Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS issued a policy alert (PA-2026-04) updating its Policy Manual regarding attorneys and representatives. It includes guidance on eligibility, responsibilities, expectations for professional conduct. The guidance is effective 7/13/26. Feedback is due 8/13/26.
7/14/26
AILA Doc. No. 26071411.
Accessible to Public.
AILA Announcements
Learn how AILALink is the perfect tool for electronic access to the books and other research resources you need. Sign up for our next group training at 2:00 pm (ET) on Tuesday, August 4.
7/14/26
AILA Doc. No. 15082740.
Accessible to Public.
FR Regulations & Notices
DHS notice of the recission, effective 7/14/26, of its 2011 guidance to Federal financial assistance recipients regarding the Title VI prohibition against national origin discrimination affecting limited English proficient persons, consistent with E.O. 14224. (91 FR 43108, 7/14/26)
Accessible to Public.
Policy Briefs
Since the start of the Administration, ICE and Border Patrol have been responsible for countless unlawful and violent abuses against immigrants and U.S. citizens, leading to serious injury and death. This policy brief highlights recent abuses and offers AILA’s solutions for reforming the system.
Accessible to Public.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that reinstatement orders are reviewable final orders of removal and that INA §242(b)(1)’s 30-day petition for review deadline is subject to equitable tolling where petitioners relied on binding pre-Riley circuit precedent. (E.E.V. and M.C.C.-G. v. Blanche, 7/6/26)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that the BIA and the IJ failed to apply the two-step test required by Matter of N–A–M– in determining that the petitioner’s Virginia conviction for assault and battery against a family member was a particularly serious crime. (Guevara Martinez v. Blanche, 7/7/26)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that the agency failed to properly assess whether petitioner’s likely detention in El Salvador, including prison conditions intentionally created and maintained by the government, would amount to torture, and thus remanded his CAT claim. (Aguilar-Villalobos v. Blanche, 7/8/26)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
AILA Announcements
Immigration Law and the Family delivers practical guidance on today's family-based immigration challenges. Gain the legal insight and real-world strategies you need to anticipate issues and advocate effectively for clients.
7/14/26
Accessible to Public.
Cases & Decisions, DOJ/EOIR Cases
The BIA held that DHS need not provide an asylum cooperative agreement (ACA) implementing instrument or a full set of operative terms and criteria to show respondents are subject to the ACA for purposes of the safe third country bar. Matter of N–E–R–S–, et al., 29 I&N Dec. 753 (BIA 2026)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, DOJ/EOIR Cases
The BIA held that DHS’s oral motion to pretermit respondents’ applications for asylum and related protection provided sufficient notice of its intent to remove them to a third country pursuant to an asylum cooperative agreement (ACA). Matter of E–A–R–M–, et al., 29 I&N Dec. 746 (BIA 2026)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on July 14, 2026.
7/14/26
Accessible to Public.
AILA Blog
AILA Members John Pratt and Clayton Oates describe the devastation affecting Venezuela and urge the Trump Administration to implement protections for Venezuelan nationals in the U.S, calling on Congress to act if the Administration refuses to do so.
7/14/26
AILA Doc. No. 26071403.
Accessible to Public.
AILA Announcements
Navigate today's toughest waiver and discretionary relief issues with the newly updated fifth edition of The Waivers Book. Covering key barriers to immigration benefits, it also includes a digital add-on with sample materials.
7/14/26
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
AILA provides recommendations for potential resolution of issues related to myUSCIS. AILA will continue to monitor other issues for potential advocacy.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
AILA Announcements
The Asylum & Refugee Committee holds monthly office hours every 3rd Monday, 2-3 pm ET. Join this open forum to discuss issues practitioners are facing, to strategize, and to otherwise collaborate with a group of experts. All are welcome and the committee is grateful for members' participation.
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
AILA members have reported a growing number of concerns in affirmative asylum adjudications. These reports suggest emerging patterns that may be affecting case processing, interview procedures, adjudication timelines, and decision-making in affirmative asylum cases.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Agency Memos & Announcements
DHS announced that 20% of states’ Homeland Security Grant Program awards will be contingent on adopting specific election processes, including using SAVE to verify the citizenship of individuals in state voter registration databases, working at polling places, and operating election systems.
7/13/26
AILA Doc. No. 26071302.
Accessible to Public.
AILA Announcements
Planning has already begun for the 2027 AILA Annual Conference! The Conference Planning Committee needs your suggestions for topics, speakers, and preferred formats for AC27. Please submit your suggestions for consideration by July 17, 2026.
7/13/26
Accessible to Public.
Agency Memos & Announcements
OFLC announced a webinar on 7/22/26 at 1:00 PM ET on preparing an Application for Prevailing Wage Determination (Form ETA-9141) for the permanent and labor condition application programs. It will provide technical assistance, filing best practices, and an overview of common post-filing issues.
Accessible to Public.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on July 13, 2026.
7/13/26
Accessible to Public.
Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS issued a policy alert (PA-2026-03) to update the policy manual regarding what is considered a valid signature when submitting benefit request documents. Feedback is due 8/10/26.
7/10/26
AILA Doc. No. 26071005.
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
On 6/22/26, a federal district court in Texas issued an order in State of Texas v. Department of Justice declaring that no statute authorizes immigration judges to indefinitely pause removal proceedings. The EOIR Committee provides this practice alert with more details and practice implications.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
AILA members may share the attached flyer with clients preparing for U.S. citizenship. Welcome.US’s Citizen Guide Program offers free, flexible online tutoring for lawful permanent residents, pairing each participant with a volunteer tutor for guidance and support. Available in Spanish.
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
The Verification Committee provides a comprehensive chart on current status and EAD notes for TPS and parole programs.
Special thank you to Kathleen Campbell Walker, Meredith Jolie, John Mazzeo, Timothy D’Arduini, Sarah Peterson, and Kimberley Best Robidoux for their contributions to the chart.
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
On July 1, USCIS E-Verify and SAVE issued guidance acknowledging that affected TPS beneficiaries will maintain their right to remain and work in the United States until lower courts dissolve the previously issued injunctions.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
AILA Citizenship Day will take place on or around September 17, 2026, with local chapters planning their own events. Join AILA and our partners for webinars so you feel confident and prepared to volunteer!
Accessible to Public.
AILA Announcements
Submit your article for the Fall 2026 AILA Law Journal. We welcome timely, practice-focused, and scholarly articles on immigration law and policy developments. Share your insights with a national audience of practitioners and thought leaders. Submit by July 13, 2026.
7/10/26
Accessible to Public.
Agency Memos & Announcements
SAVE and E-Verify issued updates on the status of EADs issued to TPS-holders from Haiti. Category A12 or C19 EADs issued under this designation remain valid and extended. SAVE and E-Verify will display a 7/24/26 expiration date.
Accessible to Public.
Agency Memos & Announcements
SAVE issued updates on the status of EADs issued to TPS-holders from Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Category A12 or C19 EADs issued under these designations remain valid and extended. SAVE will display a 7/17/26 expiration date.
Accessible to Public.
Agency Memos & Announcements
E-Verify issued updates on the status of EADs issued to TPS-holders from Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Category A12 or C19 EADs issued under these designations remain valid and extended. E-Verify will display a 7/17/26 expiration date.
Accessible to Public.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on July 10, 2026.
7/10/26
Accessible to Public.
Cases & Decisions, DOJ/EOIR Cases
The BIA held that conscription is not a standalone asylum basis absent a nexus to a protected ground, and that conscription requiring inhuman conduct condemned by the international community is persecution only when tethered to a protected ground. Matter of R–A–N–, 29 I&N Dec. 739 (BIA 2026)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that a Serbian soccer player’s harm from hooligans stemmed from personal and performance-related grievances, not membership in a cognizable social group, and that a revised group and an imputed political opinion claim were waived. (Andric v. Blanche, 7/1/26)
7/10/26
AILA Doc. No. 26071061.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
AILA conferences deliver expert speakers, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, hot topics discussion, and lively networking events that expand your knowledge of immigration law and enhance your law practice.
7/10/26
Accessible to Public.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that noncitizens challenging only the result of withholding-only proceedings may preserve review of their CAT claims by filing a nominal appeal of their removal orders, and that BIA misapplied the clear error standard by reweighing the IJ’s findings. (Riley v. Blanche, 7/2/26)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
AILA Announcements
Navigate the intersection of criminal and immigration law with confidence. Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity provides practical guidance on removability, relief, waivers, plea planning, and case strategy for clients with criminal histories. Order your copy today.
7/10/26
Accessible to Public.
Liaison Minutes
AILA's DOL Liaison Committee shares highlights from the 2026 AILA Annual Conference (AC) panel with OFLC, which occurred on 06/19/2026. Officials from the DOL’s OFLC section participated in-person on the DOL Open Forum panel. Among topics discussed were prevailing wage, PERM, LCA, and H-2A and H-2B.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
FR Regulations & Notices
USCIS NPRM to increase the filing fees for Form N-400 to $1,330 (for paper filing) or $1,280 (for online filing) and for Form N-336 to $1,475 (paper) and $1,425 (online). It would also eliminate most fee waivers and reduced fees. Comments are due 8/24/26. (91 FR 37500, 6/23/26; 91 FR 42144, 7/8/26)
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
AILA's USCIS Operations Committee provides clarification on the photograph reuse policy issued by USCIS on December 12, 2026.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Agency Memos & Announcements
DOL posted the 6/20/26 online filing release notes for Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG). PW filers can now respond to multiple RFIs on a single case and CW-1 filers can now request deadline extensions for their Recruitment Report and Notice of Deficiency (NOD) responses.
Accessible to Public.
Agency Memos & Announcements
OFLC published the assignment groups for 2,625 H-2B applications covering 51,158 worker positions with a work start date of 10/1/26, received during the 7/3-7/5 filing period. On 7/6/26, OFLC provided written notice to employers and their attorneys of the assignment group for their application.
Accessible to Public.
Immigration News
Monthly newsletter brought to you by the members of the Family Section Steering Committee. The content of this email was created by Kathleen Irish, the AILA Family Section Chair, along with the assistance of other members of the Family Section Steering Committee
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
AILA Blog
AILA’s Laura Embree-Lowry reflects on Fourth of July traditions and immigration, writing that “most of us can agree on a starting point: the immigration system should be fair and functional, help build safe and prosperous communities, and inspire public trust.”
7/9/26
AILA Doc. No. 26070902.
Accessible to Public.
Memo & Regulatory Comments
AILA submitted comments in response to proposed revisions to E-Verify. AILA provided recommendations to improve the clarity, practical utility, and implementation of other aspects of the proposed information collection.
Accessible to Public.
Professional Resources
Filing a fraudulent VAWA self-petition violates ethical rules and can have serious consequences for lawyer and client. USCIS recently began conducting interviews on certain cases and brought actions against lawyers in several states. Learn what to avoid and what ethics rules are involved.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on July 9, 2026.
7/9/26
Accessible to Public.
AILA Announcements
For the last 36 years, Kurzban’s has helped immigration practitioners defend due process in even the toughest of cases. The latest and updated 20th edition is now on sale for all members at 25%, guaranteed to help you navigate the most challenging immigration policy changes.
7/9/26
Accessible to Public.
Memo & Regulatory Comments
AILA submitted comments on the interim final rule (IFR) on signatures on immigration benefit requests, urging USCIS to withdraw the IFR.
Accessible to Public.
AILA Announcements
Federal court advocacy is now essential to immigration practice. Litigating Immigration Cases in Federal Court offers practical guidance for challenging unlawful agency action, navigating shifting review standards, and protecting clients’ rights. Order your updated copy today.
7/8/26
Accessible to Public.
Agency Memos & Announcements
DHS General Counsel sent a letter, dated 6/2/26, to state courts across the country warning them of the possibility of fraud in Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status cases and urging state court judges to conduct rigorous individualized review of SIJ cases that come before them.
Accessible to Public.