Practice Resources
AILA issued a practice alert following additional information provided by the OFLC to the AILA DOL Committee. This information pertains to the notice that the Certification Approval Appendix for the PERM program is displaying incorrect data in the Job Title field.
FR Regulations & Notices
DOS corrected a regulation published in the Federal Register on 7/14/23, to address a typographical error in the immigrant visa classification symbols and incorrectly listed the IB1 classification for ‘‘Self-petition Spouse of U.S. Citizen’’ as ‘‘IBI’’ rather than ‘‘IB1.
Agency Memos & Announcements
DOL invitation to a webinar on 8/7/24 to discuss changes to the H-2A program made by the 2024 H-2A Farmworker Protection Final Rule. Participants of this webinar will receive helpful tips on the new forms, filing instructions, and an explanation of the transition process.
Practice Resources
In recent months, members have experienced delayed receipts and filing fee processing. AILA provides an update on the most recent advocacy effort to obtain clarification and the next steps from USCIS.
AILA Announcements
On the newest episode of Immigration Review Podcast, AILA member Kevin Gregg interviews Ira Kurzban, "the immigration GOAT" and author of Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook about important cases from the Supreme court's 2023-24 term, state of the judiciary, and immigration advocacy.
7/26/24
Agency Memos & Announcements
The White House issued a memorandum on the Deferred Enforced Departure for certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States, deferring removal for 18 months. DHS will publish additional details in the Federal Register.
Agency Memos & Announcements
DHS acknowledged that after seven weeks of suspended entry for certain noncitizens, encounters at the southwest border are down by 55%. The entry restrictions will remain in effect until 14 calendar days after there has been a seven-consecutive-calendar-day average of less than 1,500 encounters.
Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS provides tips on filing form fees, eligibility requirements, fee waiver eligibility, required documents, and mailing addresses depending on the form being filed. These tips will help ensure that USCIS accepts an application, petition, or request package for processing.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on July 26, 2024.
7/26/24
Professional Resources
Being your most authentic self is one of the most radical and self-compassionate things you can do for yourself. Read this article to discover four tools to help you develop more self-compassion and understand how tapping into this key emotion can make you a more competent and successful lawyer.
Correspondence
The Round Table of Former Immigration Judges applauded Senator Murphy for introducing the Strengthening Immigration Procedures Act of 2024, which would bring the standard needed to prove ineffective assistance of counsel in immigration cases into alignment with every other area of law.
FR Regulations & Notices
ICE notice amending the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List by adding one qualifying field of study and a corresponding DOE Classification of Instructional Programs code for that field. DHS adopted the list on 7/23/24. (89 FR 59748, 7/23/24)
FR Regulations & Notices
EOIR 60-day notice for comments on Form EOIR-29A, Notice of
Motion To Reconsider/Reopen a Decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals From an Initial Decision of a DHS Officer. Comments are due by 9/23/24. (89 FR 59773, 7/23/24)
Professional Resources
Members of the AILA National Well-Being Committee used the 2024 AILA Annual Conference as an opportunity to examine the loneliness epidemic and discuss strategies for immigration lawyers to address it. Here are three key takeaways from this discussion.
FR Regulations & Notices
USCIS final rule and technical amendment updating the investment and revenue amount requirements for the International Entrepreneur Program, effective on 10/1/24. (89 FR 60298, 7/25/24)
AILA Announcements
Join us in letting the White House know of the support for the recent announcement creating an easier path to residency for some immigrants that could help keep many families together. Help make sure the administration knows that they have broad support for pro-immigrant policies like this one.
7/25/24
AILA Doc. No. 24070203.
Professional Resources
Every attorney should draft their own philosophy of practice. In this article, explore the four philosophies of lawyering that guide attorneys in their practices and how an attorney’s chosen philosophy influences their real-life decisions in representing clients.
7/25/24
AILA Doc. No. 17092930.
Ethics
AILA Blog
As part of our “One Thing” series, Sandra Feist highlights specific examples of how our immigration laws do not serve the interests of American businesses or communities well and calls on Congress to move forward with immigration reform that would be reflective of today’s realities.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on July 25, 2024.
7/25/24
Professional Resources
Find an Immigration Lawyer (ailalawyer.com) is a client-facing online database that helps potential clients find an immigration lawyer in the specific area of immigration law they need. This great marketing tool is free and available only to AILA members.
7/25/24
AILA Doc. No. 99900755.
AILA Announcements
Join AILA's 2024 Fall CLE Conference & Webcast on Sept. 27th in Dallas or virtually. Enhance your legal practice with insights on immigration law trends, policy changes, and effective advocacy strategies. Network with peers, earn CLE credits, and stay current with critical developments in the field!
7/24/24
AILA Announcements
AILA recently created an EB-5 Interest Group for members interested in learning more about the field and sharing ideas. Join today!
Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS announced that effective October 1, 2024, it will increase the investment and revenue thresholds under the International Entrepreneur Rule, as required every three years. The application fee will not change. USCIS also noted it currently has no backlog.
Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS provided FAQs on Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
The AAO provided an updated processing time chart with information on the timeliness of FY2024 completions (April - June 2024)). The chart includes, by form type, the total number of completions for the quarter and the percentage completed within 180 days, which is the AAO’s processing goal.
7/24/24
AILA Doc. No. 24072406.
Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS provides a fact sheet addressing questions about U.S. citizenship at birth for children who were born outside the United States to U.S. citizen parents.
Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS provides a fact sheet addressing questions about U.S. citizenship after birth for children who are residing in the United States with at least one U.S. citizen parent.
AILA Announcements
We are seeking 8-10 companies that have identified a problem faced by immigration lawyers and developed a new, innovative solution. Presentations will be brief—around five minutes—but guaranteed to be impactful. Our goal is to inspire our members and highlight the latest advancements in technology.
7/24/24
FR Regulations & Notices
USCIS 30-day notice of proposed revisions and request for comments on Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support. Comments are now due by 8/23/24. (89 FR 59923, 7/24/24)
7/24/24
AILA Doc. No. 24072403.
AILA Announcements
AILA has created a listserv open to any interested AILA members to raise questions or concerns and discuss these announcements. You can join by going into My AILA on AILA's website and adding a new listserv.
AILA Blog
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Law Student Scholarship recipient Brenda Macías López describes why she believes the CBP One App is not enough to help ensure vulnerable immigrants can have a meaningful chance to claim asylum.
Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS issued a fact sheet addressing questions about U.S. citizenship after birth for children who are residing outside the United States with at least one U.S. citizen parent.
Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS provides a fact sheet addresses U.S. citizenship for children of U.S. citizen armed forces members stationed and residing outside the United States.
Practice Resources
We urge you to sign AILA’s petition calling on Attorney General Garland and Secretary Mayorkas to correct the unfair legal standards in immigration courts. Immigrants must navigate an unnecessary and burdensome bar complaint requirement when their counsel's errors harm their cases. Take action!
Practice Resources
If you are experiencing issues with a myUSCIS account, AILA encourages you to report them immediately to USCISFeedback@uscis.dhs.gov, with a copy to reports@aila.org.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on July 24, 2024.
7/24/24
AILA members: You can purchase the new, fully updated edition of Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook at its lowest price, but only if you place your order by July 31. After the presale period ends, the member price will increase from $374 to $499. Don't miss your opportunity to save!
7/24/24
Adjustment of Status, Admissions & Border, Asylum, Business Immigration, Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), Consular Processing, Crimes, Detention & Bond, Family Immigration, H-1B & H-1B1 Specialty Occupation, Humanitarian Parole, Labor Certification (Permanent), National Interest Waivers, Prosecutorial Discretion, Removal & Relief, T & U Status, Temporary Protected Status & Deferred Enforced Departure, Waivers
AILA Announcements
Join us for a roundtable on July 26 to discuss practical strategies for man election anxiety. Expert Mike Lubofsky, a therapist and attorney, will discuss mindfulness, stress management, and resilience-building exercises. Enhance your well-being during this turbulent period by connecting with peers.
Practice Resources
AILA provided a practice alert after DHS announced the extension and redesignation of TPS for Somalia through March 17, 2026. Certain EADs and a TPS designation of Somalia have been automatically extended until September 17, 2025. USCIS stressed timely re-registration and EAD renewal.
Featured Issues
Use this page to learn more about the impact of the Matter of Lozada and how AILA wants the Lozada standard changed.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on July 23, 2024.
7/23/24
Professional Resources
While many articles on financial management of law firms tend to focus on strategies for lean times, it is equally crucial to understand how to handle a time of abundance. In this article, Ellen Freedman explains how to manage finances during prosperous periods to prevent issues in the future.
AILA Blog
Past AILA president Ron Klasko lays out seven reasons why having a basic knowledge of EB-5 can help attorneys serve their clients’ needs; AILA recently created an EB-5 Interest Group for those interested in learning more and sharing ideas.
FR Regulations & Notices
ICE notice suspending certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students from Somalia who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current crisis in Somalia, effective beginning on September 18, 2024, and ending on March 17, 2026. (89 FR 59129, 7/22/24)
AILA Public Statements, Correspondence
AILA sent a letter to DOJ and DHS urging reform to the legal standard governing ineffective assistance of counsel claims in immigration matters.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
This issue-specific page lists published asylum cases that relate to social groups. The page includes published federal court and BIA cases from 2008 to the present. Special thanks to AILA member R. Mark Frey.
7/22/24
AILA Doc. No. 13010150.
Asylum
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
This issue-specific page lists published asylum cases that relate to religion. The page includes published federal court and BIA cases from 2008 through the present. Special thanks to AILA member R. Mark Frey.
7/22/24
AILA Doc. No. 13010148.
Asylum
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
This issue-specific page lists miscellaneous published asylum cases by topic. The page includes published federal court and BIA cases from 2008 to the present. Special thanks to AILA member R. Mark Frey.
7/22/24
AILA Doc. No. 13010144.
Asylum
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
This issue-specific page lists published asylum cases that relate to deferral of removal under CAT. The page includes published federal court and BIA cases from 2008 to the present. Special thanks to AILA member R. Mark Frey.
7/22/24
AILA Doc. No. 13010141.
Asylum
Agency Memos & Announcements
DHS updated its STEM Designated Degree Program List, a complete list of fields of study that DHS considers to be science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields of study for purposes of the 24-month STEM optional practical training extensions.