Surin & Griffin, P.C.
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In a recent report by Philly.com, a tragedy occurred that potentially could have been avoided.  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a woman legally residing in the United States with her family for the past thirty years.  While the female was held in custody in York, Pennsylvania awaiting deportation, she committed suicide. The legal…

From March 6 through 11, 2014, Philadelphia immigration lawyer, Tom Griffin, was part of a select group that traveled to El Salvador to monitor the hotly-contested Presidential Run-Off Election.  This sophisticated and peaceful democratic election process was the latest step in the El Salvador’s transition from violent civil war (1980-1992).  The election, declared “free, fair,…

On Tuesday, March 25, 2014,  Philadelphia immigration lawyer, Thomas Griffin, will be presenting a “Continuing Legal Education” seminar on entitled “Representing Immigrants in Bond Proceedings in Immigration Court.”  This is one a a series of seminars for immigration attorneys provided at the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians in Philadelphia.   Tom’s program, which runs from 6:00 to 8:00…

Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, is among one of the top sponsors of an innovative college scholarship fund for children that are living in the U.S. as legal temporary residents.  The goal of the $25 million scholarship is to aid with the cost of higher education.  The scholarship has gained bipartisan support while Congress continues to…

After seven long years the Latino community in Hazleton, Pennsylvania can finally feel at ease in their own neighborhood.  This is because the city can no longer exclude or oppress immigrants.  This takes place after a long legal battle in which various civil rights groups successfully defended the rights of the Latino residents. The United…

In June of 2012, Citizenship and Immigration Services began a major initiative aimed at making sweeping changes to the immigration enforcement system. At the request of President Obama, the agency implemented the deferral program know as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The program’s primary goal is to shift the allocation of enforcement resources from low-priority…

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that four additional countries (Austria, Italy, Panama and Thailand) are now eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs.  Under these visa programs, American employers may bring foreign nationals to the United States for temporary work in both agricultural and specialty nonagricultural fields.  There are…

The controversial “bed mandate” by Congress requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to keep an average of 34,000 detainees per day in its custody. This quota has steadily risen since it was established by congressional directive in 2006. Officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which is charged with enforcing the mandate maintain…

For many individuals, the U-1 nonimmigrant visa (“U visa”) provides an alternative way to remain legally in the United States.  These special visas allow an individual to remain in the country if that individual is willing to assist law enforcement investigate or prosecute certain crimes.  To obtain a U visa, a person must have been…

Philadelphia immigration lawyer, Thomas M. Griffin, partner at Philadelphia’s immigration law firm of Surin & Griffin, P.C., was recently featured in Optical Realities by photojournalist Linda Panetta.  Optical Realities is a non-profit organization that uses photojournalism and educational programs to increase public awareness and encourage peace and justice throughout the world.  The group specifically advocates…