Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) posted a reminder for stakeholders that the filing window to submit an H-2B Application for Temporary Employment Certification (Form ETA-9142B and appendices) requesting work start dates of 4/1/26 or later will open 1/1/26, at 12:00 a.m. ET.
Practice Resources
On November 19, 2025, a federal judge blocked the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syria. On December 5, 2025, USCIS updated the TPS website for Syria in response. The Verification and Documentation Committee provide this practice alert for more details.
Practice Resources
AILA's Operations Committee has written a Practice Pointer with a Discretionary Analysis for Travel Ban countries.
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
DHS issued a final rule implementing a weighted selection process that will generally favor the allocation of cap-subject H-1B visas to higher-paid workers. This rule will be effective on 2/27/26, in time for the FY 2027 registration season. (90 FR 60864, 12/29/25)
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on December 29, 2025.
12/29/25
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that it had jurisdiction to review the BIA’s extraordinary circumstances determination, but found that substantial evidence supported the BIA’s conclusion that childhood trauma did not excuse the petitioner’s 13-year delay in filing for asylum. (Ruiz v. Bondi, 12/22/25)
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that the petitioner’s Texas conviction for indecency with a child by sexual contact was categorically a “crime of child abuse” under INA §237(a)(2)(E)(i), and found that statutory authentication methods for conviction records are not exclusive. (Campuzano v. Bondi, 12/22/25)
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that substantial evidence supported the denial of asylum and related relief, finding that the Guatemalan petitioners were targeted for criminal extortion rather than a protected ground and could reasonably relocate within Guatemala. (Ramos-Hernandez, et al. v. Bondi, 12/22/25)