Policy Advocacy

ASISTA is able to connect individual case problems and identify systemic trends and issues that require policy change. We work at the intersection of the immigration advocacy and domestic violence/sexual assault survivor advocacy communities in order to ensure that immigrant survivors have access to their rights and protections afforded to them under the law.

Advocacy Resources

ASISTA is a national leader on advocacy on behalf of immigrant survivors of crime and their families. Learn more about our advocacy work and resources below.

Policy Updates & Reports

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

ICYMI: Important Policy & ASISTA Updates Comments (Feb. 27, 2021)

Alliance for Immigrant Survivors Overview of U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 & Its Impact on Survivors (Feb. 26, 2021)

Alliance for Immigrant Survivors Statement: AIS Calls for Halt to Deportations to Haiti and Other Actions that Disparately Impact Black Immigrants (Feb. 26,2021)

Updates on Biden's Executive Orders on Immigration and Legislative Proposals (Jan. 25, 2021)

ASISTA Policy Update: Two New Final Rules Weaken Access to Immigration Relief (December 11, 2020) published a new rule that makes sweeping and devastating changes to asylum.

New Report by ASISTA and ILRC - In Harms' Way: The Impact of President Trump's Actions on Immigrant Survivors of Gender-based Violence (June 2, 2020)

Impact of Latest Executive Order on Survivor-based Forms of Immigration Benefits (April 23, 2020)

Comments to Proposed Rules & Other Actions

ASISTA, ICWC, Her Justice, NIWAP, API-GBV, CLINIC, Freedom Network USA, and Tahirih Justice Center Final Comment in response to proposed revisions of the Forms I-918, I-918A, and I-918B (Jan. 8, 2024)

ASISTA Comment on Form I-192 Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant (October 10, 2023)

ASISTA and Tahirih Justice Center Comment to the Proposed Medicare and Medicaid Services rule that would extend health benefits under the ACA to DACA recipients, welcoming the change and advocating for inclusion of U petitioners prior to BFD/waitlist adjudication (June 23, 2023)

ASISTA Comment to Policy Manual Revisions on Discretionary Considerations for Issuance of Employment Authorization (February 15, 2021)

ASISTA Comment on USCIS Proposed Rule on Collection & Use of Biometrics (October 13, 2020) ASISTA submitted a comment in response to USCIS harmful new proposed rule that would pose significant privacy, confidentiality and safety implications for immigrant survivors of domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, and other gender-based abuses)

ASISTA Comment on Department of Justice Proposed Rule Administrative Closure: Appellate Procedures and Decisional Finality in Immigration Proceedings (Sept 25, 2020)

Sign on Comment to USCIS Policy Manual Changes on Discretion (August 14, 2020)

ASISTA Comment on DHS, DOJ, EOIR, and USCIS Proposed Rules on Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal (July 15, 2020)

ASISTA CLINIC Comment on I-290B Notice of Motion or Appeal Form (April 16, 2020)

ASISTA Comment to DHS & HHS on the Current Proposed Rule on Flores Settlement (Nov. 6, 2018) ASISTA's response to Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) and Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking them to withdraw their current proposed rule that would transform the child welfare protections of the Flores Settlement into administrative tools that would further harm survivors and their families seeking protection.

Amicus Briefs

Sign on letters

Advocacy on VAWA and TVPA protections

Fee Waiver Advocacy

Policy Advocacy

Advocacy Resources

ASISTA Federal Policy Update (December 2023)

ASISTA Advocacy Policy Update: Overseas Biometrics for U & T Nonimmigrants (July 21, 2023)

ASISTA's White House Listening Session (Oct. 4th, 2021)

ICYMI: Important Policy & ASISTA Updates Comments (Aug. 24, 2021)

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

ICYMI: Important Policy & ASISTA Updates Comments (Feb. 27, 2021)

Alliance for Immigrant Survivors Overview of U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 & Its Impact on Survivors (Feb. 26, 2021)

Alliance for Immigrant Survivors Statement: AIS Calls for Halt to Deportations to Haiti and Other Actions that Disparately Impact Black Immigrants (Feb. 26,2021)

Updates on Biden's Executive Orders on Immigration and Legislative Proposals (Jan. 25, 2021)

ASISTA Policy Update: Two New Final Rules Weaken Access to Immigration Relief (December 11, 2020) published a new rule that makes sweeping and devastating changes to asylum.

New Report by ASISTA and ILRC - In Harms' Way: The Impact of President Trump's Actions on Immigrant Survivors of Gender-based Violence (June 2, 2020)

Impact of Latest Executive Order on Survivor-based Forms of Immigration Benefits (April 23, 2020)

ASISTA, ICWC, Her Justice, NIWAP, API-GBV, CLINIC, Freedom Network USA, and Tahirih Justice Center Final Comment in response to proposed revisions of the Forms I-918, I-918A, and I-918B (Jan. 8, 2024)

ASISTA Comment on Form I-192 Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant (October 10, 2023)

ASISTA and Tahirih Justice Center Comment to the Proposed Medicare and Medicaid Services rule that would extend health benefits under the ACA to DACA recipients, welcoming the change and advocating for inclusion of U petitioners prior to BFD/waitlist adjudication (June 23, 2023)

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

ASISTA Comment to Docket Number DOS-2021-0017 (October 18, 2021)

ASISTA Comment Suggesting Improvements to Form I-918: Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status (February 16, 2021)

ASISTA Comment to Policy Manual Revisions on Discretionary Considerations for Issuance of Employment Authorization (February 15, 2021)

ASISTA Comment on EOIR Proposed Rule on Good Cause for Continuances (December 28, 2020)

ASISTA Comment on EOIR Proposed Rule on Motions to Reopen/Stays fo Removal (December 28, 2020)

ASISTA Comment on USCIS Policy Manual Chapter on Lawful Admission for Naturalization (December 18, 2020)

Joint Comment on USCIS Policy Manual Chapter on Use of Discretion for Adjustment of Status Cases (December 17, 2020)

ASISTA Comment on EOIR Proposed Rule on on Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal (October 23, 2020)

ASISTA Comment on Department of Justice Proposed Rule Administrative Closure: Appellate Procedures and Decisional Finality in Immigration Proceedings (Sept 25, 2020)

Sign on Comment to USCIS Policy Manual Changes on Discretion (August 14, 2020)

ASISTA Comment on DHS, DOJ, EOIR, and USCIS Proposed Rules on Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal (July 15, 2020)

Click here to access the ASISTA Amicus Brief' Section

ASISTA calls on USCIS to Ensure Survivors have Continued Access to Immigration Benefits (March 24, 2020)

ASISTA's Advocacy on Fee Waivers

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