Agency Memos & Announcements
DHS OIG published a report finding ICE cannot effectively monitor the location and status of all unaccompanied children (UACs) once released or transferred from DHS and HHS custody. The report contains four recommendations aimed at improving ICE’s ability to monitor the location and status of UACs.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS announced that it has received enough electronic registrations for unique beneficiaries during the initial registration period to reach the FY2026 H-1B numerical allocations, including the advanced degree exemption.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on March 31, 2025.
3/31/25
Congressional Updates
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) led 66 House and Senate Democrats in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding EOIR's firings of immigration judges (IJs) and indications of plans to fire even more as immigration courts currently face a staggering backlog of cases.
Professional Resources
As a valued member of AILA, we invite you to participate in our 2025 Marketplace Study Survey. Your feedback will guide industry trends, improve business practices, and enter you for a chance to win valuable prizes. Participate now!
3/31/25
AILA Doc. No. 25032032.
AILA Announcements
Join the 2025 AILA Annual Conference on Immigration Law, June 18–21 in Denver or online! Get 100+ CLE sessions on fundamentals, family, litigation, business, and more. Network, gain expert insights, and stay updated on key immigration law developments.
3/31/25
AILA Announcements, Professional Resources
Take the AILA Marketplace Study Survey today, before time runs out!
3/29/25
AILA Doc. No. 25032805.
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.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
E-Verify issued an alert on a technical issue it recently experienced with cases created March 23–26, 2025, for employees who presented either an I-551, Permanent Resident Card, or I-766, Employment Authorization Document, as their Form I-9 document.
Practice Resources
AILA provides a practice alert on the 2/14/25 memorandum from Andrew Davidson, Acting Deputy Director, authorizing an “immediate USCIS-wide administrative hold on all pending benefits requests” filed by noncitizens who are or were paroled into the United States under the U4U, CHNV, or FRP processes.
Federal Agencies, Practice Resources
Due to changes in case assistance options, currently, the only available option to request case assistance for problematic cases is via a congressional inquiry. AILA National provides this practice pointer with recommended steps to take when preparing to request congressional assistance.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on March 28, 2025.
3/28/25
Practice Resources
The DOS Liaison Committee provides an overview of DOS’s authority to revoke the visas of individuals present in the U.S.
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
On 3/25/25, President Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14248, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” which, among other things, includes a section on enforcing the citizenship requirement for federal elections. (90 FR 14005, 3/28/25)
3/28/25
AILA Doc. No. 25032506.
AILA Announcements
Join AILA's April 25, 2025, video roundtable on legal and ethical issues in representing EB-5 applicants via Regional Centers. Discuss project structures, immigration and securities law compliance, evaluation tips, engagement letter limits, and sustainment challenges.
Practice Resources
The EB-5 Investor Committee provides a practice alert on the termination of over one hundred regional centers in January 2025.
Professional Resources
Anxious clients can sometimes hound their attorneys to the point where work becomes very difficult. Use these strategies to set boundaries and head off conflict with the client that communicates with you too much.
Practice Resources
The DOS Liaison Committee provides a briefing on the contents of the April 2025 Visa Bulletin, which highlights the unavailability of EB-4 visas for the remainder of FY2025.
Professional Resources
During the last Trump Administration, we saw new requirements make time and work on many cases mushroom. Read this article to learn how to protect a financial relationship with a client by drafting a fee agreement that will be both enforceable and encompass the situation effectively.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS announced that it has received enough petitions to meet the H-2B cap for the second half of FY2025. USCIS also announced the filing dates for supplemental H-2B visas for the reminder of FY2025.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on March 27, 2025.
3/27/25
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
E-Verify announced that Section 7.4.2. of the Handbook for Employers, M-274, has been updated to reflect the 12/18/24 DHS final rule that automatically extends the duration of status and any employment authorization for certain F-1 students.
Practice Resources
The DOS Liaison Committee provides an alert concerning a DOS announcement restricting the issuance of visas to foreign government officials believed to be facilitating illegal migration.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
On remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, the court held that the petitioner’s ultra vires claim failed because he could not establish a statutory violation, and that even if a statutory violation were not required, he also failed to show a regulatory violation. (Ayala Chapa v. Bondi, 3/24/25)
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on March 26, 2025.
3/26/25
Professional Resources
This week, the scenario discusses what a meritorious claim is under ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct 3.1 and the CFRs, and how to work a case so that the case file is complete and the client is informed sufficiently to can make an informed decision.
AILA Announcements
Our newest publication, AILA’s Benefits Litigation Toolbox for Business Practitioners, brings together practice advisories as well as samples of pleadings, motions, and more to help you litigate benefits delays or denials related to H-1B, L-1A, E-2, J-1, R-1, O-1B, EB-1A, EB-5, and PERM cases.
Professional Resources
An ABA Formal Opinion on the obligations of a nonprofit under funding cuts and restrictions on who can be served with federal funds.
3/25/25
AILA Doc. No. 25032505.
Ethics
Professional Resources
This opinion is helpful in determining ethical obligations when a nonprofit is defunded.
3/25/25
AILA Doc. No. 25032504.
Ethics
Professional Resources
Funding cuts to nonprofit organizations have significant ethical implications. This article outlines the responsibilities of legal services staff, including preparing for funding reductions, prioritizing current clients, and seeking alternative funding.
AILA Announcements
Download the OnDemand recording of this web seminar about exploring alternative immigration options for clients who entered the United States under the Biden Administration's parole processes for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV).
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on March 25, 2025.
3/25/25
AILA Doc. No. 25032502.
Practice Resources
The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) and Human Rights First (HRF) litigated ASAP's expedited FOIA request for this memo. The attached PDF is a version the government submitted in support of its opposition to plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction in Justice Action Center.
3/25/25
AILA Doc. No. 25032501.
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
HHS’s ORR published an interim final rule (IFR) that removes the information-sharing provision of the 4/30/24 “Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule” at 45 CFR 410.1201(b). The IFR is effective 3/25/25, and comments are due by 5/27/25. (90 FR 13554, 3/25/25)
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
DHS notice stating that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is extending the Acting Secretary of DHS’s 1/23/25 “Finding of Mass Influx of Aliens.” The finding will expire in 180 days. (90 FR 13622, 3/25/25
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
DHS notice stating that DHS is terminating the categorical parole programs as of 3/25/25 for inadmissible noncitizens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) and their immediate family members. (90 FR 13611, 3/25/25)
AILA Announcements
AILA’s editions of the INA and CFR are carefully laid out, with conspicuous headings, nested text, and comprehensive indices to help you locate relevant statutes and regulations. Editorial notes add context beyond the statutory or regulatory text. Order today and maximize savings with our combos!
3/25/25
Press Releases
AILA President Kelli Stump and Executive Director Ben Johnson warn of the harm of terminating the successful Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) parole program.
3/25/25
AILA Doc. No. 25032531.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
DOL’s OFLC reminds stakeholders that it will begin permanently deleting records in the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) for which a final determination was made more than five years ago. OFLC will begin deleting records at midnight on Thursday, 3/27/25.
Practice Resources
DHS has issued an advance copy of the notice to be published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2025 which will terminate the categorical parole programs for inadmissible noncitizens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) and their immediate family members.
3/24/25
AILA Doc. No. 25032403.
AILA Announcements
Join AILA's web seminar on April 10, 2025, to address complex issues in religious worker cases. Topics include cross-denominational challenges, demonstrating two-year membership requirements, distinguishing religious occupations from vocations, and managing post-approval changes.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on March 24, 2025.
3/24/25
FR Regulations & Notices
DOL updated the amount H-2A employers may charge workers for meals and the maximum/minimum rate H-2A and H-2B workers must be reimbursed for travel-related subsistence expenses. H-2A and H-2B employers must also pay certain lodging and travel-related expenses. (90 FR 13500, 3/24/25)
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
On 3/22/25, President Trump issued a memo for the Attorney General and DHS Secretary stating the immigration system is “replete with examples of unscrupulous behavior by attorneys and law firms” and ordering sanctions, reviews, and stricter oversight of attorneys in asylum and immigration cases.
3/24/25
AILA Doc. No. 25032400.
Press Releases
AILA President Kelli Stump and Executive Director Ben Johnson reject a chilling directive by the Trump Administration ordering sanctions, reviews, and stricter oversight of attorneys in asylum and immigration cases.
3/22/25
AILA Doc. No. 25032261.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
EOIR Acting Director Sirce Owen issued Policy Memorandum (PM) 25-27 rescinding and canceling the 10/4/22 Director’s Memorandum (DM) 23-01 and reinstating the 8/16/19 PM 19-13 on the use of status dockets in immigration proceedings.
Practice Resources
AILA has received confirmation that the office of the CIS Ombudsman, OIDO, and CRCL have closed and staff has been placed on a 60-day administrative leave. Pending Ombudsman inquiries should be considered closed. AILA will share more information as it becomes available.
3/21/25
AILA Doc. No. 25032101.
Professional Resources
We asked members of AILA's National Well-Being Committee to share how they cultivate well-being in their daily lives. In this brief profile, Rev. Emily Kvalheim shares her approach.
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases
The court held that the petitioner’s North Dakota conviction for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver qualified as a controlled substance offense rendering her removable under INA §237(a)(2)(B)(i) and ineligible for cancellation of removal. (Salinas v. Bondi, 3/19/25)
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on March 21, 2025.
3/21/25