Posts by Ahlam Moussa
ICYMI: Important Policy & ASISTA Updates
As usual, there have been several policy updates over the last few weeks, from the rescission of the immigrant travel ban impacting family, employment and diversity visas to the Supreme Court’s decision to take up the public charge rule. Here are some other important policy updates and news from ASISTA. U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 & Its Impact on…
Read MorePhiladelphia Inquirer Article on the U Visa Backlog
ASISTA’s own Amy Cheung weighing in on the heavy backlog with the U Visa program which Congress created to strengthen the ability of police agencies to investigate and prosecute violent crimes like domestic & sexual assault. “Biden’s plan to raise the cap to 30,000 is a promising start but given the immense backlog, there is still more…
Read MoreICYMI: Important Policy & ASISTA Updates
As usual, there have been many immigration policy updates this past week. Please see below for a brief summary of a few of those updates, as well as some upcoming ASISTA events. Flexibility in Deadline Extension Challenges to Enforcement Executive Order New Circuit Decisions ASISTA joins Important Amicus Efforts New ASISTA Training! Flexibility in Deadline Extension Last…
Read MoreICYMI (In Case You Missed It): Sharing Important Policy Updates
A lot has happened in the past week! We’ve compiled a short list of important updates to help you keep track. Expansion of Filing Flexibility Important Update on Blank Space Policy Litigation Policy Manual Changes EOIR Comment Opportunities-deadlines December 28th Issuance of Final Regulations on Asylum, Admin Closure, and more 1. Expansion of Filing Flexibility: On December 18, USCIS…
Read MoreImmigration Attorney & ASISTA Board Member Leta Sanchez: The importance of the work we do together.
(Please know the video does discuss an episode of violence.)
Read MoreLook what you helped us do!
Look what you helped us do!
Read MoreLegal Remedies for Immigrant Survivors: Introductory Seminar Series – Dec 2 & 3, 2020
Post-Election Greetings from our New Executive Director
Greetings from ASISTA’s new Executive Director Kirsten Rambo!
Read MoreASISTA Announces New Executive Director
The Board of Directors of ASISTA Immigration Assistance is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Kirsten Rambo as Executive Director, effective October 5, 2020. See statement here!
Read MoreASISTA statement on Medical Abuse and Neglect in Immigration Detention
ASISTA, like you, is horrified at the allegations of medical abuse and neglect inflicted on women in immigration custody. As we support our partners in ensuring that these atrocities are investigated immediately, we are grateful for the relentless work of these organizations on the ground: Project South, Georgia Detention Watch, Georgia Latino Alliance for Human…
Read MoreEl Diario de El Paso Article on the sexual assault of immigrant victims and harassment by guards at an ICE detention facility in El Paso.
We stand with ASISTA member organization, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, as they advocate for immigrant victims of sexual assault and harassment by guards at an ICE detention facility in El Paso. Laura Flores Bachman, Senior Legal Counsel with ASISTA, was quoted in this article about these heinous acts, “We believe sexual assaults in ICE facilities…
Read MoreNewsy Article on how USCIS is Rejecting Applications with Blank Spaces
ASISTA Policy Director Cecelia Friedman Levin weighing in, “We’re calling for a way that when these sorts of policy changes occur, that people are informed [and that] any changes in these processes don’t impact due process”. See article here.
Read MoreWaPo Article on USCIS’ Harmful Policy of Rejecting Applications for Blank Fields
ASISTA Policy Director Cecelia Friedman Levin weighs in on this harmful processing policy and how USCIS is egregiously limiting immigration relief for vulnerable applicants through needless red tape. See article here
Read MoreNew Report by ASISTA and ILRC – In Harm’s Way: The Impact of President Trump’s Actions on Immigrant Survivors of Gender Based Violence
Check out this report from ASISTA and Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) examining Trump’s harmful immigration policies and the impacts they are having on survivors of gender-based violence.
Read MoreASISTA Press Release: ASISTA Files FOIA Lawsuit Demanding Information about USCIS’s Use of Discretion in Green Card Applications for Crime Victims
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19 2020 Contact: Ahlam Moussa On Thursday, April 30, ASISTA and the Immigration Center for Women and Children (ICWC) filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of California demanding that USCIS and DHS disclose information requested related to their exercise of discretion in adjudicating adjustment of status (green card) applications by crime victims…
Read MoreOne Training, 2 locations – From RFE to Federal Court: Latest Strategies in Defending Survivors – May 14, 2020 in Detroit, MI and June 16, 2020 in San Diego, CA
May 14th, 2020 in Detroit, MI (before the FBA conference) REGISTER NOW for Detroit! & June 16th, 2020 in San Diego, CA (before the AILA conference) REGISTER NOW for San Diego! __________________________________________________________________________ Join ASISTA for a one-day training where we will discuss administrative, judicial, and collaborative strategies for protecting immigrant survivors of violence in light of the current…
Read MoreHernandez v. Mesa Ruling
The Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in Hernandez v. Mesa this week is inhumane and unjust. The decision insulates a border guard who shot and killed a child on Mexican soil. With numerous other groups advancing the rights of survivors, ASISTA filed an amicus brief highlighting the problem of sexual assaults committed by federal officers and…
Read MoreASISTA Press Release: ASISTA Files Lawsuit Challenging Harmful ICE Policies Which Put Victims of Crime at Higher Risk of Removal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 13, 2020 Contact: Ahlam Moussa, ahlam@asistahelp.org Changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy were announced August 2, 2019 that create significant additional barriers for victims of crime who cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of their crimes. ASISTA, represented by Protect Democracy and the Constitutional Accountability Center, filed suit today…
Read MoreImmigrant Survivors are being scared into silence
“I’ve been working in immigration rights since the 1980s and I’ve never seen this level of antagonism toward immigrants and women.” In this article, ASISTA Executive Director, Gail Pendleton talks about how immigrant survivors are being scared into silence, and how to find help before you need it. https://www.domesticshelters.org/articles/in-the-news/when-fighting-abuse-could-lead-to-deportation
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