AILA Blog
As part of Pro Bono Week 2026, AILA celebrates our members’ dedication to clients and the power of service; in this blog post, two attorneys share how pro bono work fuels persistent advocacy, builds practical skills, and connects practitioners with a community of support.
Accessible to Public.
Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS announced that, due to the 9/28/26 order in Sileiri Doe v. DHS, individuals who obtained parole via CBP One and whose parole was terminated by mass email in April 2025 may request that USCIS reopen or reconsider certain adverse decisions or actions issued 4/1/25–4/21/26 without a filing fee.
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
CBP OFO has confirmed that individuals who were born in the U.S., hold/held U.S. citizenship, or may have renounced U.S. citizenship may not be eligible for travel under the VWP through ESTA.
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 October 27, 2026.
10/27/26
Accessible to Public.
Cases & Decisions, DOJ/EOIR Cases
The BIA held that when mail sent to a respondent’s only address of record is returned as undeliverable, there are no additional reasonably available or practicable steps the Board or an immigration court can take to effect notice. Matter of Chamorro Castillo, 30 I&N Dec. 170 (BIA 2026)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
AILA Announcements
Navigate the latest challenges in consular practice with the updated Consular Practice Handbook. Packed with timely insights, this essential guide helps you address heightened scrutiny, shifting policies, and ongoing delays. Get your copy today!
10/27/26
Accessible to Public.
FR Regulations & Notices
ICE 60-day notice and request for comments on a new information collection, ICE FOIA Request Form, I-902. The form will be used for FOIA and Privacy Act requests. Comments are due 12/28/26. (91 FR 67326, 10/26/26)
10/26/26
AILA Doc. No. 26102603.
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
USCIS has informed AILA that premium processing upgrades to Form I-140 should be filed with the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Agency Memos & Announcements
CBP’s Carrier Liaison Program (CLP) announced that effective October 30, 2026, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP) is suspended.
Accessible to Public.
AILA Blog
AILA Member Benjamin Green shares insights in this blog post focused on why AILA members may want to revisit clients’ family histories to see if last year’s changes to Canadian citizenship-by-descent rules may create options on both sides of the border.
Accessible to Public.
AILA’s CBP Liaison Committee provides key takeaways from the October 23, 2026, meeting with CBP’s Office of Field Operations.
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 October 26, 2026.
10/26/26
Accessible to Public.
Visa Bulletins
USCIS determined that, for November 2026, applicants in all family-sponsored preference categories and employment-based preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart.
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
Federal and state governments have built new detention facilities this year at breakneck speed, with the needs of detainees taking a back seat. This resource from the Benefits Litigation Committee outlines strategies for using litigation to challenge poor medical care in ICE detention.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions
The court held that noncitizens who have not been admitted into the U.S. are not entitled to any process beyond what is provided by statute. Accordingly, an unadmitted noncitizen has no statutory or constitutional right to a bond hearing. (Sosnava Rodriguez v. Vergara, 10/23/26)
Accessible to Public.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on October 23, 2026.
10/23/26
Accessible to Public.
Visa Bulletins
DOS posted the November 2026 Visa Bulletin with updates on family-sponsored and employment-based “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing” and U.S. Government Employee Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs).
Accessible to Public.
AILA Blog
AILA Law Journal Editor-in-Chief Cyrus Mehta describes the new edition, writing that the editorial board sought to “bring forward a collection of both original and thought-provoking articles by authors who have creatively advanced topics and ideas that may have received too little attention.”
Accessible to Public.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on October 22, 2026.
10/22/26
AILA Doc. No. 26102204.
Accessible to Public.
Agency Memos & Announcements
CBP’s Carrier Liaison Program (CLP) notified air carrier and aircraft operators that effective 11:59pm EST November 3, 2026, passengers departing any foreign country for the U.S. must provide an attestation that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) within the last 21 days.
Accessible to Public.
Cases & Decisions, DOJ/EOIR Cases
The BIA held that the Ninth Circuit’s inherently unbelievable standard conflicts with U.S. Supreme Court precedent, and that IJs and the BIA need not accept as true facts supporting a motion to reopen even if not inherently unbelievable. Matter of J–E–D–C–, 30 I&N Dec. 162 (BIA 2026)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that substantial evidence supported the findings that the petitioner, stalked for three years in Honduras by a man who threatened her partner, did not establish past persecution or an objectively reasonable fear of future persecution. (Alvarado-Hernandez v. Blanche, 10/15/26)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo does not permit disregarding its precedent defining sexual abuse of a minor, and that NYPL §130.60(2) categorically matches that aggravated felony, which requires no age differential. (Islam v. Att’y Gen., 10/14/26)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
AILA Blog
Kathleen Campbell Walker details how flawed citizenship checks and automatic voter registration errors can put both eligible voters and noncitizens at risk, describing the need for accurate data, careful verification, and due process to protect voting rights and prevent immigration consequences.
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.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on October 21, 2026.
10/21/26
Accessible to Public.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that substantial evidence supported the agency’s finding that DHS rebutted the presumption of a well-founded fear of future persecution by showing a fundamental change in circumstances in The Gambia, and affirmed the denial of humanitarian asylum. (Jatta v. Blanche, 10/16/26)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Practice Resources
AILA's DOL Committee provides clarification on the PERM processing suspension for the eight companies; including what it means and for how long.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, DOJ/EOIR Cases
The BIA held that no presumption favors a continuance for a prima facie approvable U visa petition and that IJs should apply the Matter of L–A–B–R– test in deciding good cause based on a pending petition or visa availability. Matter of L. Ramirez, 30 I&N Dec. 157 (BIA 2026)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that the BIA abused its discretion by placing too much weight on the IJ’s pre-death-threat findings and too little weight on the petitioner’s new evidence of death threats, and that there was a nexus between the threats and her family group. (Fajardo-Rivas v. Blanche, 10/13/26)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.