ASISTA Weighs in on Barriers to Benefits for Immigrant Survivors (Oct. 18, 2021)

On October 18, 2021, ASISTA submitted a comment to DOS in response to a Request for Public Input identifying barriers that impede access to immigration benefits, fair and efficient adjudications of these benefits, and recommendations on how to remove these barriers. We focused our comment on the challenges immigrant survivors and their derivatives face when consular processing. Thank you to our…

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Afghanistan Resources

ASISTA does not provide direct legal services. However, we compiled some resources and we hope the information below, with associated links, will be helpful. Staring Monday, September 13, 2021, the Tahirih Justice Center’s Afghan Asylum Project will provide information, referrals, and asylum legal screenings for Afghan citizens who recently arrived in the U.S. through our…

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In Case You Missed It (ICYMI): August 24, 2021

As usual, there have been several important policy and practice updates over the last few weeks. From a new ICE directive on victim-centered approaches, to litigation updates, new calls for examples and stakeholder engagements. Read more about some of these updates in our latest edition of ICYMI here.

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New ASISTA Policy Alert, Q&A on ICE Directive: Using a Victim-Centered Approach with Noncitizen Crime Victims (Current as of August 23, 2021)

On August 10, 2021, ICE issued a new agency directive superseding guidance from 2019 regarding stay of removal requests and removal proceedings involving U visa petitioners (hereinafter “Directive”). The Directive outlines new policies and procedures regarding exercising prosecutorial discretion for victims of crime, including those eligible for victim-based immigration relief (including VAWA self-petitions, U and…

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ICYMI – Important Policy & Practice Updates, June 2021

June 2021 ICYMI As usual, there have been several policy and practice updates over the last few weeks, from new ICE guidance, Supreme Court decisions, a flurry of new updates from USCIS, some important consular processing information from NVC and a consolidated guide on CDC COVID travel restriction exemptions from CBP. Read more about these…

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ASISTA Statement on New Path to Work Authorization for U visa petitioners

June 14, 2021 ASISTA applauds USCIS’s policy alert announcing work authorization for U visa petitioners who present a bona fide case. This policy will help alleviate the myriad barriers that victims and their families face as a result of the significant processing delays in the U visa program.  Currently there are nearly 270,000 individuals with…

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WMC News & Features: Will Biden Create More Humane Immigration Policies? (April 9, 2021)

Cruel immigration policies were a hallmark of the Trump presidency. From the “Muslim ban” in his earliest days in office to family separation, the Trump administration made over 1,000 immigration policy changes, creating a largely hostile and unwelcoming reception for refugees and asylum seekers fleeing danger and economic hardship and instilling fear in immigrants residing…

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ASISTA Denounces Racism, Misogyny, and Violence

In the wake of the killing of eight people in Georgia earlier this week, we at ASISTA are heartbroken and determined as ever to fight the toxic combination of white supremacy and misogyny that fuels this violence. Eight lives were tragically and violently taken, of whom seven were women and six were of Asian descent.…

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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…

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Philadelphia 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…

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ICYMI: 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…

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ICYMI: Legislative and Administrative Updates

Dear partners,  The Biden-Harris Administration has already introduced important immigration policy reforms, including efforts that enhance protections for immigrant survivors. ASISTA welcomes these efforts, and we will be there each step of the way to help ensure a safer and more just America for survivors and for all immigrants. We are committed, as always, to keeping you informed…

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