A week with Al Otro Lado

by Cecelia Friedman Levin, Senior Policy Counsel I just returned from volunteering with the Border Rights Project at Al Otro Lado in Tijuana, Mexico.  At the end of each day, volunteers often shared their “highs and lows” of what they experienced during the day.  In that spirit, I share my own. Lows: The inhumane, unlawful and shameful treatment…

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Fee Waiver Case Collection

ASISTA is collecting stories where fee waivers for applications related to VAWA self-petitions, U visas, T visas, SIJS and other humanitarian protections have been denied, including motions to reopen/reconsider and appeals.  This is the first in a series of data collection tools ASISTA is releasing to strengthen our advocacy efforts and to demonstrate the numerous…

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ASISTA Statement on Updated USCIS Guidance

New USCIS Guidance will create a chilling effect on survivors coming forward to access protection.  Yesterday, USCIS released Updated Guidance for the Referral of Cases and Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens (Updated NTA memo) which vastly expands the circumstances in which USCIS will issue NTAs or refer cases to ICE. …

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