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

Executive Actions
Keeping Families Together Parole-in-Place
Use this page to find information on the June 18, 2024, announcements regarding a new process for certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens to apply for lawful permanent residence without having to leave the United States.
Enforcement
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.
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Featured Issues

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 Issues

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 Issues

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.

2/17/22 AILA Doc. No. 22010601. Practice Management, Removal & Relief
Featured Issues

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.

11/29/21 AILA Doc. No. 18122608. Admissions & Border
Federal Agencies, Practice Resources, Featured Issues

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.

10/20/21 AILA Doc. No. 20092205. Admissions & Border, Consular Processing
Featured Issues

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.

4/26/21 AILA Doc. No. 19050634.
Featured Issues

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.

Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements, Featured Issues

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.

3/5/21 AILA Doc. No. 20051400. Asylum, Removal & Relief
Featured Issues

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.

12/2/20 AILA Doc. No. 20120333. Business Immigration, Congress, Family Immigration
Featured Issues

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).

8/5/20 AILA Doc. No. 20080501. Business Immigration, Family Immigration
Featured Issues

Summary of Key Changes to S.386

AILA provides a chart summarizing key changes to S.386 as of August 5, 2020.

8/5/20 AILA Doc. No. 20080500. Business Immigration, Family Immigration
Featured Issues

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).

3/4/20 AILA Doc. No. 20030305. Business Immigration, Family Immigration
Featured Issues

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).

3/3/20 AILA Doc. No. 20030304. Business Immigration, Family Immigration
Featured Issues

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.

11/18/19 AILA Doc. No. 19111836. Admissions & Border, Asylum
Featured Issues

Perspectives on the Bills Impacting the Per-Country Numerical Limitation

Two differing perspectives on the per-country quota bills being considered by Congress this week.

9/24/19 AILA Doc. No. 19092460. Business Immigration, Family Immigration