The ASISTA website includes

Recent News and Events:

ASISTA and OVW to provide advanced and intermediate training in San Antonio, TX May 19-21.

ACLU reaches settlement with a Michigan domestic violence survivor, a private housing complex, and a property management company that will offer anti-discrimination protections and the options of early lease termination and/or relocation to victims of domestic violence, stalking, dating violence, and sexual assault.   Read the Press Release.  View the case documents in Lewis v. North End Village, including the affirmative policies the defendants agreed to implement as part of the settlement, at www.aclu.org/fairhousingforwomen.

EOIR Immigration Court Practice Manual Released.  New rules go into effect April 1, 2008.  Manual available for use or download at U.S. Department of Justice EOIR Immigration Court Practice Manual

9th Circuit rules on U Visa cases regarding BIA refusal to reopen a U Visa case because the qualifying crime was not charged.  Sanchez-Ramirez v. Mukasey, F.3d. 1254, (9th Cir., Dec., 2007.)

Notes from Q&A with DHS officials on the U Visa interim regulations at the National Network to End Violence Against Immigrant Women Conference in November now available.

Notes from Q&A with ICE and CBP at National Network to End Violence Against Immigrant Women Conference in November now available.

ASISTA writes statement of interest in Hague case.

U-Visa Interim Regulations  

12/19/07 BIA rules that sentence enhancement may be treated as an element of an offense in some circumstances.  Matter of Martinez-Zapata, 24 I.& N. 424 (BIA Dec. 19, 2007).

12/13/07 BIA rules on two cases, establishing guidelines for when a simple possession may be a recidivist possession.  In the first case, the Board laid out procedures for use in "cases involving aliens alleged to have state offenses corresponding to 'recidivist possession' in the absence of controlling circuit law.' Matter of Carachuri-Rosendo, 24 I.&N. 382 (BIA Dec. 13, 2007).  In the second of these, the Board used these guidelines to decide Matter of Thomas, 24 I.&N. Dec. 416 (BIA Dec. 13, 2007).

12/6/07 Ninth Circuit holds that petitioner was effectively denied his statutory right to be represented by counsel after the IJ refused to grant a continuance.   The order that petitioner voluntarily depart from the United States is vacated, and the case is remanded to the BIA for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

12/3/07 Ninth Circuit denies petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order denying his special motion to reopen so that he could apply for a waiver of inadmissibility pursuant to former 8 U.S.C. § 1182(c) (1994).1 due to the fact of Avila’s prior deportation and subsequent illegal reentry. In addition, it refused to allow him to collaterally attack prior proceedings.

12/4/07 Ninth Circuit remands case to BIA for U Visa application even though the qualifying crime was not the crime charged.

11/29/07 Ninth Circuit holds that Plaintiff is a class member under the class action settlement agreement in American Baptist Churches v. Thornburgh, 760 F. Supp. 796 (N.D. Cal. 1991) (“ABC” or “ABC Agreement”).

 

Mission Statement

ASISTA is a partnership funded by the Office of Violence Against Women.

Our purpose is to centralize assistance for advocates and attorneys facing complex legal problems in advocating for immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Many service providers are overwhelmed by the increasing complexity of immigration law as it overlaps with other areas. Our clearinghouse offers samples and best practices and our Consultants’ training services are available to enable service providers to more thoroughly fulfill their purposes.

Immigrants are entitled to justice, including in the areas of domestic abuse or sexual assault. All immigrant survivors deserve access to essential services. Our goal is to enable service providers to offer accurate and up-to-date help to immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Your opinion is important to us. Your comments, criticisms or suggestions are welcome. Please contact us at questions@asistaonline.org.

Contact Us

ASISTA
515 28th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50312

Phone: (515) 244-2469
Fax: (515) 244-7417
Email: questions@asistaonline.org

National Domestic Abuse Hotline numbers:
1-800-799-7233 and 1-800-787-3224

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