Immigration Benefits and Relief
The immigration laws and regulations provide some avenues to apply for lawful status from within the U.S. or to seek relief from deportation. The eligibility requirements for these benefits and relief can be stringent, and the immigration agencies often adopt overly restrictive interpretations of the requirements. Learn about advocacy and litigation that has been and can be undertaken to ensure that noncitizens have a fair chance to apply for the benefits and relief for which they are eligible. Providing avenues for legal status, protection, and family reunification is vital to ensuring humanitarian protection for immigrants. We are leading policy changes that open more opportunities like asylum, visas for victims of crime or human trafficking, and relief for long-term residents. Explore the resources below to learn more.
The Dream Act: An Overview
This fact sheet provides an overview of the most recent version of the Dream Act and similar legislative proposals. Read More
District Court in Texas Allows CHNV Parole Program to Continue
On March 8, a federal district court in Texas dismissed a challenge to a parole program set up by the Biden administration to allow 30,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans to enter the United States legally each month, known as the CHNV parole program, allowing the program to stay in… Read More
USCIS Announces Re-parole for Ukrainians
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, the U.S. has provided certain Ukrainians with temporary authorization, or parole, to remain in the country. However, multiple agencies, including Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), have been involved in this process,… Read More
Testifying on the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement “Presidential Power to Secure the Border”
The American Immigration Council appeared before Congress to discuss the need for Congress to overhaul the asylum system. Read More
Senate Border Bill a Step in Right Direction, but Falls Short in Guaranteeing Due Process for Asylum Seekers
On Sunday night, a bipartisan group of senators released the “Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024." Jeremy Robbins, Executive Director of the American Immigration Council, responds to this controversial legislation that faces an uncertain future. Read More
SCOTUS to Decide When Courts Can Review Decisions about Immigration Relief… Again
Families are complicated. Especially during the holidays, that’s something we can all agree on. But most of us can’t – or will never have to – imagine being forcibly separated from our closest relatives because an overworked immigration judge (IJ) misapplied a legal standard in deciding whether someone is entitled… Read More
More than 100 Business Organizations Sign onto Council Letter Urging Congress to Reduce the Waiting Period for Asylum Seekers to Obtain Work Permits
For Immediate Release WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2023—Today, the … Read More
The Biden Administration’s Humanitarian Parole Program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans: An Overview
An overview of the Biden administration's parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans (CHNV), which admit up to 30,000 people per month with the ability to live and work in the United States for two years. Read More
Spotlight on the Economic Contributions of TPS Holders
In September, the Biden administration extended temporary protection to some 472,000 Venezuelan migrants in the United States. Doing so provided welcome humanitarian relief—thousands of men, women, and children have fled violence and natural disasters and find themselves without a home—but it also ushered in the possibility of notable economic… Read More
American Immigration Council Applauds TPS Re-Designation for Venezuelans, Granting Much-Needed Relief and Work Authorization
The Council responds to the Biden Administration's announcement that it will be extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans who arrived in the United States before July 31, 2023. Read More
