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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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National Immigration Project Practice advisory Feb 23, 2026

Habeas in the Fifth Circuit After Buenrostro

On February 6, 2026, the Fifth Circuit issued Buenrostro-Mendez v. Bondi , No. 25-cv-20496, 2026 WL 323330 (5th Cir. Feb. 6, 2026), a split decision with a strong dissent in which the Fifth Circuit sided with DHS and the BIA to determine that all noncitizens who are present in the United States without lawful admission are subject to mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A) during removal proceedings, rather than discretionary detention under § 1226(a). Despite Buenrostro , habeas opti

Removal defense Detention / bond BIA appeals BIA Federal district court Direct PDF
Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Feb 10, 2026

California Penal Code § 245(a) is not a Crime of Violence

On January 13, 2026, the Ninth Circuit issued an en banc decision holding that a violation of California Penal Code § 245(a)(1) (assault with a deadly weapon) is not a crime of violence. United States v. Gomez, No. 23-435 (9th Cir., Jan. 13, 2026) (en banc). After this decision, no conviction for PC § 245(a)(1) can be an aggravated felony. For criminal defenders, the best practice is to avoid a PC § 245(a)(1) conviction until the timeline for certiorari on Gomez has expired—the ninety-day period

Crimes and categorical approach Adjustment of status Court of appeals Direct PDF
NIWAP Library Amicus brief Feb 6, 2026

S.E.R.L v. U.S.

This Amicus Brief was filed by Crowell and Moring on behalf of the NIWAP, Inc and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence in the 3rd Circuit Federal Court of Appeals. The brief was filed in support for a mother of a domestic violence victim from Honduras who interceded to protect her daughter who was experiencing domestic violence and was stalked and threatened by her daughter’s abuser. The Honduran mother had helped her daughter escape from a domestic violence perpetrator who had t

Asylum BIA Court of appeals Direct PDF
NIWAP Library Amicus brief Feb 1, 2026

BIA Amicus Invitation 2016-0609

Arkansas 2015 U and T visa certification law requiring that each law enforcement agency in the state adopt a policy for the completion and signing of T and U certifications within 30 days of receiving the request.

BIA appeals Children and SIJS BIA Direct PDF
NIWAP Library Amicus brief Feb 1, 2026

Nvart Idinyan (formerly Nvart Huckfeldt) (August 9 2005) Board of Immigration Appeals

Nvart Idinyan (formerly Nvart Huckfeldt) (August 9 2005) Board of Immigration Appeals. The National Network to End Violence Against Immigrant Women, represented by Crowell and Moring, filed this amicus in support of the immigration judge’s finding that plaintiff qualified for cancellation of removal under VAWA and refuting DHS assertion that once a victim reached a “safe house” she should no longer have access to VAWA provisions. (Crowell and Moring, Pro Bono)

Removal defense BIA appeals VAWA / U / T Immigration court BIA Direct PDF
NIWAP Library Amicus brief Feb 1, 2026

Perales v. Ashcroft, (2003) U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit

Perales-Cumpean, A76 386 969, Board of Immigration Appeals (2001), U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit (2003). Amicus brief discussing the any credible evidence standard and the definition of battery or extreme cruelty in an immigrant rape and domestic violence victim’s Violence Against Women Act suspension of deportation case (National immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, BIA, Arnold and Porter, Pro Bono 10th Circuit)

Removal defense BIA appeals Federal court BIA Court of appeals Direct PDF
Human Rights First PALA Library Practice advisory Jan 23, 2026

Human Rights First Practice Advisory on Pretermissions

Human Rights First practice advisory describing possible bases for pretermission in immigration court and explaining how to prepare for, and respond to, motions to pretermit a client’s asylum claim. Last updated on January 23, 2026.

Asylum Withholding / CAT Evidence and procedure USCIS Immigration court Direct PDF
National Immigration Project Practice advisory Jan 13, 2026

Quick Guide to Release from Immigration Detention for SIJS Youth

IMPORTANT: On February 6, 2026, the Fifth Circuit ruled in Buenrostro-Mendez v. Bondi , No. 25-20496, that noncitizens in removal proceedings who have not been admitted are subject to "mandatory" detention under 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(2)(A). This resource has not been updated since the Buenrostro decision. If you are filing a habeas petition in a district within the Fifth Circuit, you will need to adapt your legal claims in light of the Buenrostro-Mendez v. Bondi decision, e.g. by focusing on constitu

Removal defense Detention / bond Federal court Immigration court Federal district court Direct PDF
Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Dec 19, 2025

Understanding Mandatory Detention

Recent policies announced by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, new legislation signed into law, and unusual legal interpretations by the Board of Immigration Appeals have all led to a significant uptick in ICE detentions since January 2025. As advocates, our goal in every case where a client is detained is to secure their release, if at all possible. However, in many cases recently, ICE is claiming that the noncitizen cannot legally be released or even get a bond hearing, under a theory that

Detention / bond BIA appeals BIA Direct PDF