Practice Advisories & Brief Bank
Public immigration practice advisories, sample briefs, template motions, amicus briefs, and government guidance, organized in one searchable index and linked to the original host.
Filters
| Resource | Source | Topics | Date | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Policy Alert: Policy Manual Updates for VAWAReviews USCIS policy-manual updates issued on December 22, 2025 affecting VAWA adjudication and flags the practical consequences for current filings. Why it matters: Useful when you need to see what changed in VAWA adjudication without reading the entire manual revision cold. |
ASISTA National |
VAWA / U / T
Family-based practice
USCIS
Cross-forum
|
Feb 3, 2026 | |
ASISTA VAWA Age-In RuleExplains the statutory age-in rule for VAWA derivatives and offers practical guidance on preserving derivative eligibility as children age out. Why it matters: A high-value inclusion because age-out mistakes are difficult to unwind and the advisory translates a technical rule into case-screening guidance. |
ASISTA National |
VAWA / U / T
Children and SIJS
Family-based practice
USCIS
Cross-forum
|
Jan 1, 2026 | |
Jessica Ruth Gonzales v. United States of America Inter-American Commission on Human RightsAmicus brief submitted to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights after Castle Rock police department failed to enforce an order of protection against Ms. Gonzales’s husband. This brief argues that there is an international consensus recognizing states’ obligation to protect against domestic violence and provide effective remedies for its victims. Even if laws and orders are issued, they must be enforced. The police failure to enforce the protective order in this case, together with the Un Why it matters: Useful as an amicus or advocacy example on Family; confirm the cited authority and procedural posture before adapting it. |
NIWAP Library National Direct PDF available |
Family-based practice
Cross-forum
|
Jun 18, 2025 | |
United States v. DixonUnited States v. Dixon (December 2 1992-June 28 1993) U.S. Supreme Court. United States V. Michael Foster (United States v. Dixon, 598 A.2d 724, 725 (D.C. 1991), cert. denied, 112 S. Ct. 1759 (1992), aff’d in part and rev’d in part, 113 S. Ct. 2849 (1993). Amicus brief filed in the Supreme Court of the United States as the organization that serves as counsel for the domestic violence victim in the underlying protection order contempt proceeding that resulted in an over 600 day sentence for multi Why it matters: Useful as an amicus or advocacy example on Family; confirm the cited authority and procedural posture before adapting it. |
NIWAP Library National Direct PDF available |
Family-based practice
Cross-forum
|
Jun 18, 2025 | |
Know Your VAWA Options: Self-Petition Compared with Special Rule Cancellation of RemovalChart-based comparison of VAWA self-petitions and VAWA special-rule cancellation of removal, with eligibility and strategy differences called out side by side. Why it matters: Good counseling tool when the real question is not whether relief exists, but which VAWA pathway makes the most sense in the client’s posture. |
ASISTA National |
VAWA / U / T
Removal defense
Family-based practice
USCIS
Immigration court
|
Feb 1, 2025 | |
Judicial Review of Visa Decisions After the Supreme Court’s Decision in Department of State v. MuñozIn Department of State v. Muñoz , 602 U.S. 899 (2024), the U.S. Supreme Court concluded that a U.S. citizen and her noncitizen spouse had no access to judicial review of a consular officer’s denial of an immigrant visa. The Court held that a U.S. citizen has no “fundamental liberty interest” i n her spouse’s admission to the United States. This practice advisory, by the American Immigration Council, the International Refugee Assistance Project, and the Consular Accountability Project, is intende Why it matters: Useful as a practitioner-oriented overview from American Immigration Council on Asylum; review the source material for the most current authority and procedure. |
American Immigration Council National Direct PDF available |
Asylum
Removal defense
Family-based practice
Federal court
Consular practice
VAWA / U / T
Entry and admission
Court of appeals
Consular processing
|
Jan 15, 2025 | |
Family Law* United States v. Dixon (December 2 1992-June 28 1993) U.S. Supreme Court. United States V. Michael Foster (United States v. Dixon, 598 A.2d 724, 725 (D.C. 1991), cert. denied, 112 S. Ct. 1759 (1992), aff’d in part and rev’d in part, 113 S. Ct. 2849 (1993). Amicus brief filed in the Supreme Court of the United States as the organization that serves as counsel for the domestic violence victim in the underlying protection order contempt proceeding that resulted in an over 600 day sentence for mul Why it matters: Useful as a source-specific directory when you want a quick way to browse Family materials without searching the entire site. |
NIWAP Library National Direct PDF available |
Family-based practice
Cross-forum
|
Apr 25, 2024 | |
Public Benefits Access for ImmigrantsJane Doe v. Claire McIntire (August 10, 2001) Commonwealth of Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. NOW Legal Defense Team, represented by Foley, Hoag & Eliot, Pro Bono, filed an amicus brief appealing a denial of TANF benefits to two immigrant women lawfully residing in Massachusetts, the denial was based on six month residence requirement before receiving benefits. One woman was fleeing domestic violence and the other residing with family during pregnancy. Why it matters: Useful as a source-specific directory when you want a quick way to browse Family materials without searching the entire site. |
NIWAP Library National Direct PDF available |
Family-based practice
BIA appeals
BIA
|
Apr 25, 2024 | |
Trauma, Testimony, and Adult VictimsGabriel Perez Cruz v. Barr , (July 2 2020) U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit. NIWAP assisted the Family Violence Appellate Project in California in developing, securing social science support for and national sign ons from 16 organizations nationally for this 9th Circuit Amicus Brief in which we were represented by Haney and Boone LLP. The brief discussed the mental health impact of domestic violence and coercive control in abusive relationships and perpetrators who coerce their victims into com Why it matters: Useful as a source-specific directory when you want a quick way to browse Removal Defense materials without searching the entire site. |
NIWAP Library 9th Circuit |
Removal defense
Family-based practice
BIA appeals
Federal court
BIA
Court of appeals
|
Apr 25, 2024 | |
European Connections & Tours, Inc. v. Gonzales ,European Connections & Tours, Inc. v. Gonzales, (2006) Developed amicus brief and assisted the U.S. Attorney General in a motion to dismiss a 1st Amendment challenge to the collection of data on male clients for prospective brides and 5th Amendment Equal Protection challenge to regulation of for-profit or majority for-profit but not cultural or religious International Marriage Brokers. (Crowell and Moring, Pro Bono). Why it matters: Useful as an amicus or advocacy example on Family; confirm the cited authority and procedural posture before adapting it. |
NIWAP Library National Direct PDF available |
Family-based practice
Cross-forum
|
Oct 20, 2023 | |
The International Marriage Broker Regulation ActEuropean Connections & Tours, Inc. v. Gonzales , (April 24 2006) United States District Court For Northern District of Georgia. Legal Momentum/NOW, represented by Crowell and Moring, in publishing social science research, legislative history, and editorial assistance to the Tahirih Justice Center in an amicus brief submitted supporting the U.S. Attorney General in a motion to dismiss a 1st Amendment challenge to the collection of data on male clients for prospective brides and 5th Amendment Equa Why it matters: Useful as a source-specific directory when you want a quick way to browse Family materials without searching the entire site. |
NIWAP Library National |
Family-based practice
Federal court
Federal district court
|
Oct 20, 2023 | |
Ruiz v. Carrasco ,Amicus brief in the case of Antonio Ruiz v. Wendy R. Carrasco, case nos. 98-FM-39 98-FM-40 on issues of civil protection orders. Ruiz v. Carrasco, DC Court of Appeals (1997) Filed an Amicus Brief was in support of a court issuing a protection order prohibiting an abusive husband from reporting his wife to government officials including (INS). (Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe, Pro Bono) Why it matters: Useful as an amicus or advocacy example on Family; confirm the cited authority and procedural posture before adapting it. |
NIWAP Library National Direct PDF available |
Family-based practice
BIA
Court of appeals
|
Oct 2, 2023 |