority could mean closer coordination—or friction—with federal agencies on immigration-related cases. For the public, expect more visible worksite enforcement and a growing emphasis on employer accountability.

Looking ahead, the DHS is gearing up for additional changes: a proposed rule to replace “duration of status” for international students and exchange visitors with fixed periods of stay is expected soon, which could impact hundreds of thousands of students and scholars. Stay tuned for public comment opportunities when that proposal drops.

Citizens and organizations should monitor USCIS and DHS websites for detailed guidance, especially on H-1B, student visas, and worksite compliance. If these developments affect you or your community, consider participating in public comment periods or reaching out to advocacy groups for support.

For more information and the latest updates, visit the official DHS and USCIS sites. Thanks for listening—if you found this update valuable, be sure to subscribe for more analysis on immigration and national security. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

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