Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
ICE notice of the extension without change of the information collection Departure Notification Record, reinstated 12/22/25. DHS will use a mobile application, currently CBP Home, to collect this information. Comments are due 3/9/26. (91 FR 717, 1/8/26)
1/9/26
AILA Doc. No. 26010905.
Practice Resources
USCIS announced today, January 9, 2026, that it has commenced reexamining thousands of refugee cases approved between 2021-early 2025 through an operation called PARRIS (Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening). It is initially focusing on 5,600 refugees in Minnesota.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
DOS posted an update on countries subject to visa bonds. The announcement adds 6 airports to the list of required ports of entry through which individuals who have posted visa bonds must enter and exit the U.S., effective 1/1/26.
AILA Announcements
The American Immigration Lawyers Association urges Congress to oppose the reported push for 44,500 immigration detention beds in the FY26 DHS Appropriations Bill. Use AILA’s advocacy tool to call your member of Congress.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
DHS will publish a final rule on 1/12/26 increasing fees for premium processing. The rule will be effective 3/1/26 and requests for premium processing postmarked on or after that date must include the increased fee for the specific benefit being requested. An advance copy of the rule is available.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS announced the launch of Operation PARRIS (Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening) to reexamine refugee cases, beginning with refugees in Minnesota without lawful permanent resident status. This will include new background checks, reinterviews, and merit reviews.
Immigration News
The December 2025 GMS E-Bulletin provides the latest updates from around the Globe, introductions of new GMS members, and useful information for your practice!
Practice Resources
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) published a final rule adding Section 608.11 to the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), clarifying that a postmark no longer represents the date a mail piece was deposited with USPS. Please see this practice alert for more details and considerations for practitioners.
1/9/26
AILA Doc. No. 26010962.
Practice Resources
AILA's DOL Committee provides provides an overview of the interplay between ETA Form 9141 and ETA Form 9089 and pointers on how to avoid an RFI when filing for PERM. The Committee requests examples dispositions for RFRs and BALCA appeals, when denials have been issued.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on January 9, 2026.
1/9/26
Congressional Updates, Correspondence
AILA urges Congress to oppose the reported push for 44,500 immigration detention beds in the FY26 DHS Appropriations Bill. This request represents poor taxpayer dollar stewardship that will primarily enrich private prison corporations and misses a critical opportunity for Congressional oversight.
Practice Resources
On January 6, 2026, USCIS updated the TPS websites for Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua to reflect the December 31, 2025 decision in National TPS Alliance et al. v. Noem et al. Please see practice alert for employer implications.
Professional Resources
If you don't hear from a client after several attempts at communication, do you have the have grounds for withdrawal? In this bite-sized ethics article, learn more about the circumstances in which an attorney can withdraw without violating ethics rules.
Professional Resources
This quick article breaks down credit card surcharges, how they work and how you should handle them in your firm.
Practice Resources
The Verification and Documentation Committees provides a comprehensive chart on current status, key updates, and EAD notes for TPS and parole programs.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on January 8, 2026.
1/8/26
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
DOS updated the list of countries subject to the visa bond pilot program established by the 8/5/26 temporary final rule to add 25 more countries, to be implemented 1/21/26. Nationals of the listed countries must post bonds of $5,000-$15,000 to travel to the U.S. on B1/B2 visas.
Practice Resources
AILA's DOL Committee provides a brief overview of the group assignments for H-2B, Form 9142B.
Practice Resources
AILA National alerts the membership regarding pause on final adjudications of all form types for nationals from travel ban countries. AILA will continue to provide further updates as they become available. Members are encouraged to submit reports to the USCIS Operations Committee.
Tutorial Videos, Professional Resources
Mindful walking is an excellent way to get out of a stressful and anxious head and feel your feet upon the earth. With walking meditation, the point is to arrive in the present moment with each step. Practice walking mindfully with this AILA Moment of Mindfulness Recording.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on January 7, 2026.
1/7/26
Practice Resources
The Verification and Documentation Committee provide this practice pointer discussing impacts and considerations surrounding the Ohio E-Verify Law, which takes effect on March 19, 2026.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
E-Verify announced the reintroduction of a feature that allows users to manage Point of Contact (POC) information directly within their accounts. E-Verify requests that employers log into their accounts to review and update contact information for their POCs and users.
Chapter Documents
2026 Philadelphia Chapter's Annual CLE Conference
March 27, 2026
Convene
30 S 17th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
This event is being presented by AILA's Philadelphia's Chapter. This event is not being organized by the AILA National Office.
1/6/26
AILA Doc. No. 26010605.
AILA Announcements
Learn how AILALink is the perfect tool for electronic access to the books and other research resources you need. Sign up for our next group training at 2:00 pm (ET) on Tuesday, January 13.
1/6/26
AILA Doc. No. 15082740.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
E-Verify announced that employers now have until 1/22/26 to download records for E-Verify cases last updated on or before 12/31/15. On 1/23/26, USCIS will dispose of these E-Verify records.
Federal Agencies, AILA Announcements
EOIR Director issued Policy Memorandum 26-01 on the annual asylum fee. EOIR will waive the fee for asylum applications that were pending for one year or more 4/5/25-9/30/25 and administratively final as of 9/30/25. EOIR will apply the fee to applications pending for one year or more as of 10/1/25.
Professional Resources
As 2025 ends, pause and plan for steady technology improvements in 2026, focusing on meaningful and manageable changes rather than overwhelming overhauls to get results.
AILA Blog
AILA Board of Governors Member Andrew Nietor calls for America to make some resolutions this New Year, writing that we must “remember that being a nation of immigrants is not a weakness to manage but an opportunity and a strength we must cultivate and steward.”
1/6/26
AILA Doc. No. 26010602.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on January 6, 2026.
1/6/26
Practice Resources
The DOS Liaison Committee provides a briefing on the contents of the January 2026 visa bulletin.
Chapter Documents
Broken Systems, Open Hearts: 2026 Georgia-Alabama Chapter Annual Conference
February 13, 2026
Emory Conference Center
Atlanta, GA
This event is being presented by AILA's Georgia-Alabama Chapter. This event is not being organized by the AILA National Office.
1/6/26
AILA Doc. No. 26010600.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
OFLC published the assignment groups for 10,062 H-2B applications covering 162,603 worker positions with the start date of work of 4/1/26. Group A includes enough worker positions to reach the H-2B semi-annual visa allotment of 33,000.
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
DHS notice that the DHS Secretary has determined it is necessary to waive certain legal requirements in order to construct barriers and roads near the international border in the U.S. Border Patrol Del Rio Sector of Texas. The waiver is effective 12/30/2025. (90 FR 61158, 12/30/2025)
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
CBP interim final rule and request for comments on CBP transitioning to electronic refunds, subject to limited exceptions. The rule outlines the process for receiving electronic refunds and, in case of a waiver, paper checks. The rule is effective 2/6/26. Comments are due 3/3/26. (91 FR 21, 1/2/26)
AILA Blog
AILA member Muhammed Üzüm explains why talking with candidates and employers about cap-independent options such as O-1 and L-1 visas that may fit their circumstances is crucial given the uncertainty surrounding the cost and timing of H-1B visa petitions.
1/5/26
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
DOL and DHS announced that 35,000 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas will be available for FY26, on top of the 66,000 mandated by Congress for each fiscal year.
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
USCIS issued a policy memorandum (PM-602-0194) expanding the existing hold on all benefit applications and re-review of approved benefits for people from countries named in the travel ban to apply to the additional countries named in Presidential Proclamation 10998.
1/5/26
AILA Doc. No. 26010531.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on January 5, 2026.
1/5/26
Practice Resources
Explore five categories of our well-being resources for what you need most right now.
Memo & Regulatory Comments
AILA submitted comments to USCIS requesting the agency to withdraw the proposed rule in the interest of protecting privacy, preventing agency overreach, and reducing burdens on both the agency and impacted individuals.
12/31/25
AILA Doc. No. 25123132.
Practice Resources
CBP’s Carrier Liaison Program issued a bulletin updating the list of countries that are exempt from the six-month rule and need only to have a passport valid for their intended period of stay.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on December 31, 2025.
12/31/25
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements
CBP’s Carrier Liaison Program (CLP) released information regarding the 12/16/25 presidential proclamation restricting the entry of foreign nationals from certain countries.
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
Postal Service final rule on Postmarks and Postal Possession. The rule adds a new section to the Domestic Mail Manual defining postmarks and describing their usage. The rule is effective 12/24/25. AILA is evaluating the potential impact of this rule. (90 FR 52883, 11/24/25)
12/30/25
AILA Doc. No. 25123032.
Immigration News
Aggregated local and national media coverage of major immigration law news stories being discussed throughout the U.S. on December 30, 2025.
12/30/25
Federal Agencies, FR Regulations & Notices
USCIS and EOIR partial withdrawal and correction of Final Rule on Security Bars and Processing. The rule allows the agencies to consider public health risks a security risk bar to asylum and withholding of removal in the event of a public health emergency, effective 12/31/25. (90 FR 61035, 12/30/25)
Examples & Questions
AILA’s DOS Liaison committee seeks examples of 221(i) prudential revocations of nonimmigrant visas on or after January 1, 2025.
Agency Memos & Announcements
DHS announced publication of a final rule that allows DHS and DOJ to consider public health risks as a security risk bar to asylum and withholding of removal in the event of a public health emergency, effective 12/31/25. An advance copy of the rule, which will be published 12/30/25, is available.
Practice Resources
AILA’s DOS Liaison committee provides a practice alert detailing the process of prudential visa revocations and addressing recent reports of such revocations.