Archive for July 2019

Order your ASISTA T-shirt Today!

By Ahlam Moussa • July 31, 2019
Stop the Fear. Stop the Deportations. Stop the Abuse. – Order Today!

Press Statement: ASISTA Response to DHS’ New Expanded Expedited Removal Policy

By Admin • July 25, 2019
For Immediate Release: July 25, 2019 – Expansion of Expedited Removal Erodes Due Process and Creates Increased Barriers for Vulnerable Survivors

Practice Advisory: Tips for Representing U Visa Respondents

By Admin • July 22, 2019
ASISTA and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recently published a new in-depth practice advisory that contains updates in policy and survivor-based advocacy strategies for U visa applicants at different stages of removal proceedings. This includes strategies for helping U visa applicants with final or prior orders of removal, those currently in removal proceedings, and options for survivors if they receive unfavorable decisions in immigration court. This advisory will be updated should new or additional policy developments impact its content.

Practice Update: Form I-539 Extensions of Status & Passport Requirements for U nonimmigrants

By Admin • July 12, 2019
ASISTA has prepared a brief advisory to address the recent trends regarding adjudication of I-539 extensions for U nonimmigrants. Practitioners report that USCIS is issuing Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs asking for proof that the applicant had a valid passport at the time of filing. This advisory contains practice tips for advocates to prevent and address this issue. The advisory can be accessed below and in Word here .

Serving Survivors Who May be At Risk of Immigration Enforcement Actions

By Admin • July 11, 2019
ASISTA condemns the Administration’s plans for mass raids, now slated to start this Su nday . These mass immigration enforcement actions create immense fear in communities nationwide. For immigrant survivors of violence, these raids exacerbate the trauma and fear they already endure because of the abuse they have experienced.

Recent Posts

ASISTA Practice Pointer: Hot Tips for Contacting USCIS About Pending Survivor-Based Cases (Updated March 24, 2026)

By Maria Lazzarino • April 28, 2026
This Practice Pointer synthesizes current recommendations for using USCIS customer service options for survivor-based relief applications. It also discusses how to supplement pending survivor-based petitions via mail, with the hotlines as a backup paper trail. As noted throughout, the information is accurate up to the publication date, but should always be cross-checked with information on USCIS’s website and Policy Manual for the most up-to-date government provisos. This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GK-05161-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

ASISTA POLICY ALERT: Policy Manual Updates to 8 USC § 1367 Confidentiality Protections (Feb. 3, 2026)

By Maria Lazzarino • April 28, 2026
On December 22, 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) released an update to its Policy Manual relating to confidentiality protections located at 8 USC § 1367 (“1367 protections”). This Policy Alert will review the changes introduced by the policy update and provide initial guidance to practitioners filing cases affected by them. ASISTA will provide further guidance through training and written resources as warranted, and members are encouraged to request technical assistance for any individual case questions.

Hotline Contact for U Receipt Notices Starting with IOE (April 2026)

By Maria Lazzarino • April 24, 2026
ASISTA is aware that the USCIS “Contact Us” page does not include information about which hotline address should be contacted for U cases with receipt numbers that start with IOE. After reaching out to USCIS, until the Contact Us page is updated to reflect their “final determination,” practitioners inquiring about U cases with receipt numbers starting with IOE should reach out to the VSC 918/914 hotline. See this Practice Alert for more information.

ASISTA Practice Alert: USCIS Extreme Vetting Policies and Their Implication for Immigrant Survivors (Dec. 12, 2025)

By Maria Lazzarino • December 12, 2025
This Practice Alert summarizes USCIS’s new extreme vetting policies, including broad adjudication holds, re-review of previously approved cases, and heightened discretionary scrutiny, and explains their serious implications for immigrant survivors seeking safety and stability. It also provides practical guidance for practitioners on preparing clients for the impact of these measures and on developing case strategies and potential legal challenges.

ASISTA Practice Alert: Impact of HR-1 on Trafficking Survivors (Oct. 1, 2025)

By Maria Lazzarino • December 12, 2025
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed HR-1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), which significantly impacts immigrant survivors of human trafficking. The law imposes new filing fees for immigration benefits, motions, and appeals before USCIS and EOIR, establishes additional financial penalties for certain immigration violations, and eliminates eligibility for a range of federal public benefits for many immigrants who were previously considered “qualified,” including trafficking survivors. This Practice Alert reviews these fee and penalty changes, explains the new restrictions on public benefits, and outlines the impact on trafficking survivors seeking T visas and other forms of humanitarian relief, offering guidance for practitioners on how to mitigate the law’s potential harms.