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For Immediate Release: July 25, 2019 – Expansion of Expedited Removal Erodes Due Process and Creates Increased Barriers for Vulnerable Survivors
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.
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 .
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.
This Quick Reference Guide and Risk Assessment Worksheet is designed to accompany the longer Practice Advisory on Factors to Weigh When Considering a T visa. It provides a streamlined overview of key considerations and a practical tool for identifying potential risks, benefits, and client-specific concerns during case consultations.
Survivors hoping to earn U- or T-based adjustment of status must generally spend 3 years in U or T status and must be in valid U or T status when they apply to adjust. If a survivor falls out of status, they may be able to regain status by means of a nunc pro tunc extension of status application. This Practice Advisory describes how to submit a nunc pro tunc I-539 extension of status application and contains an annotated sample filing from a successful case. It warns that nunc pro tunc I-539s may not be filed if removal proceedings have commenced against the survivor.
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.
On January 23, 2026, the federal Trafficking Survivors’ Relief Act of 2026 (TSRA) became law. The TSRA provides a remedy for trafficking survivors to obtain relief from federal criminal records stemming directly from their exploitation. In enacting the TSRA, Congress acknowledged that trafficking survivors frequently acquire a criminal history as a result of their exploitation, which can be a barrier to employment, housing, education, and essential support services and make them more vulnerable to re-exploitation. This 2-pager describes the TSRA and its potential use by immigrant survivors of trafficking charged with or convicted of federal crimes.