| 1. Think Immigration: The Reality of Trump’s Immigration Policies by the Numbers In a new Think Immigration blog post, AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson highlights the American public’s growing opposition to the Trump Administration’s approach to immigration. Mr. Johson underscores that, despite Congress’s approval of roughly $170 billion in immigration enforcement funding and dramatic increases in ICE detention, only a small fraction of resources has gone to immigration courts—leaving nearly 3.4 million cases pending. Meanwhile, the Administration continues detaining predominantly non‑criminal immigrants amid rising deaths and delays in adjudication. Read the full blog post to learn more about these trends and check out AILA’s accompanying fact sheet, Immigration by the Numbers, for additional context and key data points. |
| 2. DHS Proposes Changes to Employment Authorization for Asylum Applicants Today, DHS published a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise employment authorization document (EAD) eligibility for asylum seekers. The proposed rule would pause acceptance of new (c)(8) EAD applications whenever average affirmative asylum processing times exceed 180 days. It would also extend the waiting period to apply for work authorization to 365 days and modify processing time and eligibility requirements. Public comments will be accepted through April 24, 2026. For additional context, see USCIS’s news release about the proposal. |
| 3. Be Ready for Anything: AILA’s Must-Attend Seminars Strengthen every corner of your practice with AILA’s upcoming seminars. Learn how to prepare clients for employment-based adjustment interviews (February 24), confidently tackle EOIR merits hearings (March 5), effectively navigate U and T visas and VAWA (March 17), safeguard your firm with cybersecurity best practices (April 21), better understand B-1/WB boundaries (April 23), and manage the shifting H-2B landscape (April 30). Get practical strategies and timely insights—register today! |
| 4. Visa Bulletin for March 2026 DOS posted the March 2026 Visa Bulletin with updates on Final Action Dates, Dates for Filing, the Diversity Visa (DV) program, availability of family‑sponsored and employment‑based visas, extension of the Employment Fourth Preference Religious Workers (SR) category, U.S. government employee Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), and more. USCIS determined that, for March 2026, applicants in all family‑sponsored preference categories and all employment‑based preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart. |
| 5. A Better Way on Immigration AILA’s A Better Way on Immigration policy briefs examine the real-world consequences of the Trump Administration’s first year and outline a forward-looking framework for reform. Read the first set of briefs shared last week and bookmark the new hub to explore new briefs that will be released in March. Together, the briefs document how sweeping deportation plans, restrictions on legal immigration, and enforcement-first policies have undermined public safety, economic stability, legal pathways, and constitutional protections. |
| 6. Stay Up to Speed on the Evolution of Family-Based Immigration The new edition of Immigration Law and the Familyis now available for immediate shipping and as a downloadable eBook. This authoritative guide will keep you abreast of recent changes in the continuously evolving world of family immigration. Updated to reflect recent policy changes and new case law, it equips lawyers with practical strategies and in-depth analysis. Order your copy now! |
| 7. Client Flyer: Birthright Citizenship Executive Order—What You Need to Know AILA provides a new client flyer to inform clients about the Executive Order on birthright citizenship, its current status, and potential impacts if enacted. The flyer is available as a generic PDF and a customizable Word version you can personalize with your firm’s contact information. Please share with your networks and explore all of AILA’s client flyers for additional resources. |
| 8. Newsweek: DHS Confirms Third U.S. Citizen Killing After Newsweek Investigation Newsweek reports that DHS told the outlet that HSI agents were involved in the March 15, 2025, shooting of 23‑year‑old Ruben Ray Martinez in South Padre Island, Texas, and that an HSI agent fired “defensive shots” after a vehicle allegedly ran over another federal agent while agents were assisting local police following a major accident. The involvement of the ICE HSI unit was not publicly disclosed at the time, and it remains unclear whether body‑worn camera footage exists or whether members of Congress were formally notified about the shooting. The case appears to be the first known instance of a federal agent fatally shooting a U.S. citizen under the Trump Administration’s mass immigration enforcement policy. Find this story and more in AILA’s daily immigration news clips. |
| For complete coverage of the latest immigration updates, please visit AILA’s Recent Postings page. |