News & Updates

ASISTA Job Opportunity

By Maria Lazzarino | Aug 9, 2021 |

Position Description: Legal & Policy Director (Full-Time)

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Albence Practice Advisory: Stay Extended through July 2, 2021

By Maria Lazzarino | Jun 22, 2021 | Comments Off on Albence Practice Advisory: Stay Extended through July 2, 2021

The stay in ASISTA v. Johnson (formerly known as ASISTA v. Albence) has been extended through July 2, 2021 while the parties continue discussions regarding an additional 90 day stay. Our practice advisory has been updated accordingly. 

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ICYMI – Important Policy & Practice Updates, June 2021

By Ahlam Moussa | Jun 18, 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

By Admin | Jun 14, 2021 |

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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Updated Practice Alert Regarding Certain U and T After-Acquired Cases (June 11, 2021)

By Maria Lazzarino | Jun 11, 2021 | Comments Off on Updated Practice Alert Regarding Certain U and T After-Acquired Cases (June 11, 2021)

The Ninth Circuit’s decision in Medina Tovar became final on May 2, 2021. The Court held that after-acquired spouses of U visa petitioners are eligible to “accompany or follow to join” the U-1 petitioner through the I-918A petitioning process. ASISTA, CLINIC & ILRC’s new Practice Alert includes the latest information on how and when to file…

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105 Organizations Call on Senate to Strengthen Protections for Immigrant Survivors in VAWA 2021

By Admin | Jun 4, 2021 |

Last month, the Alliance for Immigrant Survivors (AIS) sent a letter signed by 105 organizations to Senate leadership to strengthen protections for immigrant survivors in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 2021. For over 25 years, VAWA has served as a rare example of how a bipartisan Congress can protect survivors and strengthen their ability…

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It’s Time for a #MeToo Reckoning in Immigration (April 26, 2021)

By Maria Lazzarino | Apr 26, 2021 | Comments Off on It’s Time for a #MeToo Reckoning in Immigration (April 26, 2021)

ASISTA Senior Policy Counsel Amy Cheung in Ms. More Than A Magazine, A Movement, weighting in the article “Abuse exists across many industries and institutions, and low-income people of color are particularly vulnerable. This is especially true in the context of immigration”. Read here the full article.

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

By Maria Lazzarino | Apr 16, 2021 | Comments Off on 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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Notes from Listening Session with USCIS

By Admin | Apr 15, 2021 |

On April 6, 2021, ASISTA hosted a listening session with USCIS representatives regarding recent trends and issues with fee waiver adjudications related to survivor-based protections including VAWA self-petitions, U and T visa relief. The notes from that listening session can be found below. If you continue to face additional problems with fee waiver adjudications, please…

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Update: FOIA Production on Fee Waiver Policy & Practice

By Admin | Apr 5, 2021 |

In January 2019, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on behalf of Grassroots Leadership requesting information on fee waiver adjudication policies and procedures for VAWA self-petitions, T visa and U visa Humanitarian programs.   Due to a lack of response, Grassroots Leadership, represented by TRLA, was a plaintiff in…

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Litigation update in ASISTA v. Albence

By Admin | Mar 23, 2021 |

ASISTA and Sanctuary for Families are excited to share that on March 18, 2021, Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer granted our joint motion to stay the proceedings in our ongoing lawsuit against ICE for 90 days subject to specific interim conditions.  ASISTA and Sanctuary for Families are represented by Protect Democracy and the Constitutional Accountability Center…

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ASISTA Denounces Racism, Misogyny, and Violence

By Ahlam Moussa | Mar 22, 2021 |

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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Safe Horizon and ASISTA File Lawsuit Against USCIS and DHS

By Ahlam Moussa | Mar 18, 2021 |

Safe Horizon and ASISTA File Lawsuit Against USCIS and DHS, Seeking Information on Policy Change Making it More Difficult for Victims of Serious Crime to Obtain Relief Under the U-Visa Program

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Litigation Update: Harmful DOJ Rule Enjoined

By Admin | Mar 15, 2021 |

On March 10, 2021, Senior District Judge Susan Illston from the U.S. District Court of Northern District of California granted a preliminary injunction in the case Centro Legal de La Raza et al v. EOIR et al, challenging the harmful DOJ rule severely limiting sua sponte motions in immigration court proceedings and curtailing the use…

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New Advisory: Overview of U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 & Its Impact on Immigrant Survivors

By Admin | Mar 1, 2021 |

U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 & Its Impact on Survivors: On Thursday, February 18, 2021 theU.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 was introduced in the House by Representative Linda Sánchez and in the Senate by Senator Bob Menendez. ASISTA and our partners with the Alliance for Immigrant Survivors have prepared an overview of the bill with a discussion…

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ICYMI: Important Policy & ASISTA Updates

By Ahlam Moussa | Feb 27, 2021 |

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

By Ahlam Moussa | Feb 17, 2021 |

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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ASISTA Practice Alert Regarding Certain U Visa ‘After-Acquired Spouse’ Cases (Feb. 11, 2021)

By Maria Lazzarino | Feb 12, 2021 |

In December, the 9th Circuit held in Medina Tovar v. Zuchowski that certain after-acquired spouses of U visa petitioners are eligible to “accompany or follow to join” the U-1 through the I-918A petitioning process. The Court recently issued its mandate on 1/25/2021. The judgment in Medina Tovar is therefore in effect as of 1/25/2021.  We’ve prepared this Practice Alert to help you…

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ICYMI: Important Policy & ASISTA Updates

By Ahlam Moussa | Feb 3, 2021 |

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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Granados-Benitez v. Wilkinson (1st Cir) (unpublished- Jan. 28, 2021)

By Maria Lazzarino | Jan 29, 2021 |

The 1st Circuit found that the BIA had abused its discretion in failing to follow Matter of Sanchez-Sosa in adjudicating the U visa petitioner’s Motion to Reopen and ordered remand. Click on the links to access the Amicus Brief and the Decision.

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