We Are Here—And We Are Not Backing Down
By Ahlam Moussa
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November 6, 2024
Here at ASISTA, we share your sadness, outrage, and deep concern about what the future holds. We have also been preparing for this possible outcome.
While we process the elections results and continue to strategize, here are some things we know for sure:
- Immigrant survivors have the right to apply for protections enshrined in our immigration laws, VAWA, and the TVPA, despite the avowed intention of the incoming administration to reduce or eliminate those forms of relief.
- Our unwavering commitment to equity, justice, and dignity for all people is only strengthened by this setback. We are more dedicated than ever to fighting for safety and justice for immigrant survivors.
- We exist in community with you, our members, our supporters, and all of our partners, and we are committed to supporting this community in the days to come. We are grateful for you: for all that you do for immigrant survivors and for always standing with us.
- We have faced attacks on the rights of survivors before, and we have staunchly defended immigrant survivors’ rights to safety and justice without interference.
- Our resolve is strong, and we will continue to fight on behalf of immigrant survivors–because the stakes are high, because people are counting on us, because it’s the right thing to do, and because we are ASISTA.
- Immigrant survivors of violence need all of our support now, more than ever.
Alongside you and many across the country, we are continuing to breathe deep and dig deep. We are steadfast in pursuit of our vision that immigrants live in a just world free from violence. We encourage you to rest and take care of yourselves and each other, which we are striving to do as well. We’re in this for the long haul…. and we hope that you are too.
In the days ahead, we will continue to share guidance about the best ways to advance the rights of immigrant survivors in this shifting landscape. As political realities continue to unfold in the days and weeks ahead… we at ASISTA are here, standing with immigrant survivors–and grateful that you are by our side.
In solidarity,
Kirsten Rambo & the ASISTA Team
Recent Posts
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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.
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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.
By Maria Lazzarino
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June 11, 2025
In May and June 2025, ASISTA joined partners at Boston College School of Law, Harbor COV, and Tahirih to submit an amicus briefs to the First and Fourth Circuit Courts of Appeals in cases challenging the executive order on birthright citizenship. ASISTA and partners highlighted the importance of maintaining a preliminary injunction against implementing the order. If the order were implemented, many immigrant mothers of U.S.-born children would only be able to prove their child’s citizenship by submitting documentation about the child’s father’s immigration status. For survivors of intimate partner violence, just knowing the need for this documentation could make it difficult or impossible to leave the abusive relationship. For survivors of sexual assault or trafficking, contacting the perpetrator for the paperwork could put them and their families in immediate physical danger. Using real-life examples, the brief illustrates the stakes if immigrant parents were forced to choose between maintaining their safety and establishing their children’s rights. It urges the court not let this become reality. Read the First Circuit Brief, Doe v. Trump , here ; read the Fourth Circuit Brief, Casa, Inc., et al. v. Trump , here .
By Maria Lazzarino
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May 30, 2025
On March 14, 2025, President Trump attempted to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify carrying out deportations without the due process of immigration proceedings. Since then, multiple federal courts have ruled the invocation was unlawful, but the government continues to fight for its usage, including before the U.S. Supreme Court. On May 16, 2025, the Supreme Court maintained a temporary prohibition on the deportations planned in Texas and sent the issue back to the lower courts. ASISTA celebrates the positive rulings but notes with condemnation that the push against them is ongoing. Check ASISTA’s alert: The Fight to Protect Survivors from the Alien Enemies Act Continue.
By Maria Lazzarino
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April 28, 2025
Practitioners have reported receiving RFEs and NOIDs in cases submitted with electronically reproduced signatures for original, wet ink signatures where USCIS has requested the original, wet ink signatures. This Practice Alert describes what USCIS’ current signature policy is and what options practitioners have in these cases.