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
USCIS Asylum Office Workload for September 2015
USCIS asylum offices’ workload, broken down by office, stage of the asylum case and nationality to applicants, for September 2015.
USCIS Statistics with Credible and Reasonable Fear Nationality Reports for FY2015
USCIS provides statistics on the top five nationalities for credible fear and reasonable fear interviews for FY2015.
USCIS Statistics on FY2015 Reasonable Fear Workload
USCIS provides a report on the reasonable fear workload for FY2015. Includes information broken down by month, with statistics on case receipts, interviews conducted, whether or not fear was established, and case closings.
USCIS Statistics on Credible Fear Workload for FY2015
USCIS statistics on credible fear workload for FY2015, including statistics broken down by month, number of case receipts, interviews conducted, and a breakdown of all decisions. Also includes statistics broken down by total caseload, inland caseload, and port of entry caseload.
GAO Report on Additional Actions Needed to Assess and Address Fraud Risks in Asylum Program
The GAO issued a report on asylum fraud risks, recommending that DHS and DOJ conduct fraud risk assessments, implement tools for detecting fraud patterns, develop asylum-specific guidance for fraud detection roles and responsibilities, and implement timeliness goals for pending termination reviews.
For Many, “Beautiful Honduras” Isn’t.
A couple of weeks ago, I read a piece in the Huffington Post quoting Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson saying that it's okay to deport kids to Honduras because it's “a beautiful country.“ Reading this ridiculous comment, I felt I had to share my knowledge of what is driving children to flee their
Practice Alert: Tips and Tricks for Filing Reentry Permit Applications
The AILA NSC Liaison Committee provides an updated practice alert with tips and tricks for filing reentry permit applications.
NILC Guide to SSI Extension Law for Humanitarian Immigrants
The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) released a guide with the overview of immigrant eligibility for federal programs.
Sign-On Letter Urging Legislators to Oppose Policy Riders That Harm the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program
On 12/1/15, AILA joined faith, labor, refugee, and humanitarian aid organizations, as well as civil and human rights groups, in urging members of Congress to support the U.S. refugee resettlement program and oppose any policy riders that would stop, pause, or defund resettlement of Syrian refugees.
National Security Leaders Oppose Legislation that Halts Resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi Refugees
On 12/1/15, a bipartisan group of national policy experts, including former Secretaries of State Madeline Albright and Henry Kissinger, expressed opposition to measures that would end the refugee resettlement program for Syrians and Iraqis.
CA9 Says BIA Erred in Not Addressing the Family Aspect of Petitioner's Social Group Claim
The court held that, in the face of the Guatemalan petitioner's social group claim and the evidence that gang members killed his father and cousin and threatened his sister, the BIA erred in failing to address the family aspect of his social group claim. (Flores-Rios v. Lynch, 12/1/15)
Recent Decisions from 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and District Court Decisions (December 2015)
Summary of recent case law out of the Eleventh Circuit, courtesy of the AILA Georgia-Alabama and Central Florida Chapters. The information was compiled in December 2015 and should be used as a starting point in research.
DOJ OIL December 2015 Litigation Bulletin
The DOJ OIL Immigration Litigation Bulletin for December 2015, with articles on Almanza-Arenas v. Lynch, Castaneda v. Souza, and recent amendments to the Visa Waiver Program, as well as summaries of circuit court decisions for December 2015.
When the Narrative Shifts
I joined AILA's Executive Committee with quite a bit of media experience under my belt. One thing I've known for a long time is that the news cycle can turn on a dime and what you may have thought you'd be talking about with a reporter can change, sometimes mid-interview. As an example - AILA's [
DHS Privacy Act Notice on 010 Asylum Information and Pre-Screening System of Records
DHS notice of Privacy Act system of records that allows for the collect of records pertaining to asylum applications, credible fear and reasonable fear screening processes, and NACARA applications. Comments are due by 12/30/15; the updated system will be effective 12/30/15. (80 FR 74781, 11/30/15)
USCIS Memo on Revised Instruction on the Rejection of Form I-589 Submissions
USCIS memo, from John Lafferty, Chief of the Asylum Division, requests that contract personnel at Service Center Operations be instructed to accept an I-589 filing if it has the original and only one copy of the application with supporting evidence at the time of filing.
USCIS Provides RAIO Combined Training Course on Detecting Possible Victims of Trafficking
USCIS provided its RAIO Combined Training Course on detecting possible victims of trafficking. Issues addressed include indicators that may demonstrate an individual is a victim, specific assistance and benefits available to victims, as well as guidelines for sensitive interview techniques.
DOS Myths and Facts about Syrian Refugees
DOS provides a fact sheet on myths and facts about resettling Syrian refugees, including background on the myth that it is impossible to thoroughly vet Syrians, given the ongoing conflict.
USRAP Refugee Processing Flow Chart
The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) provides a flow chart on how refugees are processes and admitted into the U.S.
ORR Letter Regarding the Resettlement of Syrian Refugees
ORR released Dear Colleague Letter 16-02, stating that “States may not deny ORR-funded benefits and services to refugees based on a refugee’s country of origin or religious affiliation. Accordingly, states may not categorically deny ORR funded benefits and services to Syrian refugees.”
CA4 Remands Asylum Claim of Former Gang Member
The court held that the BIA failed to adequately address the record evidence in making its determination that the petitioner's proposed social groups were not cognizable under the INA, and remanded for proper consideration of this issue (Oliva v. Lynch, 11/25/15)
USCIS Provides RAIO Training Course on Note-Taking During Asylum Interviews
USCIS provided the RAIO training course on the importance of taking clear and comprehensive notes during the interview, the characteristics of proper notes, and procedures for proper note-taking.
RAIO Combined Training Course: Interviewing - Eliciting Testimony
This training module instructs students on how to elicit information from an interviewee in a non-adversarial manner.
RAIO Combined Training Course: Interviewing Survivors of Torture and Other Severe Trauma
This lesson focuses primarily on the effects of torture and severe trauma and how these effects can affect the interview process.
USCIS Provides RAIO Combined Training Course on Interviewing – Working with an Interpreter
USCIS released its Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations (RAIO) Directorate officer training course on “Interviewing – Working with an Interpreter.” The module describes the role and responsibilities of an interpreter, and how officers can communicate effectively through an interpreter.