News & Updates

BIA Amicus Brief of Motions to Reopen Based on Criminal Vacatur (April 27, 2022)

By Maria Lazzarino | May 4, 2022 |

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…

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ASISTA’s comment on the I-751 (April 20, 2022)

By Maria Lazzarino | Apr 21, 2022 |

On 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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ASISTA at the White House Commemorating VAWA Reauthorization

By Ahlam Moussa | Mar 25, 2022 |

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.

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Comment on 3 USCIS-PM D, Violence Against Women Act (March 10, 2022)

By Maria Lazzarino | Mar 11, 2022 |

Click 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).

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ASISTA Announces New Legal & Policy Director

By Ahlam Moussa | Mar 11, 2022 |

ASISTA Immigration Assistance is thrilled to welcome new Legal & Policy Director Cristina Velez to the team. Click here to learn more!

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NEW: Ahead of SOTU, ASISTA and 26 other Immigrant Rights Organizations Release 2022 Immigration Priorities for the Biden-Harris Administration

By Ahlam Moussa | Mar 1, 2022 |

New 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. 

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Statement on the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 February 10, 2022

By Ahlam Moussa | Feb 10, 2022 |

Yesterday, 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…

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Amicus Brief in V.U.C., et al. v. USCIS (1st Circuit)(Dec. 8, 2021)

By Maria Lazzarino | Jan 18, 2022 |

ASISTA 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.

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ASISTA Announces New Staff Attorneys

By Ahlam Moussa | Jan 18, 2022 |

ASISTA 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!

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ASISTA Welcomes New Board Member

By Ahlam Moussa | Jan 18, 2022 |

ASISTA Immigration Assistance is thrilled to welcome new board member Jennifer de Haro to the team. To learn more about Jennifer, click here!

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Advisory on new T Visa sections of the USCIS Policy Manual (November 2021)

By Maria Lazzarino | Dec 7, 2021 |

ASISTA 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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ASISTA this past year!

By Ahlam Moussa | Nov 22, 2021 |

Check out ASISTA’s impact this past year. So much to celebrate!

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IT IS THE TIME …

By Maria Lazzarino | Nov 19, 2021 |
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Immigrants Path Podcast – The Humanitarians: Enabling Justice for Immigrant Survivors of Violence

By Ahlam Moussa | Nov 9, 2021 |

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

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

By Maria Lazzarino | Oct 21, 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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The ASISTA’s White House Listening Session recording is now available!

By Maria Lazzarino | Oct 14, 2021 | Comments Off on The ASISTA’s White House Listening Session recording is now available!

On 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. 

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ASISTA Announces Successful Resolution of Albence Litigation

By Ahlam Moussa | Sep 22, 2021 |

ASISTA 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…

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Afghanistan Resources

By Maria Lazzarino | Aug 26, 2021 |

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

By Maria Lazzarino | Aug 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)

By Maria Lazzarino | Aug 24, 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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