Tucked in the massive National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 was a Christmas and New Year gift for Liberians in the United States: Section 7611, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) allowing Liberian nationals, their spouses, unmarried children under 21 years old who meet eligibility requirements to apply for permanent residence. On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed it and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting applications on > Read More
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U.S. Government Shutdown and Your Legal Matters, Now What?
Shutdown What? Starting December 21, 2018, parts of the United States government have been shut down. This is due to disagreements on appropriations between President Trump and congressional leaders. The main sticking point appears to be funding for a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. During the shutdown, some federal agencies are providing skeletal service or completely shut down. For example, the following are impacted: Homeland Security, Justice, Agriculture, Treasury, Others are: > Read More
Your Family Immigration Safety Plan
With increased enforcement of immigration law in the United States of America, immigrants – both documented and undocumented are understandably concerned about themselves and their families. Though there has not been any change in law yet, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ramped up arrest and detention of immigrants at a much higher rate. Reportedly, there is also a spike in anti-immigrant sentiment in some communities across the country. To reduce the adverse impact caused by this > Read More
Lawsuits And How to Avoid Them —10 Ways How Not To Get Sued
10 ways to Protect Yourself Against Lawsuits The best protection against lawsuits in business is to practice honest business ethics, resolve complaints promptly, and follow these 10 Tips. 1. Choose the Right Business Structure to limit lawsuits. Choose a legal form of business that protects you from personal and financial liability risks. Change your form of business if you are not protected. This includes “independent contractors.” 2. Get Insurance to protect against lawsuits. Get > Read More
Drug Testing Laws in Minnesota
Many employees and employers have heard stories about drug testing on T.V. shows, movies, and other popular media. The common belief is that employers can use drug testing on employees whenever and however they so desire, and the employees have no recourse. But this is not true! Minnesota law strictly lays out when an employer may or how they can use drug testing on employees. Furthermore, Minnesota’s law covers independent contractors and employees of independent contractors. Minnesota > Read More
Pregnancy Discrimination
What Laws Protect Against Pregnancy Discrimination in Employment? Pregnancy is a normal and common experience. The humans would cease to exist without reproduction. However, pregnancy discrimination laws did not always exist. What Is Pregnancy Discrimination? Pregnancy discrimination in employment is, generally, any discrimination by an employer or failure to address any discrimination that it knew of or should have known about and includes retaliation. Pregnancy discrimination laws > Read More