This sponsored column is by Law Office of James Montana PLLC. All questions about it should be directed to James Montana, Esq., Janice Chen, Esq., and Victoria Khaydar, Esq., practicing attorneys at The Law Office of James Montana PLLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Falls Church, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact us for an appointment.
The government likes to release unpopular items on Friday afternoons, and, when the government has something really unpopular to say, the Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend is considered ideal. Last Friday, before the Memorial Day weekend, USCIS published a truly incredible policy reversal – PM 602-0199 (the “May 21 Memo”), which purports to upend the ability of most foreigners to apply for green cards from within the United States. DHS and USCIS’s respective public messaging on the memorandum is clear but wrong. The memorandum was more nuanced, but still, in our view, deeply misleading. The purpose of this advertorial is to explain what happened, why it matters, and offer some predictions about how this unforced error is going to be resolved.
First, here’s what DHS and USCIS said about their own memo.
What do these press releases mean? They mean to highlight the following distinction: some people apply for a green card from inside the United States, at USCIS field offices; others apply for a green card from outside the United States, at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad. Per both press releases, nearly everyone who applies from inside the U.S. is ineligible to become a lawful permanent resident. Almost everyone who applies for a green card should do so via U.S. Embassies and consulates abroad.
That might seem reasonable, and, ex ante, it could be, if our laws and institutions were set up properly. There are, unfortunately, a few problems with this new policy position, both practical and legal. (more…)
There’s still time to register for tomorrow’s free workshop with ARLnow real estate columnist Eli Tucker.
The event runs from 6-7:30 p.m. at Arlington Central Library’s Bluemont Room, with Eli available starting at 5:30 p.m. for one-on-one questions. Food and drinks will be provided.
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Arlington Independent Media staff at work in earlier times (via Arlington County)
Arlington Independent Media now has new board of directors and the outlines of a battle plan to bring itself back from the brink of extinction.
“We’re not giving up the ghost,” the organization’s outgoing secretary, Claire Seaton, said at the end of AIM’s annual membership meeting, held Sunday (Oct. 27).
Equality Arlington and the National Landing BID are co-sponsoring a LGBTQ+ movie screening on Saturday, June 6 beginning at 3 PM at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema followed by a Pride Month Party at National Landing Water Park from 6-9 PM. Both events are free and first come, first serve (although we encourage you to RSVP to help us prepare) and open to all. Learn more at equalityarlington.org/events.
Saturday, June 6th: 3 PM – 5:20 PM – Screening of “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar” at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Crystal City (1660 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202).
The Old Glebe Road bridge over N. Glebe Road (via VDOT)
A public hearing on plans to replace a 60-year-old bridge over N. Glebe Road is happening tonight.
The Virginia Department of Transportation plans to rebuild the Old Glebe Road bridge, just up the hill from Chain Bridge, with a wider sidewalk on the eastern side and an additional sidewalk on the western side.
Halloween display on 24th Street S. in Aurora Highlands (Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar)
Uncertain Future for Courthouse Building — “The Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. is looking to short sell a mostly empty office building it owns in Arlington’s Courthouse, billing it as residential or hotel redevelopment opportunity. MetLife’s building at 1320 N. Courthouse Road, a block south of the Courthouse Metro station and catty-cornered to the county courthouse and jail, is currently 18% leased to three tenants.” [WBJ]
Marine Corps Marathon Recap — “Marine Major Kyle King claimed victory with a finish time of 2:25:06, outpacing 16,556 other racers. This will be King’s second time winning the men’s MCM, after his first triumph in 2022. Arlington-native Tessa Barrett, won the women’s MCM with a finish time of 2:39:36, vanquishing 6,214 other female competitors.” [Stars and Stripes]
Another Gun Stopped at DCA — “Transportation Security Administration officers prevented an Arkansas woman from bringing a loaded gun onto a plane leaving Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday. TSA officers found the 22 caliber firearm loaded with five bullets in the traveler’s carry-on items at one of the airport’s security checkpoints.” [Patch]
Local Woman’s Long Bike Journey — “Meet Miranda Baltaxe, a recent college graduate and native of Arlington, Virginia, in the midst on an incredible journey from Maine, to Key West on the East Coast Greenway route.” [Twitter, YouTube]
Thirsty Bat Rescued — From the Animal Welfare League of Arlington: “This handsome Eastern Red Bat was rescued this week after he was found a bit dehydrated. Thanks to one of our amazing rehabbers he’s getting some much-needed hydration and rest.” [Twitter]
Arlington ‘Tomb Raiders’ — “In late October 1976, police discovered a gruesome scene inside the Abbey Mausoleum, a once grand burial place next to Arlington National Cemetery. Vandals had tampered with a dozen caskets and 15 urns, placing a copy of Circus (a now-defunct music magazine) into one opened coffin. In the gray cremains from an overturned urn, someone had drawn a smiley face. It wouldn’t be the tomb’s only raid. ” [Arlington Magazine]
Funding for Ballston Tech Co. — “Interos Inc., an Arlington tech firm that helps companies monitor and respond to supply chain threats, has obtained $40 million in new funding to expand product capabilities following several executive leadership appointments.” [WBJ]
Funding for Another Local Startup — “Fixify, an Arlington startup automating IT help desk jobs for companies with up to 2,000 employees, has raised $25 million from investors and will use a chunk of the proceeds to beef up its sales team.” [WBJ]
More Arlington Tech News — “CoStar Group, the Arlington-based provider of online real estate marketplaces… said it will acquire New Jersey-based Visual Lease, the developer of a software platform for lease management… …Arlington-based FU Associates, a provider of analytic and technology services to government health clients, said it has rebranded as Inclined.” [Potomac Tech Wire]
No Charges for Fmr. F.C. Official — “The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington-Falls Church announced it is declining to… seek charges against former City of Falls Church Council member Caroline Lian. Because the instructions on the Virginia Economic Interest Disclosure are ambiguous and subject to interpretation, the Office has determined… that there is no good faith basis for criminal charges.” [Falls Church News-Press]
It’s Monday — Patchy frost will clear up by 9am, making way for sunny skies and a high of around 63°F. Expect a 5-7 mph southeast wind in the afternoon. Monday night will see partly cloudy conditions and a low near 44°F. [NWS]
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O'Connell's Graham Deaton prepares to hand off to Doug O'Donnell (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)
Leading in the second half, there was a chance the Bishop O’Connell Knights might have ended their nagging, three-season-long losing streak against conference football rivals.
But it didn’t happen. The host Knights (1-7, 0-2) lost to the Carroll Lions, 34-17, Oct. 26 in a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Metro Division high-school game, its ninth straight league setback.
Most people who try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu say they wish they’d started sooner. Today is the day to begin. Almost everyone walks in for the first time unsure of what to expect. The coaches and students at EvolveAll remember that feeling well and they’re there to guide you through it.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art focused on ground fighting and submission grappling. Sparring at EvolveAll happens every class, with real intensity. Every roll is a live, resistance-based puzzle with a training partner. EvolveAll is not a competition school. Instead, they’re focused on the growth and development of each person on the mat.