Unshackled #105: Laken Riley act, immigration protest & lawyer AMA!


Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE],

Happy Wednesday! ✨

Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club & co-founder of greencard.inc. :)

Conference update: We've changed the date of the Unshackled Annual Conference to August 8-9, 2025. This will be the largest conference ever hosted for high-skilled immigrants like you, bringing together 2000+ tech leaders, founders, investors, and policymakers. (We'll also have a stand-up comedian 😉) If you haven't yet, join the waitlist to be the first to secure early bird tickets!

Welcome to 420 new subscribers since last week! Now, onto the newsletter.

You're receiving this email, alongside 27,000+ immigrants, as part of the Unshackled weekly newsletter. Immigration is a complex world. So every Wednesday, I simplify that by sharing breaking news, free webinar invites, & latest trends. If you find value in reading it, share your unique referral code with a lucky friend. If this was forwarded to you, get your own here! Read all the past editions here. 💃

This week's TL;DR

📌 UNfold: Breaking news

Trump enacts Laken Riley Act to detain immigrants before conviction

Important news: President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law on January 29, 2025, advancing his administration's crackdown on illegal immigration. The bill allows federal authorities to detain migrants accused of crimes, including misdemeanors, even before they are convicted, with the potential for deportation. The law was named after Laken Riley, a nursing student who was tragically killed by an immigrant without legal status. Trump hailed the legislation as a crucial step toward curbing migrant crime, with bipartisan support for the bill. The act marks a key moment in Trump's efforts to tighten immigration policies and deport individuals who are in the U.S. illegally.

Day without immigrants’ protest lags as many can’t afford to join.

Some important news: On Monday, a "Day Without Immigrants" protest unfolded across the U.S. in response to President Trump’s strict immigration policies. Many local businesses—from daycares and grocery stores to hair salons—closed their doors to spotlight the indispensable role of immigrant workers in the community. The organizers aimed to show how these workers keep the country running, despite facing challenges every day. However, the protest saw limited participation as many workers and business owners couldn’t afford a day's loss of income.

Trump and Musk want to shut down USAID, which can affect global aid

Some sad news: USAID has been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign aid since 1961, helping provide crucial humanitarian assistance worldwide. Recently, the Trump administration froze its programs, laid off thousands, and limited funding, sparking debate over its future. Critics like Trump and Elon Musk argue that USAID’s efforts are inefficient and push political agendas, while others warn that cutting these programs could hurt vulnerable populations globally. These changes matter and they could impact international development and global security.

🎁 UNlock: Relevant resources

[Free lawyer AMA: Feb 11, 6:30 PM PST] U.S. immigration Q&A with a Lawyer [ft. Attorney Allison]

Join a free lawyer Q&A with Allison Kranz, an immigration lawyer with over 15 years of experience. Whether you have questions about the new administration, talent visas, or filing green cards, this is the place to be. This will be happening every second Tuesday of the month from 6:30 PM PST to 7:30 PM PST. RSVP to secure your spot.

[Free workshop: Feb 12, 1:30 PM PST] Workshop on turning your idea into a bestselling book [ft. Hasan Kubba]

We’re hosting an exciting event with Hasan Kubba, award-winning author of The Unfair Advantage selling 100,000+ copies in multiple languages. It led to features in BBC, Forbes, Fortune, and speaking at Google. Learn how to get published, land a book deal, and turn your expertise into a bestseller—even without a big online platform. Seats are limited, RSVP now!

[Free Guide] How to fast-track your EB-1A visa

Check out this strategic profile-building guide by Greencard Inc., which will help you understand how to meet the requirements, including the key criteria for success, how to strategically build your profile, and why the EB-1A is a powerful option in today's immigration landscape. It provides actionable steps on meeting 4-5 key criteria, investment and timeline insights, and tips on preparing a solid petition for a higher approval rate. If you're ready to take the next step in your EB-1 journey, this guide is your go-to resource.

💫 UNcover: Latest trends

🪄 UNveil: This week’s partner

Want to get a UK Global Talent Visa? Check out T1 Digital Consultants. They've successfully gotten more than 2750 endorsements over the past few years, establishing themselves as experts in the industry! The UK Global Talent Visa is one of the most flexible options to move to the UK--it doesn't require you to have a job offer; you can bring your spouse and children; and it gives you up to 5 years to live and work there (with indefinite extensions). T1 Digital provides end-to-end support—from detailed application insights to post-approval follow-ups and settling-in advice. Book a free 1:1 consult with T1 Digital to kickoff your application!

👉 Want to put yourself in front of 27,000+ high-skilled immigrants? Just hit reply to start a conversation.

⚖️ UNshackle: Consult with a lawyer

Finding a trusted, vetted lawyer is hard. We've done the hard work by curating a list of 8 top attorneys we recommend consulting with. Whether you're looking for an EB-1A profile evaluation or to set up your business as a student, this is for you. Book a consultation today!

Are you an EB-1/NIW/O-1 aspirant? Join our flagship course for $299 taught by an attorney.

We've launched three flagship courses consisting of 60+ in-depth modules that walk through every step of filing and getting an EB-1A, NIW, and O-1A. Don't worry though—there's little legal jargon. This is for you if you want to escape the H-1B lottery or the 100-year green card backlog and secure your future in America based on merit. Click here to join for $299 today. 🚀

Until next week, stay fantastic.

Yours truly,

Soundarya 💚

💡 None of the information shared in this newsletter is meant to be legal advice. If you're looking for legal advice, speak to a lawyer or visit the Unshackled lawyer directory with vetted lawyer recommendations.

💝 Refer & get rewarded!

Refer friends & unlock a book, iWatch, or Mac!

Share the ONLY newsletter read by 27,000+
high-skilled immigrants in America.
Step 1: Send the link below to an immigrant friend.
Step 2: They sign up.
Step 3: Unlock rewards. 💃

[RH_REFLINK_2 GOES HERE]

Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Telegram Linkedin Email

Psst! You have referred [RH_TOTREF_2 GOES HERE] people so far 👀

DO NOT CLICK the unsubscribe below as it will unsubscribe you from everything, forever. Instead, click here to unsubscribe from our weekly newsletter.

To change your email or preferences manage your profile.

To unsubscribe from everything forever, click here.

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205

Don’t waste your time and money trying to keep up with U.S. immigration.

Join 25000+ immigrants who get a careful curation of breaking news, free webinar invites & latest trends on immigration every week. (5 min/week)

Read more from Don’t waste your time and money trying to keep up with U.S. immigration.

Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE], Happy Wednesday! ✨ Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club & co-founder of greencard.inc. :) Exciting update: We're kicking off a new initiative at Unshackled to connect our community members with startups and nonprofits for pro-bono consulting. You can contribute your time to support a project (e.g. publishing a white paper, building an AI agent) in exchange for a letter of recommendation that helps you with your talent visa journey! If you're a...

Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE], Happy Wednesday! ✨ Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club & co-founder of greencard.inc. :) Exciting update: The Unshackled Marketplace is officially live! 🎉 This is a carefully curated hub of trusted services designed to guide your talent visa journey. Whether you need expert opinion writers, immigration attorneys, media specialists, or recommendation letter guidance, every vendor is thoroughly vetted for quality and reliability. With everything you...

Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE], Happy Wednesday! ✨ Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club & co-founder of greencard.inc. :) Exciting update: We're hosting a free monthly series of in-person meetups starting in February. Join us for the founders & entrepreneurs meetup in the Bay Area on February 28th at 6:00 PM PST. This event is hosted by RK, founder of Greencard Inc and EB-1A and O-1A visa holder. Light refreshments will be served, and spots are limited—don’t miss out! RSVP now for...