ASISTA and Sanctuary for Families are excited to share that on March 18, 2021, Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer granted our joint motion to stay the proceedings in our ongoing lawsuit against ICE for 90 days subject to specific interim conditions. ASISTA and Sanctuary for Families are represented by Protect Democracy and the Constitutional Accountability Center in this action.
In the wake of the killing of eight people in Georgia earlier this week, we at ASISTA are heartbroken and determined as ever to fight the toxic combination of white supremacy and misogyny that fuels this violence. Eight lives were tragically and violently taken, of whom seven were women and six were of Asian descent. We send our love and light to those most directly impacted, the families and friends of the victims. And we stand in solidarity with Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities, understanding that this horrific act is a recent manifestation of a long history of racism and exclusion in the U.S. to which AAPI individuals and communities have been subjected for generations.
Safe Horizon and ASISTA File Lawsuit Against USCIS and DHS, Seeking Information on Policy Change Making it More Difficult for Victims of Serious Crime to Obtain Relief Under the U-Visa Program
On March 10, 2021, Senior District Judge Susan Illston from the U.S. District Court of Northern District of California granted a preliminary injunction in the case Centro Legal de La Raza et al v. EOIR et al , challenging the harmful DOJ rule severely limiting sua sponte motions in immigration court proceedings and curtailing the use of administrative closure as docket management tool, among other harmful provisions.
U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 & Its Impact on Survivors: On Thursday, February 18, 2021 the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 was introduced in the House by Representative Linda Sánchez and in the Senate by Senator Bob Menendez.
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.