Resources

Client Alerts, News Articles, Blog Posts, & Multimedia

Everything you need to know about BMD and the industry.

Update on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti and Related Countries

Client Alert

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an important update on July 10, 2026, regarding Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries from Haiti and several other countries.

Current Status:

  • Haiti: TPS designation and related benefits remain in effect pursuant to a District Court order, until July 24, 2026. EAD documents, otherwise known as work authorization, for categories A12 or C19 with prior expiration dates are automatically extended through July 24, 2026.
  • Haitian natives with EAD documents issued in a different category should consult with an immigration attorney.
  • Other Countries (Burma/Myanmar, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Ethiopia, and South Sudan): EADs are extended through July 17, 2026.

These are short-term administrative extensions following the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 25, 2026 decision in Mullin v. Doe. The situation remains confusing, and new court decisions continue to try to limit the TPS termination. USCIS has indicated that TPS beneficiaries will keep their status and work authorization during this period, but further changes are likely.

Employers and TPS beneficiaries should check EAD expiration dates and categories and continue monitoring the official USCIS SAVE page and the specific pages for other countries for the latest developments. Employers should accept the extended EADs for Form I-9 and E-Verify purposes.

We are closely following this matter and will provide further updates as new information becomes available.

TPS recipients may have other immigration benefit options. Anyone losing TPS should consult with an immigration attorney immediately.

If you have questions about how these developments may affect your business or immigration status, contact BMD Member Rob Ratliff at raratliff@bmdllc.com.


UPDATE: Governor Dewine Signs HB 606 Granting Short Window of Immunity from COVID-19 Personal Injury Lawsuits

The Ohio General Assembly, in Am. Sub. H.B. No. 606, is in the final stages of passing a law that will prohibit lawsuits seeking damages from COVID-19. This includes injury, death, or loss to person or property if the lawsuits are based, in whole or in part, on the exposure to, or the transmission or contraction of the coronavirus, unless the defendant in the lawsuit acted intentionally or recklessly. In circumstances where this immunity does not apply, H.B. 606 prohibits such claims being aggregated and brought as a class action.

Revised Department of Labor FFCRA Guidance, Effective September 16, 2020

In response to attacks on the legality of the Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) Final Rule regarding the Families First Coronavirus Act (“FFCRA” or the “Act”), which took effect in April 2020, the Department of Labor issued new guidance on Friday, September 11th to formally address ongoing questions and concerns related to the COVID-19 legislation.

FCC Adds $198 Million to Strengthen Telehealth for Rural Healthcare Providers

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has added an additional $198 million in funding to its Rural Health Care Program. These funds will be used to increase broadband services and telecommunications to bolster telehealth/telemedicine services for rural healthcare providers. Funding for rural healthcare providers was initially capped at $605 million in 2020, but the added funds will now allow the FCC to provide over $800 million to eligible providers.

Finding Opportunity in Adversity: Optimism for the Construction Industry

Looking for good news? If so, you are not alone. Aside from the collective mental, physical and emotional human toll imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, entire sectors of the economy have been ravaged, and old, familiar ways of doing business have been disrupted. Although deemed essential, the construction industry has not been immune to interruption and uncertainty during these unprecedented times. Amid new health and safety concerns, coupled with financial uncertainty, progress on projects has slowed, and the start dates for a number of new projects slated to begin in 2020 have been deferred. However, resilience has always been a trademark of contractors, subcontractors and other industry professionals. Reports indicate that while the construction industry lost more than one million jobs February through April, at least 600,000 of those jobs had been gained back by the end of June.

Yard Sign Do’s and Don’ts: How to Avoid Legal Challenges to Municipal Sign Codes this Election Season

As the nation heads into the tail end of the 2020 general election, municipalities will inevitably face challenges as they seek to regulate the seasonal proliferation of yard signs on residential property. While the matter may seem trifling, a seemingly benign yet content-based sign ordinance can result in significant legal exposure for municipalities that have not heeded recent Supreme Court decisions on content neutrality.