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.
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Browse the Featured Issues collection
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: 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 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.
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 The situation is constantly changing and information may become outdated.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: 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.
AILA’s Resources for Geographic COVID-19-Related Travel Bans
This page contains resources concerning the national interest exceptions and the country-specific COVID-19 travel bans. AILA will also provide updates on the Biden administration’s planned easing of travel restrictions set to be effective for both air travel and land borders on November 8, 2021.
Featured Issue: Public Charge Changes at USCIS, DOJ, and DOS
Use this AILA Featured Issue page to find resources on the Trump administration’s public charge changes. On April 26, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court denied without prejudice states’ attempts to intervene in the Northern District of Illinois case that vacated the DHS public charge final rule.
Resources Related to Presidential Proclamations Temporarily Suspending Entry of Certain Immigrants and Nonimmigrants into the United States
This page contains resources related to President Trump's proclamations that suspended the entry of certain immigrants and nonimmigrants into the United States. DOS announced that that Presidential Proclamation 10052 expired on March 31, 2021.
AILA Tracks EOIR’s Historical Operational Status During Coronavirus Pandemic
This page tracks historical updates related to EOIR’s operational status during the coronavirus pandemic. Please note that this page is not updated in real time.
Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020 (S.386)
The text of the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020 (S. 386) as passed by the Senate.
Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020 (S.386) - August 2020
Latest text, as of August 5, 2020, of the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020 (S. 386).
Summary of Key Changes to S.386
AILA provides a chart summarizing key changes to S.386 as of August 5, 2020.
Per-Country Cap Legislation: Current State of Play (March 2020)
AILA urges its members to support the Resolving Extended Limbo for Immigrant Employees and Families (RELIEF) Act (S. 2603/H.R. 5327), and to oppose new changes that are being considered to the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019 (S. 386).
Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020 (S.386) - March 2020
Latest text, as of March 3, 2020, of the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019 (S. 386).
Photos from Brownsville Delegation
AILA leaders traveled to Brownsville, Texas, and witnessed firsthand how this administration is blocking access to legal representation, due process, and ultimately safety for asylum seekers.