Congressional Updates
The bipartisan Keep Innovators in America Act codifies the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, allowing U.S.-educated international graduates to work after graduation, retaining talent, supporting startups, and strengthening U.S. economic competitiveness.
Accessible to Public.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on March 20, 2026.
3/20/26
Accessible to Public.
Professional Resources
Mindfulness doesn't have to be a one-size-fits-all practice! This article explores the challenges some people face with traditional mindfulness tools like meditation and explores an alternative approach called flow state.
Accessible to: Paralegal, Member, Student.
Professional Resources
In this series we'll hear from AILA's 2025 Pro Bono Champions to learn more about why they do pro bono work.
3/20/26
AILA Doc. No. 26032062.
Accessible to: Student, Member, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that the BIA must determine whether a petitioner would be eligible for asylum or withholding of removal but for the material support bar, because USCIS will not consider a waiver application absent such a determination. (Sufiyan v. Bondi, 3/12/26)
Accessible to: Member, Paralegal, Govt/Policy, Student.
Cases & Decisions, DOJ/EOIR Cases
The BIA held that no ineffective assistance claim lies where person retained was not an attorney and did not hold himself out as one, and that minor respondents’ SIJ-based adjustment eligibility was speculative due to visa unavailability. Matter of Z–R–C–N–, et al., 29 I&N Dec. 523 (BIA 2026)
Accessible to: Govt/Policy, Member, Paralegal, Student.
Correspondence
AILA President Jeff Joseph and Executive Director Ben Johnson sent a letter to Leader Thune, Leader Schumer, Speaker Johnson, and Leader Jeffries to block funding to ICE and CBP until meaningful reforms are enacted to hold these agencies accountable and restore safety to American communities.
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Practice Resources
USCIS has agreed to extend the registration period until 5pm ET today (March 19). Continuing issues should be reported directly to USCISFeedback@uscis.dhs.gov.
Accessible to: Paralegal, Student, Member.
Professional Resources
Technology is ever-transforming and attorneys need to develop and maintain competence about protecting client data and the risks of using certain technologies. In this article, learn how to avoid violating ethics rules and exposing clients to risk from scams and cyberattacks.
3/19/26
AILA Doc. No. 23102501.
Ethics
Accessible to: Paralegal, Member, Student.
Professional Resources
Discover practical strategies to transform your immigration firm’s culture and create a thriving, resilient workplace.
Accessible to: Student, Paralegal, Member.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on March 19, 2026.
3/19/26
Accessible to Public.
Policy Briefs
The Administration has implemented many changes to the immigration court system that undermines its ability to deliver fair outcomes consistent with the law. This brief explores these changes and provides recommendations to Congress to make the courts fairer, faster, and restore the public’s trust.
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Practice Resources
The DOS Liaison Committee provides a practice alert regarding the new Temporary Final Rule establishing a 12-month visa bond pilot program for B1/B2 visa applicants, and provides a list of countries subject to the visa bond.
Accessible to: Member, Paralegal, Student.
Practice Resources
On March 12, E Verify confirmed USCIS extended TPS based EADs for South Sudan under African Communities Together v. Noem. I 9s should note “as per court order” in Section 1 and use "April 10, 2026," in Section 2; employers should retain USCIS TPS guidance.
Accessible to: Member, Paralegal.
Professional Resources, Tutorial Videos
In this AILA Moment of Mindfulness Recording, we are introduced to the body scan. In this exercise, we learn how to bring awareness and acknowledgment to whatever we feel or sense in the body. The body scan is a tool that can be very helpful in working with stress, anxiety, and physical pain.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The en banc court denied the petitioners’ opposed motion to stay removal pursuant to Nken v. Holder and Leiva-Perez v. Holder, and lifted the temporary stay of removal previously entered pursuant to General Order 6.4(c) effective immediately. (Rojas-Espinoza v. Bondi, 3/10/26)
Accessible to: Govt/Policy, Paralegal, Member, Student.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that the respondent, a bisexual woman from Honduras, failed to establish past persecution, a nexus to a protected ground, or that the Honduran government was unable or unwilling to protect her from private actors. (Maldonado-Ruiz v. Bondi, 3/10/26)
Accessible to: Member, Govt/Policy, Paralegal, Student.
Agency Memos & Announcements, Federal Agencies
SAVE and E-Verify issued updates on the impact of the court order in African Communities Together et al. v. Noem et al. staying the termination of TPS for Somalia set for 3/17/26. Beneficiaries will keep their status and EAD, and category A12 and C19 EADs remain valid and are extended.
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Agency Memos & Announcements, Federal Agencies
DOS updated the list of countries subject to the visa bond pilot program established by the 8/5/25 temporary final rule to add 12 more countries, to be implemented 4/2/26. Nationals of the listed countries must post bonds of $5,000-$15,000 to travel to the U.S. on B1/B2 visas.
Accessible to Public.
Visa Bulletins
USCIS determined that, for April 2026, applicants in all family-sponsored preference categories and all employment-based preference categories must use the Dates for Filing 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 March 18, 2026.
3/18/26
Accessible to Public.
Visa Bulletins
DOS posted the April 2026 Visa Bulletin with updates on “Final Action Dates,” “Dates for Filing,” the Diversity Visa program, availability of family-sponsored and employment-based visas, Special Immigrant Visas, and more.
Accessible to Public.