Featured Issue: Asylum Under Trump 2.0
On the first day of his second term, President Trump suspended all entries at the U.S. Southern Border for asylum seekers. Since then, the Administration has implemented sweeping restrictions that shut America’s doors to people fleeing persecution. These policies violate federal law, erode constitutionally protected due process, exacerbate the asylum backlog, and give those seeking safety an increasingly narrow path to protection.
Left unchecked by Congress, these policies will have dire consequences for both asylum seekers and the integrity of our legal system. Asylum seekers—especially those without access to counsel—are at grave risk of being returned to harm.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The Administration can maintain order at U.S. borders and effectively manage migration without sacrificing fairness and adherence to the law. With more trained asylum officers, a streamlined legal process, legal representation for asylum seekers, and more effective coordination between relevant agencies, the U.S. can establish a safe, orderly, and humane asylum system.
Browse the Featured Issue: Asylum Under Trump 2.0 collection
CA4 Finds BIA Abused Its Discretion by Ignoring Evidence That Honduras Was Unable or Unwilling to Control MS-13
The court held that the BIA abused its discretion when it ignored credible, unrebutted, and legally significant evidence in the record and concluded that petitioner failed to demonstrate that the Honduran government was unable or unwilling to control MS-13. (Ramos Marquez v. Bondi, 11/19/25)
Client Flyer: New USCIS Policies Impacting Asylum Applicants, Refugees, and People from “High-Risk” Countries
AILA provides a flyer to inform your clients of USCIS policies pausing processing for many benefits requests and ordering re-review of certain approved applications. The flyer is available as a generic PDF as well as a Word version you can customize with your firm's information. Please share.
Updates to Settlement in Class Action Lawsuit Challenging Asylum Adjudication Delays for Afghans
On 9/11/25, USCIS issued a Public Status Report containing class member asylum data for Ahmed v. DHS. The class action lawsuit challenged DHS’s failure to adjudicate asylum applications for Afghans who arrived in the U.S. under “Operation Allies Welcome” within Congress’s 150-day deadline.
Policy Brief: Severe Immigration Restrictions Will Waste Taxpayer Resources and Bring Hardship, Not Make America Safer
Following the 11/26/25 shooting of two National Guard members in Washington D.C., the Trump Administration announced several new immigration restrictions under the guise of national security concerns. This brief analyzes these new restrictions, why they are not needed, and policy recommendations.
Practice Alert: Update to Employment Authorization Document Validity Periods
On December 4, 2025, USCIS announced changes to the maximum validity periods for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain categories. Please see this practice alert for more details and practical implications.
Border Report: Immigration Lawyers Decry New Asylum Policies
Border Report highlights AILA's recent press briefing about the Trump Administration's latest far-reaching immigration restrictions. AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson stated: "These sweeping restrictions will not make our nation safer."
Featured Issue: Sweeping Immigration Restrictions in the Aftermath of National Guard Shooting
Following the 11/26/25 shooting of two West Virginia National Guard members in Washington, D.C., the Administration announced multiple policy changes significantly restricting legal immigration. This page brings together updates and resources about these changes.
Practice Alert: Insufficient Notice of Asylum Interviews in Online-filed I-589s
AILA members report receiving no notice when asylum interviews are scheduled in online-filed asylum cases. This practice alert describes what practitioners do and do not see in their online filing accounts when an asylum interview is scheduled and offers practice tips to avoid missing an interview.
Call for Examples: Cases Impacted by the National Security Pause on Adjudications
We are collecting information on the impact of the sweeping immigration restrictions implemented in late 2025 for travel ban countries and a halt on adjudicating all asylum applications. These examples will be used for advocacy and education purposes, both for external partners and AILA members.
USCIS Policy Alert Shortens Maximum Validity Period of EADs for Many Categories
USCIS released a policy alert (PA-2025-27) updating guidance in the Policy Manual to reduce the maximum validity period of EADs for many EAD categories, including refugees, asylees, asylum seekers, parolees, TPS-holders, and more. Feedback is due 1/5/26.
USCIS Announces Shortened Maximum Validity Period for EADs in Several Categories
USCIS announced it will shorten the validity period of EADs for several categories, including for refugees and asylees, from 5 years to 18 months for applications pending or filed on or after 12/5/25. USCIS also noted the shortened validity period mandated by H.R. 1 for TPS-holders and parolees.
CA9 Denies Motion to Stay Removal Where Petitioners Failed to Show Likelihood of Success or Irreparable Harm
The court denied the petitioners’ motion for a stay of removal pending disposition of their petition for review, finding they failed to show a likelihood of success on their asylum and related claims or particularized irreparable harm. (Rojas-Espinoza v. Bondi, 10/24/25, amended 11/25/25)
USCIS PM Halts All Asylum Applications and All Benefit Applications from "High-Risk" Countries
USCIS issued a policy memo holding asylum applications for all applicants and all pending benefit applications for people from countries named in Presidential Proclamation 10949. It directs re-review of all approved benefit requests for people from those countries who entered on or after 1/20/21.
CNN: How Trump Is Intensifying His Crackdown on Every Form of Immigration to the U.S.
CNN reports that, prompted by the shooting of two National Guard members, President Trump has halted or significantly tightened every legal and illegal form of foreign entry into the United States. AILA President Jeff Joseph describes what it’s like to be an immigration attorney right now.
CNN: How Trump Is Intensifying His Crackdown on Every Form of Immigration to the United States
CNN reports on the President's latest immigration crackdown, prompted by the shooting of two National Guard members. AILA President Jeff Joseph explains, "It's hard to predict and advise our clients on how to navigate this system ... Imagine walking in a house of mirrors blindfolded."
Practice Alert: Sweeping Immigration Restrictions Announced in the Wake of the National Guard Shooting
AILA has put together a practice alert covering new immigration restrictions following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC. Among these new restrictions are the halt of all asylum decisions and specific restrictions and changes for Afghan and travel ban country nationals.
New York Times: U.S. Pauses Immigration Applications from Nations on Travel Ban List
The New York Times reports the Trump Administration has paused immigration applications filed by immigrants from 19 countries it restricted from travel to the United States earlier this year, halting green card and U.S. citizenship processing for broad swaths of people.
The Hill: Trump Ramps Up Immigration Crackdown After Shooting
The Hill reports that President Trump’s threats to crack down on immigration are leaving migrants bracing as the Administration said it will close the door on many legal pathways to the United States following a shooting that killed a National Guard member and wounded another.
Reuters: U.S. Pauses All Immigration Applications from 19 Non-European Countries
Reuters reports that the Trump Administration said it paused all immigration applications, including green card and U.S. citizenship processing, filed by immigrants from 19 non-European countries, citing concerns over national security and public safety.
CBS News: U.S. Halts All Immigration Cases, Including Citizenship Ceremonies, for Nationals of 19 Countries, Internal Guidance Says
CBS News reports that the Trump Administration has halted all immigration applications filed by people from 19 countries, its latest move to restrict legal immigration pathways following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
CA6 Upholds Asylum Denial as to Single Salvadoran Female Salon Owner
The court held that substantial evidence supported the denial of asylum and other relief, finding that petitioner’s proposed PSGs were not cognizable, that internal relocation was reasonable, and that she failed to show a likelihood of torture. (Cristales-de Linares, et al. v. Bondi, 12/1/25)
CA9 Upholds Denial of Asylum as to Sikh Mann Party Member from India
The court held that threats from masked men, two brief beatings, and a short detention of the Sikh Mann party member petitioner did not rise to the level of past persecution, and found that he could avoid future persecution by relocating within India. (Singh v. Bondi, 12/1/25)
Stories from the Field: The Devastating Impact of Recent Asylum Changes
Changes to asylum policy in the past year have created a narrow, nearly impossible path for people to access lifesaving protections. Read AILA members' stories of the devastating impact of those new policies and judges’ and asylum officers’ increasingly hostile attitudes towards asylum seekers.
CA1 Upholds BIA’s Finding That Colombian Government Was Able to Protect Bakery Owner from Gang Threats
The court held that substantial evidence supported the BIA’s finding that the Colombian government was able to protect petitioner and his family from gang threats, and thus found he failed to show the required nexus for his asylum or withholding claims. (Restrepo Castano v. Bondi, 11/26/25)
CA2 Finds Agency Failed to Address Whether Guatemalan Government Would Acquiesce to Petitioner’s Torture by a Private Actor
The court held that the BIA and IJ failed to properly assess whether the Guatemalan government would acquiesce to petitioner being tortured in prison by private parties who would target him if he returned to Guatemala, and thus remanded his claim for CAT relief. (B.G.S. v. Bondi, 11/24/25)