AILA Announcements
This summer, join thousands of immigration attorneys, law professors, paralegals, students, exhibitors, and special guests in San Diego, California—set against the calm beauty of the Pacific coast. Together, we’ll recharge, sharpen our expertise, and fortify the bonds that strengthen our community.
5/27/26
Accessible to Public.
AILA Announcements
AILA National and the Global Migration Section (GMS) invite you to attend its annual Global Migration Forum, which this year will be held in the beautiful border city of San Diego on the southern coast of California.
5/27/26
Accessible to Public.
FR Regulations & Notices
CDC interim final rule and request for comments amending Foreign Quarantine Regulations. The IFR allows the CDC to suspend entry for LPRs under the Title 42 Order barring travelers who have been in DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan in the last 21 days. Comments are due 6/26/26. (91 FR 31362, 5/27/26)
Accessible to Public.
FR Regulations & Notices
On 5/21/26, President Trump issued an Emergency Presidential Determination to increase the refugee admissions ceiling for FY26 from 7,500 to 17,500. The additional admissions will be allocated to Afrikaners from South Africa. (91 FR 31645, 5/27/26)
Accessible to Public.
Examples & Questions
To assess the impact of USCIS Policy Memo PM-602-0199, which frames adjustment of status as a discretionary and extraordinary relief allowing applicants to bypass consular processing, AILA National seeks examples of affected client cases.
Accessible to: Member.
FR Regulations & Notices
USCIS 30-day notice of the reinstatement with change of Form I-129H2A, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker: H–2A Classification. A 60-day notice was previously published on 1/29/26. Comments are due 6/26/26. (91 FR 31473, 5/27/26)
Accessible to Public.
Agency Memos & Announcements
Updated CLP guidance implements CDC-directed Ebola-related travel restrictions. Noncitizens recently in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan (past 21 days) are generally barred from U.S. entry, with limited exceptions and mandatory arrival at designated airports for screening.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
AILA Blog
In this blog post, AILA AROL Task Force Member Kevin Bank describes how "deterioration of civility further erodes the rule of law" in immigration court, and how the experience of Helen Suzman, an opposition politician in South Africa during apartheid, inspires him to stay strong despite adversity.
5/27/26
AILA Doc. No. 26052762.
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 27, 2026.
5/27/26
Accessible to Public.
Professional Resources
The 2025 AILA Practice Pulse offers essential insights into the economics, technology, well-being, and trends shaping immigration law. Designed for all practice types, this data-rich study is a roadmap for the future of immigration law practice. Download now!
Accessible to: Member.
Professional Resources
Don’t be the lawyer that submits an AI-hallucinated case. Put in place the right procedures to get it right the first time.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Practice Resources
This alert summarizes asylum fee framework as it applies to affirmative asylum cases, including the consequences of non‑payment and key practice considerations for counsel, such as strategies to reduce the risk of application rejection or loss of asylum‑based employment authorization.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Agency Memos & Announcements
CBP expanded the list of designated airports for arriving flights with passengers who were recently in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan to Washington-Dulles International Airport, Virginia; Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta; or George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston.
Accessible to Public.
Practice Resources
On May 22nd, USCIS released a policy memorandum characterizing adjustment of status as an act of extraordinary discretion. This practice pointer provides more details regarding the memo, its anticipated impacts, and considerations for practitioners.
Accessible to: Member, Student, Paralegal.
Agency Memos & Announcements
DHS announced a new directive instructing ICE to take additional actions to target “fraudulent asylum claims,” including against attorneys who file false asylum claims. The announcement alleges that immigration attorneys regularly coach their clients to conceal information and lie to obtain asylum.
Accessible to Public.
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.