n Episode 14 of Immigration in Focus, attorney Maria Aguila explains changes to public-charge screening at U.S. consulates and what USCIS letters about continual FBI biometrics monitoring mean for applicants. She also discusses reporting on religious leaders detained by ICE, skilled-worker shortages, and increased scrutiny of employment-based immigration. Learn practical steps to prepare for visa interviews, understand government notices, and protect your immigration case.

Can the government deport someone to a country that was never identified in their immigration proceedings? What should families do when a detained loved one no longer appears in ICE’s online locator?

Attorney Maria Aguila explains the September 18, 2026 First Circuit decision and recent Associated Press reporting in plain English.

In this episode:
• What third-country deportation means.
• Notice and the opportunity to raise fears of persecution or torture.
• Why the ruling does not automatically cancel removal orders.
• Why an unsuccessful locator search does not confirm deportation.
• Practical steps for gathering records and seeking help.

Florida Immigration Law Firm
Attorney Maria Aguila
Phone: 904-385-9377
Website: https://immigrationlawfla.com
Main office: Jacksonville, Florida
Satellite offices: Orlando and Tampa/St. Petersburg — by appointment.

Subscribe to Immigration in Focus for immigration news and practical explanations.

Educational information only—not individual legal advice. Court orders and government practices may change.

Reporting and court decision:
• Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/09/18/appeals-court-says-trump-administrations-third-country-deportation-policy-is-unlawful/
• Associated Press: https://apnews.com/article/ice-detainee-locator-disappear-removal-orders-c3329a70bce424879bc5880b286c019c
• First Circuit opinion: https://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/sites/ca1/files/opnfiles/26-1212P-01A.pdf

In Episode 12 of Immigration in Focus, attorney Maria Aguila explains a Fourth Circuit decision rejecting the Trump administration’s expanded mandatory detention policy and what the ruling means for bond hearings. She also breaks down new USCIS guidance for children born in the United States to foreign government employees, including citizenship questions, registration requirements, and the effect of a current federal injunction.