Posts by Maria Lazzarino
Safe Horizon and ASISTA File FOIA Request Seeking Immigration Policy Data Related to U-Visa Adjudications
(New York, February 25, 2020) – Safe Horizon and ASISTA have filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for immigration policy data on the adjudication of U-visa petitions and adjustment of status (permanent residence) applications for those granted U visa status. U visas were created…
Read MoreALERT: ASISTA submits Amicus on Erosion of Continuances and Admin Closure for Survivors of Violence
Yesterday, ASISTA, along with our partners, submitted an amicus brief challenging EOIR’s erosion of docketing tools like continuances and administrative closures. This errosion results in limiting access to critical immigration relief for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and other serious crimes. ASISTA was joined in this brief by American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence (API-GBV), National Immigrant Justice…
Read MoreASISTA Practice Advisory: The Impact of Matter of Mayen, 27 I&N 755 (BIA 2020)
ASISTA has developed this Practice Advisory: The Impact of Matter of Mayen, 27 I&N 755 (BIA 2020), which provides a detailed overview of provisions in this precedential decision, discusses its intersection with other BIA decisions on continuances, and provides best practices for requesting continuances for U visa applicants in removal proceedings. We’ve also summarized our key…
Read MoreAmicus Brief VAWA Joint Residence (December 27, 2019)
This amicus brief, submitted to the Southern District of Florida, addresses USCIS’s requirement that self-petitioners show shared residence with their abuser during the marriage. With deep gratitude to Prof. Rebecca Sharpless and law students Meredith Hoffman and Olivia Parise from the University of Miami School of Law’s Immigration Clinic for their hard work on this…
Read MoreGood News from the 9th Circuit on the reviewability of U visa denials!
On Friday November 22, 2019, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals published a decision reversing the district court’s dismissal of a suit challenging a U visa petition denial for lack of jurisdiction. The panel held that § 701(a)(2) of the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”) and 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(ii) do not bar judicial review of…
Read MorePractice Pointer: What to Do If CBP Fails to Issue I-94 or Stamp Passport for U Nonimmigrant (December 2019)
This practice pointer provides tips to ensure that your U nonimmigrant clients who are seeking admission at a port-of-entry receive an I-94 and passport stamp and to remedy situations in which CBP has failed to issue the I-94 or passport stamp.
Read MoreASISTA Practice Pointer: Assessing whether to file a U Visa Petition for Victims at Risk of Removal (November 2019)
This practice advisory provides practitioners a road map for assessing a U Visa petitioner’s potential risk of removal. Copyright @2019 by ASISTA Immigration Assistance. All rights reserved. This product or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used without express written permission from ASISTA Immigration Assistance.
Read MoreAmicus Briefs filed at the 9th and the BIA on Sanchez-Sosa (July/November, 2019)
Many thanks to fellow authors: Nareeneh Sohbatian from Winston & Strawn LA, and Brigit Greeson Alvarez and Victoria Bonds (intern extraordinaire) from LAFLA. Click here for amicus filed at the 9th Circuit, and click here for amicus filed at the BIA. To download the briefs in Word version, click here for 9th circuit brief, and…
Read MoreASISTA Practice Pointer: CBP Transfer Notices for U Visa Petitions (November 2019)
Have you received a notice from USCIS stating that your U visa case has been transferred to a CBP office or local field office? This Practice Pointer explains that these notices were issued in error and how you can determine where your case is located.
Read MoreASISTA Breaking News! April 2019
Exciting times at ASISTA! Read here for important news and updates.
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