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Immigration Practice Resources

Search immigration practice advisories, sample filings, manuals, brief banks, and government guidance from trusted practitioner sources.

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Immigration court deadline 606 Asylum merits package 93 Motions, stays, and pretermission 133 Bond, detention, and habeas 79 BIA, PFR, and federal court 447 USCIS and AAO appeals 209 Crim-imm screening 151 VAWA, U, T, and survivor relief 190
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Showing 13-24 of 233 resources.

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National Immigration Project Practice advisory Oct 3, 2025

Practice Alert: Guidance on CHIRLA v. Noem Order (Expedited Removal)

On September 12, 2025, the D.C. Circuit denied the government’s motion for a stay pending appeal, dissolved its temporary, partial administrative stay, and fully restored the district court’s August 1 order in CHIRLA v. Noem , a lawsuit challenging Trump 2.0 government directives applying expedited removal to paroled individuals. The August 1 order, which is now fully in effect, stays policies that allowed DHS to put individuals who were previously paroled into the United States at a port of ent

Removal defense Detention / bond BIA appeals BIA Federal district court Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Oct 2, 2025

Screening for Immigration Relief: Client Intake Form and Notes

This resource is a comprehensive client intake form meant to assist practitioners in screening for immigration relief options and assessing red flags. Accompanying the intake form are notes to assist practitioners in spotting issues and relief options as well as a summary of common forms of relief. This sample client intake form is generic, to screen for general relief since the goal at the screening stage is not to make a final determination of eligibility but to assess pathways for relief.

Removal defense Cross-forum Direct PDF
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American Immigration Council Practice advisory Sep 2, 2025

Detention under INA § 235(b): The Statutory Scheme and Strategies for Release

Immigration authorities have long invoked § 235(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to justify the detention of noncitizens entering the United States. The number of noncitizens detained under INA § 235(b), rather than the general detention provision, INA § 236(a), has increased exponentially in recent years. The reach of § 235(b) has extended even further under the second Trump administration, as the government seeks to subject more people to expedited removal and detention without

Removal defense Detention / bond Entry and admission Cross-forum Direct PDF
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National Immigration Project Practice advisory Aug 18, 2025

Risk Assessment for Naturalization Applicants

Naturalization remains the best defense against immigration enforcement for many LPRs. However, some red flag issues that could cause an LPR to be denied naturalization and even detained and deported. Thorough screening is crucial to make sure that an LPR is able to make an informed decision about whether to pursue naturalization. This practice advisory summarizes the most common reasons why USCIS may deny an N400, provides guidance for ways to screen and avoid an N-400 denial and removal procee

Removal defense Naturalization USCIS Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Aug 14, 2025

Risk Assessment for Naturalization Applicants

For many noncitizens, naturalization is the best defense against deportation from the United States. Indeed, USCIS lacks the authority to detain or deport a U.S. citizen. However, applying for naturalization can be risky for some individuals because it can instigate immigration enforcement. This concern has increased following President Trump’s February 28, 2025 NTA Memo. The ILRC, NIPNLG, CLINIC, and the Ready to Stay collaborative wrote a practice advisory summarizing the most common reasons w

Removal defense Naturalization USCIS Direct PDF
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National Immigration Project Practice advisory Jul 25, 2025

Fighting for a Day in Court: Understanding and Responding to Pretermission of Asylum Applications

Immigration Judges have increasingly begun to pretermit asylum applications--often ordering asylum seekers removed without ever having a chance to have a hearing on their claims. This Practice Advisory (PA) discusses a recent Policy Memo by the Executive Office for Immigration Review Acting Director and a recent Board of Immigration Appeals decision, which have prompted judges to pretermit cases. The PA also contains practical tips on how to fight this practice.

Asylum Removal defense BIA appeals Immigration court BIA Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Template motion Jul 1, 2025

Responding to DHS Motions to Recalendar

In recent months, the Department of Homeland Security has begun filing thousands of motions to recalendar administratively closed proceedings. This trend is raising questions about how attorneys and accredited representatives can respond to these motions and protect their clients’ interests, particularly in cases that have been administratively closed for many years. This advisory explores those questions and offers strategy considerations when determining how to proceed in each case.

Removal defense Immigration court BIA Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Jun 25, 2025

Reopening Removal Proceedings Based on the Ineffective Assistance of Prior Counsel

This practice advisory focuses on motions to reopen based on ineffective assistance of prior counsel. It reviews the basic requirements of motions to reopen and then dives into the specific procedural and substantive requirements of motions to reopen based on the ineffective assistance of prior counsel. It discusses the time and numerical limitations on motions to reopen and how to use the doctrine of equitable tolling to overcome these limitations. It also covers what documents should accompany

Removal defense Motions to reopen / reconsider Cross-forum Direct PDF
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NIWAP Library Amicus brief Jun 18, 2025

Aylaliya Assefa Birru v. Barr

Aylaliya Assefa Birru v. Barr (January 11 2021) 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. NIWAP, represented by Baker McKenzie, is lead amicus in a brief on behalf of an immigrant domestic violence victim who is seeking relief under the Violence Against Women Act’s domestic violence victim waiver in her VAWA cancellation of removal case. The Board of Immigration Appeals and the immigration judge denied her the ability to present evidence of waiver eligibility.

Removal defense VAWA / U / T Immigration court BIA Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Jun 3, 2025

Immigration Consequences of Prop 36 and Other New California Offenses: Part One, Controlled Substance Offenses

This advisory discusses the immigration consequences of a conviction for a controlled substance offense under California Prop 36, specifically Cal. H&S Code § 11395. This advisory explains the immigration consequences of a criminal plea to a Prop 36 controlled substance offense. It outlines criminal defense strategies for defenders to avoid these pleas and outlines removal defense strategies for immigration practitioners where the plea cannot be avoided.

Removal defense Crimes and categorical approach Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigration Equality Practice advisory Jun 1, 2025

Pretermission Web Advisory for Pro Bono Attorneys

Overview of recent EOIR policy changes allowing dismissal or pretermission of some defensive asylum applications without a hearing, with guidance for practitioners representing people in removal proceedings.

Asylum Removal defense Evidence and procedure Immigration court BIA Direct PDF
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National Immigration Project Practice advisory May 28, 2025

Practice Alert: Protecting Noncitizens From Expedited Removal and Immigration Court Arrests

Beginning in May 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been arresting noncitizens in or around immigration court buildings and subjecting them to expedited removal, following dismissal of their section 240 removal proceedings by ICE counsel. This Practice Alert explains briefly what has been happening and immediate steps practitioners should take to protect their clients and advise pro se respondents.

Removal defense Immigration court Direct PDF
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