Featured Issues
Explore the priority immigration-related issues that AILA is tracking and working on.
Each featured issue page provides curated materials, including government announcements and actions, AILA's policy recommendations, practice resources, media reports, advocacy opportunities, and more.
Hot Topics
Browse the Featured Issues collection
Featured Issue: Form ETA-9089 in DOL’s FLAG System
On 6/1/23, DOL officially implemented the new ETA 9089, Application for Permanent Labor Certification, into the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system. AILA’s DOL Liaison Committee provides a compilation resources relevant to this change.
Featured Issue: Asylum and Credible Fear Interim Final Rule
A USCIS interim final rule on credible fear and asylum took effect May 31, 2022, and changes the way DHS processes asylum cases for individuals in expedited removal. This is a resource page to help immigration attorneys understand the new process for credible fear and asylum.
Featured Issue: Assist Individuals Impacted by the Conflict in the Middle East
AILA calls on the Biden Administration to move immediately to support the safety of all people affected by the recent violence in the Middle East. Use this page to find related resources.
Featured Issue: Resources for H-2B Practice at DOL, USCIS, and DOS
The DOL Liaison Committee’s H-2 Subcommittee provides a resource page with links to legal authorities, agency guidance and publications, and AILA resources and publications helpful for H-2B practice in advance of the 2nd half of FY2024.
Featured Issue: Border Processing and Asylum
This featured issue page provides updates, analyses, and other resources on border processing and asylum policies, and AILA’s advocacy on the creation of a humane and fair border processing system for all individuals arriving at our southern border seeking safety.
Featured Issue: America Needs a Fair and Independent Immigration Court
The U.S. immigration court system suffers from profound structural problems that have severely eroded its capacity to deliver just decisions in a timely manner and eliminated public confidence in its outcomes. AILA urges Congress and the Biden Administration to reform immigration courts.
Featured Issue: Practicing during a Natural Disaster
This page provides resources to help practitioners when they or their clients are affected by natural disasters, including information specific to the Hawaii wildfires, Hurricane Idalia, and the earthquake in Morocco.
Featured Issues
Learn about the priority issues that AILA is actively tracking. These curated pages bring together news stories, government announcements and memos, and practice resources about each featured issue.
Featured Issue: Representing Clients Before ICE
This resource page combines AILA and partner resources for attorneys representing clients before ICE. Includes contact information and website links to procedures and policies related to ICE’s operations.
Featured Issue: Prosecutorial Discretion
The Supreme Court issued a decision on a challenge to the Biden Administration’s enforcement priorities guidance. This resource page provides information on prosecutorial discretion, its importance as a tool for ICE, and AILA’s support of prosecutorial discretion in immigration enforcement.
Featured Issue: Immigration Court Backlog and Reprioritization
The immigration courts require urgent attention to address the 1.3 million case backlog. AILA provides a featured issue page with resources explaining how DOJ and EOIR can reprioritize cases on the docket by removing nonpriority matters.
Featured Issue: Immigration Detention and Alternatives to Detention
AILA calls on Congress to significantly reduce and phase out the use of immigration detention for enforcement purposes, including custodial family detention. Learn more about this issue and how you can join the effort.
Find Resources for Assisting Afghan Clients
AILA has compiled a list of resources from AILA and other organizations to help you assist Afghan clients. The situation is constantly changing and information may become outdated. AILA recommends individuals consult with an attorney.
Featured Issue: FY2024 Cap-Subject H-1B Filing Season
This featured issue page tracks developments related to the FY2024 H-1B cap season. USCIS's initial registration period finished on 3/20/23. For H-1B registrations selected, the filing period is 4/1/23 to 6/30/23. Find resources on this page.
Featured Issue: Ensuring Legal Representation for People Facing Removal
Despite the critical role legal representation plays in ensuring fairness in removal proceedings, the law still does not guarantee the government will pay for counsel if the person is unable to afford one. AILA provides resources on ensuring legal representation for people facing removal.
Featured Issue: Protecting Dreamers
Resources on legislative and administrative efforts to protect Dreamers, as well as litigation challenging the DACA program.
Featured Issue: USCIS Accountability and Oversight
This page will showcase and highlight AILA efforts surrounding USCIS accountability.
Members Only Resources on Migrant Transport (“Busing”) and Erroneous Addresses
This page includes AILA member resources on the internal transportation of migrants, including “busing” and the flights to Martha’s Vineyard.
Featured Issue: Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)
Follow this page for more updates on the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). AILA will update this page on the winddown as they become available.
Featured Issue: Interstate Transport of Migrants and Erroneous Addresses
This page includes background information and resources on the internal transportation of migrants from one state to another, including busing between states and the flying of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard. It also discusses the distinct but overlapping issue of erroneous addresses on documents.
Featured Issue: Immigration Reforms through Budget Reconciliation
The Senate achieved passage of a landmark climate change and healthcare legislation through a process known as “budget reconciliation.” The passage of this historic bill in the Senate can be celebrated for not including amendments that targeted immigrants, their families, and our communities.
Featured Issue: Biden Administration Actions to Attract and Retain STEM Talent
In January 2022, DOS and DHS announced new actions related to STEM work authorization, J-1 Researchers, National Interest Waivers, and O-1 Extraordinary Ability Workers. This featured issue page provides information and resources on these initiatives.
Featured Issue: Assisting Haitian Migrants and Asylum Seekers
With more Haitians arriving at U.S. borders, many seeking asylum and urgently needing protection, AILA provides these resources to assist AILA members and the public in responding to the situation.
Featured Issue: E-Filing with EOIR Now Mandatory
Electronic filing (e-filing) with EOIR through the EOIR Courts & Appeals System (ECAS) became mandatory on February 11, 2022. AILA brings together resources from AILA and others to help you understand the new e-filing process.
Featured Issue: Conditions in CBP Custody
Conditions in CBP custody are notorious for their harshness and inadequacies. Until the U.S. embraces a welcoming and more humane approach to receiving people at our border, suffering and the loss of life will continue. Immediate and significant reform is needed.