AILA Blog
Gunda Brost, Past Chair of the AILA IA-NE Chapter, describes how citizenship and denaturalization have been used by nations over human history and what the new actions around denaturalization efforts by the Trump Administration might presage.
Memo & Regulatory Comments
AILA submits a comment to DOS urging the agency to adopt clarifying language in the DS-260 to reduce confusion for applicants using the form.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on September 2, 2025.
9/2/25
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
DOS released a cable providing guidance to posts on which ethnic minorities are excepted from the June 4, 2025, Presidential Proclamation.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
DOS released a cable detailing how applicants can be approved for a national interest exception on a case-by-case basis.
Practice Resources
AILA’s DOS Liaison Committee provides a practice alert on national interest exceptions for visa applicants subject to the June 4, 2025 Presidential Proclamation.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
DOS released a cable explaining the sports exception to the June 4, 2025, Presidential Proclamation “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.”
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
DOS released a cable on Presidential Proclamation 10949, Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.
AILA Announcements
Join AILA’s web seminar on September 16, 2025, from 2:00–3:30pm ET to learn how to effectively identify, prepare, and present expert witnesses in immigration court and appeals. Gain strategies to strengthen your case and meet evidentiary standards.
9/2/25
AILA Announcements
Join the 2025 AILA California Chapters Conference, Nov. 13–15 in Long Beach or via webcast. Gain insights on cutting-edge immigration issues from top experts while earning CLEs and connecting with colleagues statewide. Don’t miss this premier West Coast event!
9/1/25
AILA Announcements
According to Lindsay M. Harris, Director of the Frank C. Newman International Human Rights Clinic at the USF School of Law, AILA's Asylum Primer "is chock full of practice pointers and tips to support asylum lawyering. No asylum attorney should be without it!" Order your copy today.
Agency Memos & Announcements
CBP’s Carrier Liaison Program issued a bulletin on the ESTA/EVUS fee increase as required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Examples & Questions
AILA’s DOS Liaison Committee has received reports of increased L-1 Blanket visa application denials. Please help the committee track this issue by submitting specific examples of changes to L-1 Blanket adjudications at U.S. Consulates.
AILA Announcements
Our 2025 edition of Immigration Regulations (CFR) contains all of Title 8 in Volume I. Volume II includes immigration-related sections of Titles 6, 19, 20, 22, 28, 29, 42, and 45. Updates include H-1B, H-2A, and H-2B modernization; rules on credible and reasonable fear screenings; and more.
8/28/25
AILA Announcements
AILA's 2025 edition of the INA also includes immigration-related statutes that appear in Title 8 of the USC but aren't part of the INA. Updates include the incorporation of the Lanken Riley Act, which was signed on 1/29/25. AILA editors have added informational annotations offering valuable context.
8/28/25
FR Regulations & Notices
On 8/25/25, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana vacated the 2023 H-2A AEWR Final Rule, reverting AEWR rates to the 2010 methodology. The Department of Labor is implementing the vacatur and will provide further guidance as needed.
Practice Resources
AILA's DOL Liaison Committee shares key points, practice implications, and recommended actions to take given DOL's recent announcement of archival of the FAQ database.
Examples & Questions
AILA is seeking examples from members regarding the impact these threats have had on them directly, on their practice, and on their representation of clients for purposes of advocacy and possible litigation.
8/28/25
AILA Doc. No. 25082863.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
DOS will now require immigrant visa applicants to interview in the consular district that is designated for their country of residence.
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
DHS NPRM proposing to change the admission period in the F (academic student), J (exchange visitor), and I (representatives of foreign information media) classifications from duration of status to admission for a fixed period. Comments due 9/28/25. (90 FR 42070, 8/28/25)
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
EOIR final rule amending the regulatory requirements for candidates for Temporary Immigration Judge appointment, broadening the candidate pool significantly. The rule is effective 8/28/25. (90 FR 41883, 8/28/25)
Examples & Questions
AILA’s CBP Committee is soliciting non-case specific questions to inform the creation of an agenda for a liaison meeting with representatives from the CBP Office of Field Operations.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on August 28, 2025.
8/28/25
Practice Resources
Federal court stays DHS policies targeting previously paroled individuals for expedited removal. AILA and the National Immigration Project issue guidance for attorneys on raising the CHIRLA v. Noem order in expedited removal cases.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
As part of the modernization of the Department of Labor’s websites, OFLC will be archiving the searchable Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) database, and moving it to a new location. Once the page is archived, OFLC will not be making any further updates to the searchable database.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
OFLC has announced the annual determination of H-2A labor supply states, which are additional states in which an employer’s job order will be circulated and additional recruitment may be required. The determination is effective 8/27/25.
Practice Resources
AILA’s DOS Liaison Committee provides a practice alert regarding DOS’s revision to Affidavit of Support requirements.
Practice Resources
AILA’s DOS Liaison Committee provides a practice alert concerning new FAM protocols on cybersecurity and AI use.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
EOIR Acting Director Sirce E. Owen released a Policy Memorandum (PM 25-43) establishing EOIR policy regarding employee feedback, particularly in light of the recent announcement by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) of the cancellation of the 2025 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS).
Practice Resources
On August 20, 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the government’s request to stay a district court order that had continued TPS for Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua and postponed their termination. USCIS has since removed Nepal from the list of countries designated for TPS.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS announced in a Policy Memorandum (PM-602-0189) that it is resuming personal investigations (also known as neighborhood investigations) of people applying for naturalization, in accordance with section 335(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Federal Court Cases
On August 18, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a partial administrative stay of the District Court’s order while it considers the government’s motion for a stay pending appeal.
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
DOL notice that, effective 9/30/25, DOL will no longer accept paper checks as a form of payment or issue paper checks as payments, as directed in Executive Order 14247, “Modernizing Payments To and From America's Bank Account.” (90 FR 41843, 8/27/25)
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on August 27, 2025.
8/27/25
Agency Memos & Announcements, Featured Issues
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem signed a waiver to expedite construction of five miles of new border wall in Starr and Hidalgo Counties in Texas. This is the seventh such waive the Secretary has signed. About 100 miles of new border wall is currently under construction or planned.
Practice Resources
Low bono representation expands an attorney’s ability to help immigrants with compelling cases. Anne Relias, a member of AILA’s Pro Bono Committee, shares how she incorporates low bono into her practice, with details about identifying clients, local partners, fees, and other considerations.
8/26/25
AILA Doc. No. 23061307.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
AILA provides a continually updated list of press releases announcing deaths in adult immigration detention.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
A federal court has ordered Grimmway Enterprises Inc., a major agricultural employer, to pay $427,456 in back wages and penalties after a DOL investigation determined H-2A workers and corresponding U.S. workers were underpaid and subjected to unsafe housing conditions and transportation.
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
DHS notice that the DHS Secretary has determined that it is necessary to waive certain legal requirements in order to construct barriers and roads near the international border with Mexico in the Rio Grande Valley Sector of Texas. The determination takes effect 8/26/25. (90 FR 41589, 8/26/25)
Practice Resources
The DOS Liaison Committee provides a briefing on the September 2025 visa bulletin which highlights that DOS expects to reach FY 2025 category limits in most employment-based preference categories during August and September.
Practice Resources
AILA’s DOS Liaison Committee provides a practice alert concerning the revision of 9 FAM 302.2-6(B)(2) to remove the COVID vaccination requirement.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on August 26, 2025.
8/26/25
AILA Announcements
Skillfully navigate the intersection of immigration and criminal law. Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity is the trusted, go-to for lawyers fashioning a plea with immigration consequences in mind and preparing immigration applications for clients with a criminal record.
8/26/25
Sample Briefs
Plaintiff filed supplemental facts attaching a FOIA response from the Department of State concerning outcomes of visa refusals under INA § 221(g), offered to challenge the government’s assertion that such refusals are final and unreviewable.
Sample Briefs
Plaintiff’s counsel filed a practice advisory challenging the Department of State’s position that 221(g) refusals are final and unreviewable, citing agency guidance and FOIA responses to show that such cases may be reopened and adjudicated.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
EOIR Acting Director Sirce E. Owen published a Policy Memo (PM 25-42) establishing updated guidance regarding the independence and impartiality of EOIR adjudicators. This memo supersedes and replaces PM 21-15.
Sample Briefs
The government argued the plaintiff’s F-1 visa was lawfully refused under INA § 221(g), fulfilling the consular officer’s duty. Relying on consular nonreviewability, defendants claimed courts cannot review visa refusals, and a six-month delay does not constitute unreasonable delay under TRAC.
Sample Briefs
The Department of State responded to a FOIA request by releasing a partially redacted visa adjudications record, citing statutory exemptions and harm standards. It confirmed non-exempt material was disclosed and provided a summary of FOIA exemptions and withholding grounds.
8/25/25
AILA Doc. No. 25082504.
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
DOL notice rescinding an FAQ issued by the Office of Foreign Labor Certification on 7/22/11 prohibiting employers from filing a single temporary agricultural labor certification to hire nonimmigrant workers under the H-2A visa classification after the first date of need. (90 FR 41413, 8/25/25)
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
On 8/20/25, President Trump granted a permit to Cameron County, Texas to construct, maintain, and operate a pedestrian crossing at the Gateway International Bridge Land Port of Entry located on the United States border with Mexico in Brownsville, Texas. (90 FR 41499, 8/25/25)