Agency Memos & Announcements
EOIR Director Daren Margolin issued policy memorandum (PM) 26-04 canceling PM 20-16, OCAHO Settlement Officer Program; PM 20-06, Section 7611 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020, Public Law 116-92; and director’s memorandum (DM) 22-08, The Asylum Procedures Rule.
Accessible to Public.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on May 26, 2026.
5/26/26
Accessible to Public.
Correspondence
AILA's EB-5 Committee sent a letter to DOS urgently requesting adjudication of pending immigrant visa applications for approved EB-5 beneficiaries in reserved categories by 9/30/26.
5/26/26
AILA Doc. No. 26052631.
Accessible to Public.
Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS policy memo PM-602-0199 asserts that adjustment of status is “administrative grace,” not a right, and directs officers to weigh all factors, requiring applicants to show outstanding equities to overcome adverse factors.
Accessible to Public.
Correspondence
AILA letter to USCIS urgently requesting adjudication of pending immigrant visa petitions for approved EB-5 beneficiaries in reserved categories by 9/30/26. The letter also details other EB-5 process improvement requests.
Accessible to Public.
Agency Memos & Announcements
EOIR announced the swearing in of 77 immigration judges and 5 temporary immigration judges to serve in immigration courts across the United States. This is the largest class of new adjudicators in the agency's history.
Accessible to Public.
Professional Resources
Tired? Check out these simple tips to help you sleep better tonight.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Memo & Regulatory Comments
AILA and the Council oppose this Proposed Rule as it does not offer an accurate assessment of the current prevailing wage methodology and fails to consider less burdensome alternatives to achieve its objectives.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Professional Resources
In this series, AILA’s National Pro Bono Committee interviews Chapter Pro Bono Champions, asking them five questions to learn more about how they began doing pro bono work and the impact of their work.
Accessible to Public.
CBP announcement of DHS Secretary's decision to redirect flights departing after 11:59 PM ET on 5/20/26 with passengers recently present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, or South Sudan to arrive at Washington-Dulles International Airport in Virginia. (91 FR 29896, 5/21/26)
Accessible to Public.
Professional Resources
Learn more about how AILA’s 2026 Well-Being Week combined practical resources, popular live roundtables, and engaging chapter challenges to build momentum for a healthier, more connected legal community year-round.
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.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on May 21, 2026.
5/21/26
Accessible to Public.
FR Regulations & Notices
CDC notice of the Title 42 Order issued 5/18/26 suspending entry, with some exceptions, of non-U.S. passport-holders who were in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, or South Sudan in the last 21 days due to an Ebola outbreak. It is effective for 30 days. (91 FR 29961, 5/21/26)
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
On April 28, 2026. USCIS updated its web page to note that the Employment Authorization Documents for TPS El Salvador recipients with an expiration date of March 9, 2025 were automatically extended through July 22, 2026. Please see alert for employee and employer implications.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
FR Regulations & Notices
ICE notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to increase the fee for “aliens ordered removed in absentia” established in H.R. 1 from $5,130 to $18,000. It also states that ICE will adjust the fee for inflation each year. Comments are due 6/22/26. (91 FR 29380, 5/20/26)
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
AILA members have continued to report the rise in "mega masters" at various courts around the country. These include 100+ respondents being scheduled in a single master calendar hearing, raising serious practical and due process concerns.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Agency Memos & Announcements
CBP’s Carrier Liaison Program issued a bulletin requiring travelers arriving from DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan to enter the United States through Washington-Dulles International Airport.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Practice Resources
AILA members have reported across the country that hearings are appearing on their online court calendars without any notice being issued. The EOIR National Liaison Committee is encouraging all removal defense practitioners to check their online calendars for unexpected hearing changes.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
AILA Blog
In this blog post, AILA AROL Task Force Member Karen Grisez describes how “this administration has mounted a less visible attack on due process inside the U.S. immigration court system” and reviews “what due process means and how it applies in the immigration context.”
5/20/26
AILA Doc. No. 26052002.
Accessible to Public.
Professional Resources
Explore how ethics and professionalism guide the management of doubtful evidence in extraordinary ability immigration cases and similar situations when client-provided documentation is inconsistent.
5/20/26
AILA Doc. No. 26052001.
Ethics
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 May 20, 2026.
5/20/26
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
AILA’s DOS Liaison Committee provides an overview of the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System and guidance for practitioners with clients traveling to the United States for the World Cup.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Cases & Decisions, DOJ/EOIR Cases
The BIA held that the closer in time a change of venue request is made to an individual hearing, the less likely a party can show good cause, and absent extraordinary circumstances, venue should not be changed on the day of a hearing. Matter of I–B–M–S–, et al., 29 I&N Dec. 628 (BIA 2026)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.
Agency Memos & Announcements
CBP’s Carrier Liaison Program issued a bulletin concerning enhanced medical screening at U.S. ports of entry in response to the May 18, 2026, Title 42 order regarding the outbreak of Ebola in DRC and Uganda.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
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, June 9.
5/19/26
AILA Doc. No. 15082740.
Accessible to Public.
Professional Resources
Check out these AILA resources to help protect your practice from allegations of fraud.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
AILA Announcements
AILA members are encouraged to share inefficiencies and concerns arising in frontline adjudications. This campaign provides a template covering relevant topics to help you submit personalized comments. Get involved!
5/19/26
AILA Doc. No. 26051900.
Accessible to Public.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on May 19, 2026.
5/19/26
Accessible to Public.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that threats from masked men, two brief beatings, and a short detention of the Sikh Mann party member petitioner did not rise to the level of past persecution, and found he could avoid future persecution by relocating within India. (Singh v. Blanche, 12/1/25, amended 5/15/26)
Accessible to: Member, Student, Govt/Policy, Paralegal.