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AILA Immigration Quicktakes

AILA Quicktake #311: Recent Policy Changes to Attract and Retain Talent in STEM Fields

2/2/2022
In this short video, AILA’s Diane Rish provides a short overview of the series of measures announced by the Biden administration on January 21, 2022, to help attract and retain international talent in STEM fields and highlights resources that can provide practitioners with more information.
AILA Doc. No. 22020233

AILA Quicktake #310: Update on USCIS Digitization Efforts

1/20/2022
AILA’s Innovation and Technology Committee Chair William Stock gives an update on AILA’s engagement with USCIS and DHS regarding USCIS’s digitization process.
AILA Doc. No. 22012005

ICYMI: AILA Quicktake #309 : Biden Administration Re-Instates MPP

12/3/2021
The Biden administration announced that they will be re-implementing the Trump-era policy Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) starting on Monday December 6, 2021. AILA’s Jen Whitlock explains how we got here, what are some of the changes to the program, and what to expect next.
AILA Doc. No. 21120305

AILA Quicktake #308: Immigration Reform Through Budget Reconciliation Process

9/14/2021
Momentum continues to build to enact immigration reform. AILA’s Greg Chen explains how the legislative process called budget reconciliation can lead to significant immigration reforms, where we are in the process, and what can AILA members and public do to make reform a reality.
AILA Doc. No. 21091404

AILA Quicktake #307: Start-Up Visa Bill Introduced in Congress

7/27/2021
On July 26, Representative Lofgren introduced the Let Immigrants Kickstart Employment (LIKE) Act in Congress. AILA’s Associate Director of Government Relations Diane Rish provides a quick update of the bill and the new visa program it would create.
AILA Doc. No. 21072708

AILA Quicktake #306: How DOS Can Reduce Delays and Eliminate Visa Backlogs

7/1/2021
On June 29, AILA published a policy brief discussing visa backlog and processing delays exacerbated by COVID-19 travel restrictions. AILA's Policy Associate Paul Stern gives an overview of AILA's recommendations to DOS to safely and efficiently reopen America to immigration from overseas.
AILA Doc. No. 21070134

AILA Quicktake #305: USCIS Offers Filing Flexibilities for Certain Delayed Rejections

6/16/2021
Last week, USCIS announced filing flexibilities to provide relief to certain applicants and petitioners impacted by delayed rejections at a USCIS Lockbox. AILA’s Associate Director of Government Relations Diane Rish provides information about USCIS’s announcement.
AILA Doc. No. 21061633

AILA Quicktake #304: USCIS Issues Policy Updates to “Improve Immigration Services”

6/11/2021
On 6/9/21, USCIS issued three important policy updates relating to expedite requests, RFE/NOIDs, and the validity of employment authorization documents. AILA’s Associate Director of Government Relations Diane Rish gives an overview of these policy updates.
AILA Doc. No. 21061134

AILA Quicktake #303: AILA and Wasden Banias Litigate L-2 and H-4 Processing Delays

3/23/2021
On March 22, 2021, AILA and Wasden Banias, LLP filed a class action lawsuit against DHS challenging the processing delays on extensions of status and EADs for L-2 and H-4 visas. Jesse Bless, AILA’s Director of Federal Litigation, explains the choice to litigate and what he expects to see next.
AILA Doc. No. 21032304

AILA Quicktake #302: AILA and Partners Urge USCIS to Implement Emergency Stopgap Stabilization Act

3/5/2021
AILA and 16 coalition partners sent a letter urging USCIS to implement the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act. Diane Rish, associate director of government relations, highlights some recommendations to ensure USCIS remains solvent while efficiently adjudicating all applications and petitions.
AILA Doc. No. 21030535

AILA Quicktake #301: President Biden Signs New Executive Orders on Immigration

2/3/2021
On February 2, 2021, President Biden signed three new immigration-related executive orders. AILA President Jennifer Minear gives a detailed overview of what is and isn’t in the executive orders and explains what to expect going forward.
AILA Doc. No. 21020335

AILA Quicktake #300: AILA Welcomes President Biden’s Day One Actions on Immigration

1/20/2021
AILA’s Executive Director Ben Johnson welcomes the Day One actions on immigration undertaken by the Biden administration.
AILA Doc. No. 21012050

AILA Quicktake #299: Big Win on Lawsuit Challenging DOL’s Prevailing Wage Rule

12/16/2020
On December 14, a federal judge granted the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment against DOL’s interim final rule issued on October 8, 2020, that changed the prevailing wage rates. AILA Secretary Jeff Joseph explains the significance of this win.
AILA Doc. No. 20121639

AILA Quicktake #298: Deadline for Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Applications Is Approaching

12/10/2020
Filing deadline for the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) program is December 20, 2020. The program gives eligible Liberian nationals and certain family members in the U.S. a one-year window to apply for adjustment of status. AILA member Jonelle Ocloo explains the application process.
AILA Doc. No. 20121039

AILA Quicktake #297: New Rule Creates Wage-Based Selection Process for H-1B Visas

11/5/2020
On 11/2/20, DHS released a new rule prioritizing the selection of H-1B registrations for employers who pay the highest prevailing wages, despite no congressional mandate to do so. AILA President Jennifer Minear explains the changes proposed by the rule and discusses other recent regulations.
AILA Doc. No. 20110542

AILA Quicktake #296: AILA Files Lawsuit Against DOL’s Prevailing Wage Rule

10/20/2020
AILA and partners filed a lawsuit challenging DOL’s new rule changing prevailing wage determinations. AILA’s Director of Federal Litigation Jesse Bless explains why we’re litigating against this rule, which significantly increases the prevailing wages without allowing public notice or comment.
AILA Doc. No. 20102036

AILA Quicktake #295: AILA and Sidley Austin Halt USCIS Fee Rule in Its Tracks

10/5/2020
In a big court win for AILA and its partners, the implementation of the USCIS Fee Rule has been stopped. On 9/29/20, a district court preliminarily enjoined DHS from implementing or enforcing any part of the rule. AILA’s Director of Federal Litigation Jesse Bless explains the court’s decision.
AILA Doc. No. 20100539

AILA Quicktake #294: Court Orders DOS to Reserve 9,095 Additional Diversity Visas

10/2/2020
On 9/30/20, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the DOS to reserve 9,095 additional diversity visas for DV-2020 selectees. AILA Past President and current member of AILA’s Litigation Task Force Charles Kuck explains the significance of this almost unprecedented decision.
AILA Doc. No. 20100203

AILA Quicktake #293: Court Grants Preliminary Relief for Diversity Visa Applicants

9/10/2020
On 9/4/20, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction to stop the Trump administration from denying immigrant visas to 2020 diversity visa selectees. AILA’s Director of Litigation Jesse Bless explains what that means for this year’s eligible applicants.
AILA Doc. No. 20091030

AILA Quicktake #292: Litigation Win Means USCIS Must Produce EADs

9/4/2020
In a class action lawsuit challenging the delay in issuance of employment authorization documents (EADs), the court ordered USCIS to produce the cards within the promised time frame. AILA member Robert H. Cohen explains the case and the main components of the settlement.
AILA Doc. No. 20090491

AILA Quicktake #291: USCIS Issues Guidance on DACA to Implement DHS Memo

8/27/2020
On August 21, 2020, USCIS issued guidance on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program implementing the memo issued in July 2020 by Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf. Kate Voight, AILA’s Senior Associate Director of Government Relations, summarizes key points from the guidance.
AILA Doc. No. 20082734

AILA Quicktake #290: AILA's New Jersey Chapter Files Lawsuit to Deter In-Person Hearings

8/6/2020
Cesar Estela, Chair of AILA's New Jersey Chapter, explains why the chapter recently filed a lawsuit to stop the Newark Immigration Court from holding in-person hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AILA Doc. No. 20080637

AILA Quicktake #289: Presidential Proclamation Blocks Entry of Certain Immigrants and Nonimmigrants

6/24/2020
Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, AILA's Director of Government Relations, provides a summary of the Presidential Proclamation issued on June 22, 2020.
AILA Doc. No. 20062431

AILA Quicktake #288: U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Rescission of DACA Program

6/18/2020
Jeremy McKinney, AILA's First Vice President, provides a brief analysis of SCOTUS's decision to reject the Trump Administration's rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
AILA Doc. No. 20061812

AILA Quicktake #287: USCIS’s $1.2 Billion Emergency Funding Request

6/9/2020
AILA's Associate Director of Government Relations Diane Rish discusses the letter AILA and the American Immigration Council sent to congressional appropriators in response to USCIS’s request for $1.2 billion dollars in temporary funding.
AILA Doc. No. 20060933

AILA Quicktake #286: Class Action Lawsuit Against USCIS Challenges Denial of H-1B Petitions

4/21/2020
Jeff Joseph, the co-chair of AILA's Administrative Litigation Task Force, and Jesse Bless, AILA's Director of Federal Litigation, discuss the significance of the class action lawsuit that was filed against USCIS regarding the unlawful denial of H-1B petitions for market research analysts.
AILA Doc. No. 20042438

AILA Quicktake #285: AILA and Partners Sue EOIR and ICE Over Dangerous COVID-19 Policies

3/31/2020
AILA’s Director of Federal Litigation Jesse Bless explains why AILA joined other immigration lawyer groups and individuals to file a lawsuit against EOIR and ICE to demand better policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
AILA Doc. No. 20033135

AILA Quicktake #284: Protect Your Firm from the Impact of COVID-19

3/26/2020
Reid Trautz and Charity Anastasio from AILA's Practice & Professionalism Center provide information on how to financially protect your firm from the impact of COVID-19.
AILA Doc. No. 20032637

AILA Quicktake #283: Actions USCIS Should Take During the COVID-19 Pandemic

3/20/2020
On 3/18/20, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, USCIS closed its offices and delayed interviews. AILA's President-Elect Jennifer Minear explains what additional steps USCIS should take to adapt to this new reality.
AILA Doc. No. 20032036

AILA Quicktake #282: Congress Introduces a Bipartisan Bill on USCIS Case Backlog

2/26/2020
On February 26, 2020, Representatives Tony Cárdenas and Steve Stivers introduced the Case Backlog and Transparency Act of 2020 in the House. AILA's Director of Government Relations Sharvari Dalal-Dheini explains why this bill is an important step towards holding USCIS accountable.
AILA Doc. No. 20022638

AILA Quicktake #281: The New H-1B Registration Tool

2/21/2020
AILA's Director of Government Relations Sharvari Dalal-Dheini provides an overview of the new H-1B Registration tool.
AILA Doc. No. 20022101

AILA Quicktake #280: Update on the Public Charge Rule

2/12/2020
Jason Mills from AILA's DOS Liaison Committee gives an update on the Public Charge rule.
AILA Doc. No. 20021330

AILA Quicktake #279: Courts in Crisis: Congress Holds a Hearing on Immigration Courts

1/28/2020
On 1/29/2020, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration will hold a hearing on the state of judicial independence and due process in U.S. immigration courts. AILA’s Second Vice President Jeremy McKinney, who will testify at this hearing, explains the need for independent immigration courts.
AILA Doc. No. 20012834

AILA Quicktake #278: AILA Joins the Supreme Court Fight to Decriminalize Ethical Advice to Clients

1/23/2020
AILA recently helped draft and then signed on to a Supreme Court amicus brief opposing a provision that criminalizes ethical legal advice immigration lawyers often offer their clients. AILA member Cyrus Mehta explains why members need to be mindful of this language unless and until it’s struck down.
AILA Doc. No. 20012402