News & Updates
Brief of Amici Curiae ASISTA Immigration Assistance, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, Esperanza United, and Tahirih Justice Center in support of the BIA’s consideration of the impacts of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or other forms of gender-based violence when determining whether to grant and untimely motion to reopen premised on a vacatur…
Read MoreOn April 20, 2022, ASISTA submitted this comment in response to the “Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without a Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Petition To Remove the Conditions on Residence,” initially published in the Federal Register on October 15, 20211 and reopened for 30 days for additional public comments on March 21, 2022.
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On March 16, 2022, ASISTA was at the White House for the commemoration of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Click here for more on this, including the latest version of of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022.
Read MoreClick here to access ASISTA’s full comment on USCIS Policy Manual Changes: Volume 3: Humanitarian Protection and Parole, Part D, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
Read MoreASISTA Immigration Assistance is thrilled to welcome new Legal & Policy Director Cristina Velez to the team. Click here to learn more!
Read MoreNew Blueprint Analyzes Year-One Actions and Outlines Critical, Immediate 2022 Measures to Fulfill Administration’s Promises for a Fair and Humane Immigration System. See ASISTA’s full statement here.
Read MoreYesterday, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022. This important bill reflects a bipartisan consensus that the government needs to do more to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. The bill addresses many…
Read MoreASISTA and other amici filed this brief regarding USCIS’s unreasonable delay in adjudicating U visa work authorization requests. Amici were represented pro bono by Nathan Warecki, Brianna Nassif, Lauren Maynard, and Myra Benjamin from Nixon Peabody. Click here to access the amicus brief.
Read MoreASISTA Immigration Assistance is thrilled to welcome two new staff attorneys to the team. Lia will be working primarily with our private members, while Kelly will be working mainly with OVW grantees. Click here to learn more!
Read MoreASISTA Immigration Assistance is thrilled to welcome new board member Jennifer de Haro to the team. To learn more about Jennifer, click here!
Read MoreASISTA and CAST developed this advisory to highlight significant changes to the T visa section of the USCIS Policy Manual that went into effect on October 20, 2021. Changes include: Additional guidance on the intersections between trafficking/domestic violence and trafficking/smuggling; Physical presence on account of trafficking; Extended work authorization when filing a timely I-485 under…
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Check out ASISTA Executive Director, Kirsten Rambo and Senior Legal Counsel, Amy Cheung on the Immigrants Path Podcast! The Humanitarians: Enabling Justice for Immigrant Survivors of Violence: https://youtu.be/FYHiDunrW8M
Read MoreOn 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…
Read MoreOn October 4, 2021, ASISTA hosted a White House Listening Session to share insights and recommendations to the White House as they develop the U.S.’s first National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence. Click here to access the session recording & here to access the presentation materials.
Read MoreASISTA is proud to report that our litigation against ICE has come to a successful resolution. The case was brought by Protect Democracy and the Constitutional Accountability Center on behalf of ASISTA and Sanctuary for Families. The litigation challenged the unlawful policy, established by then-acting director of ICE Matthew Albence, that made it easier to deport…
Read MoreASISTA 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…
Read MoreAs 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.
Read MoreOn 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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