FR Regulations & Notices
DOS NPRM highlighting changes to the conditions in which sponsors must end an exchange visitor's program and the conditions by which the Department of State can terminate an exchange visitor's program. Comments are due 9/28/26. (91 FR 48021, 7/30/26)
Accessible to Public.
FR Regulations & Notices
EOIR NPRM that would allow immigration judges to impose monetary penalties on individuals who are found in contempt. The proposed rule states that monetary penalties could be imposed on attorneys, defendants, and witnesses present in the courtroom. Comments are due 9/28/26. (91 FR 47979, 7/30/26)
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
USCIS has acknowledged the First Circuit Court's order denying the motion to stay the $100,000 fee - has issued formal guidance. However, USCIS is working on next steps and if order is lifted, aims to collect fees then. Briefing on merits of government's appeal is expected to conclude on 10/26/2026.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Practice Resources
The DHS final rule eliminating duration of status for F, J, and I nonimmigrants poses significant challenges for F-1 students from travel-ban and pause countries. These students face increased risks in travel, visa processing, and status maintenance, requiring careful legal guidance and planning.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
AILA Blog
AILA Government Relations Coordinator Joshua Rodriguez describes the ways AILA and members have remained dedicated and determined to defend the rights of immigrants amid growing unlawful abuses by ICE and Border Patrol.
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 30, 2026.
7/30/26
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
The DHS final rule eliminating duration of status for F, J, and I nonimmigrants introduces significant restrictions on academic mobility for F-1 students, particularly regarding changes in educational objectives and school transfers. The rule takes effect on September 15, 2026.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Professional Resources
A new cybersecurity threat can be found in AI search results and results of AI chatbots that you would never imagine. Learn what it is and how to avoid falling for this pernicious scam.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Featured Issues
DHS has ended the longstanding duration of status framework for F, J, and I nonimmigrants, replacing it with fixed periods of admission for these visas. This page will collect resources to help practitioners navigate this change.
Accessible to Public.
AILA Blog
AILA Rule of Law Task Force Member Kate Melloy Goettel describes how immigration law clinics today must navigate a rapidly changing legal landscape where due process and procedural guarantees are under attack, challenging both students and educators to adapt and maintain commitment to justice.
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
AILA’s Student Visa Taskforce provides guidance on filing for extensions of stay for F, J, and I nonimmigrants after the DHS final rule eliminating duration of status for these visa classifications take effect on September 15, 2026.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, DOJ/EOIR Cases
The BIA held that an IJ may draw reasonable adverse inferences from a respondent's invocation of the Fifth Amendment on questions material to discretionary relief, and that unlawful voting is a significant adverse factor. Matter of Lopez Rico, 29 I&N Dec. 780 (BIA 2026)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, DOJ/EOIR Cases
The BIA held that an asylum application should be pretermitted or deemed abandoned for failure to pay the annual asylum fee by the prescribed deadline, but that the fee and consequences for nonpayment do not extend to withholding or CAT protection. Matter of L–F–R–, 29 I&N Dec. 787 (BIA 2026)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Federal Court Cases
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit denied the government’s motion to stay a district court order that found the $100,000 H-1B fee unlawful. USCIS has acknowledged the motion denial and will not collect fees at this time. (State of California v. Mullin, 7/24/26)
Accessible to Public.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on July 29, 2026.
7/29/26
AILA Doc. No. 26072900.
Accessible to Public.
AILA has received recent reports of DHS enforcement actions at USCIS asylum offices. In some cases, clients had criminal convictions or other past criminal issues, but in others there were no apparent criminal issues or other factors indicating why the person was targeted for arrest.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
FR Regulations & Notices
USCIS interim final rule allowing asylum officers to refer certain asylum applications to EOIR without conducting an asylum interview. The rule is effective 7/28/26. Comments are due 9/28/26. (91 FR 47101, 7/28/26)
Accessible to Public.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that the petitioner’s Oregon conviction for felony fourth-degree assault for battering his wife in front of their minor children was a crime of child abuse, child neglect, or child abandonment under INA §237(a)(2)(E)(i). (Diaz-Boyzo v. Blanche, 7/23/26)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that INA §240A(b)(1)(D) requires assessing qualifying relatives as of the agency’s final adjudication, and found that a child who turned 21 during petitioner’s BIA appeal could no longer support their eligibility for cancellation of removal. (Torres-Casas v. Blanche, 7/22/26)
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 28, 2026.
7/28/26
Accessible to Public.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that age-based particular social groups are immutable as a matter of law because asylum applicants cannot alter their age to escape persecution, and that the BIA erred in reviewing the IJ’s nexus finding for clear error rather than de novo. (Garcia Demetrio v. Blanche, 7/20/26)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that the record compelled a finding of indicia of incompetency requiring further inquiry under Matter of M–A–M–, where the petitioner had head trauma and a psychologist reported his ability to assist his attorney and the court was compromised. (Rana v. Blanche, 7/23/26)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Practice Resources
On 7/27/26, DHS posted public notice of an interim final rule they intend to publish on 7/28/26, to go into effect the same day. Asylum offices will be able to refer cases to EOIR without an interview based on certain factors including missing the one year filing deadline and officers' discretion.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
AILA Public Statements, Press Releases
Ben Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) responded to the interim final rule “Affirmative Asylum Referrals Without Interview” published on 7/27/26.
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
The DOS Liaison Committee provides a briefing on the contents of the August 2026 visa bulletin.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Practice Resources
AILA’s DOS Committee provides a practice alert on the temporary final rule establishing an optional $750 fee for expedited B‑1/B2 visa interview appointments. The pilot program launched at Mission Mexico on July 21, 2026.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Examples & Questions
AILA’s CBP Liaison Committee requests questions from membership for a potential fall meeting with CBP’s Office of Field Operations (OFO). Submit questions by August 16, 2026.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Practice Resources
AILA has received a number of reports over the past few days of individuals without lawful status, including those in a period of authorized stay based on pending applications, being detained at airports across the country while traveling domestically.
Accessible to Public.
Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS announced an upcoming interim final rule (IFR), to be published in the Federal Register on 7/28/26, allowing asylum officers to refer applicants to immigration court without first interviewing them. The rule will be in effect as of publication. An advance copy is available.
Accessible to Public.
The final step in this year’s elections is for the AILA National Board to appoint one additional Director to complete the 2027 Board of Directors.
7/27/26
AILA Doc. No. 26072700.
Accessible to: Member.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on July 27, 2026.
7/27/26
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
AILA’s DOS Committee provides a detailed guide for scheduling nonimmigrant visa interviews using AVITS.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.