Managing Partner Ellen Freeman regularly acts as an expert contributor for local and national news outlets. See below for recent articles featuring Ellen:
Ukrainian family in Fort Myers faces uncertain future as immigration protections near expiration (Gulf Coast News Fort Myers)
September 8, 2026
[…] Ukrainian immigration attorney Ellen Freeman explained that there are limited paths for Ukrainians to obtain a green card, and sponsorship by a citizen family member could take years. However, she said Ukrainians on TPS could have more time.
“Because the administration didn’t make any announcement about the Ukrainian status and it’s set to expire, the TPS is set to expire on October 19th. It’s automatically extended for extra six months,” Freeman said about the statute outlining TPS rules. “It should be the Secretary of Homeland Security who must make an announcement, as we remember, as Kristi Noem was doing. They’re constantly too busy. Something else comes on their list as a priority. So, they missed the 60-day deadline.” […]
New visa rules to go into effect for international students (The Pitt News)
September 1, 2026
[…] Ellen Freeman, founder and managing partner for the Ellen Freeman Immigration Law Group in Pittsburgh, said she believes the new regulations aim to eliminate foreign students from the U.S. She hopes the rules get restricted by a court order. Eight organizations sued the DHS in August over the rule.
“But if it doesn’t get enjoined, it’s going to tremendously decrease the number of foreign students in the United States and make their lives here pretty miserable,” Freeman said.
Freeman believes the possible decrease in international students will create economic challenges for universities across the country. Universities across the U.S. are economically supported by international student populations.
“Foreign students pay full tuition, so they support U.S. students who receive scholarships. Those students will not be able to come to college,” Freeman said.
Freeman said the four years limit will hold international students to a stricter standard. She is concerned that under the new constraints, international students will not be able to have a mental breakdown, get sick and miss a semester or have to travel back home for an emergency.
“They will not be allowed to take more time for whatever reason that is, ” Freeman said.
With the new four year period, international students will also be required to complete an extension of stay applications, if they plan to stay in the U.S longer than four years. Filing for an extension of stay form is not easy to figure out individually, according to Freeman.
The processing times for an extension of stay application can take as long as 15 months, and currently, there is no premium processing or expedited processing associated with that, according to Freeman.
“It’s really complicated. It’s not something that is designed to be done by individuals,” Freeman said. […]
