Asylum: New Claim v. Old – Understanding Matter of M-A-F-, 26 I. & N. Dec. 651 (BIA 2015)
In Matter of M-A-F-, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) held that when an asylum applicant filed initially before the enactment of the REAL ID Act of 2005 (effective May 11, 2005) then submits a subsequent asylum application after that date which presents either a previously unraised basis for relief or a substantially different factual basis, the later filing is treated as a “new” application.
DHS Implements Weighted Selection for H-1B Visas: Prioritizing Skills and Wages to Protect U.S. Workers
As of December 23, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have introduced a major update to the H-1B visa program. This change replaces the random lottery with a weighted selection process that gives preference to higher-wage, more skilled positions.
No Duress Exception to Persecutor’s Bar. Matter of Negusie, 29 I&N Dec. 285 (A.G. Oct. 22, 2025)
On October 22, 2025, the U.S. Attorney General issued the decision Matter of Negusie, in which the long-running question of whether a “duress” or “coercion” exception exists to the so-called persecutor bar under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) was definitively resolved: the bar to asylum and withholding of removal for an individual who ordered, incited, assisted or otherwise participated in persecution does not include a coercion or duress exception.
Strong Alliances, Strong Borders: Why the U.S.–Israel Partnership Supports a Rational Immigration Policy
A strong U.S.–Israel relationship is not charity, nostalgia, or sentimental attachment. It is a security partnership that increases America’s ability to prevent terrorism, disrupt threats early, and refine the tools that keep Americans safe.
Update to “Why Uganda Is a Dangerous Destination for Russian Political Dissidents and Conscription Avoiders”
This Article was finalized prior to breaking developments on December 19-20, 2025, revealing a significant policy shift by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding third-country transfers to Uganda under the Asylum Cooperation Agreement (ACA).
Understanding DHS Attempts to Block Asylum Claims Using the U.S.-Uganda Agreement: What It Means for Asylum Seekers and Why Safety Checks Matter
Lately, the U.S. government, through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been trying to speed up the denial of asylum applications by pointing to a deal called the Asylum Cooperative Agreement (ACA) with Uganda, signed on July 29, 2025, and made public on September 3, 2025.
What the New BIA Decision Means for Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJs) in Removal Proceedings
Understanding Matter of Cahuec Tzalam (BIA 2025) A newly published decision from the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)—Matter of Miguel Angel Otoniel Cahuec Tzalam, decided November 14, 2025—significantly affects how young people pursuing Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status are treated in immigration court. This ruling limits the ability of Immigration Judges to administratively close removal […]
BIA Bars Immigration Judges from Terminating Withholding-Only Proceedings
The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) has just issued a far-reaching decision that sharply limits what Immigration Judges (IJs) can do in “withholding-only” proceedings—cases that arise after a previously deported person reenters the United States and expresses fear of persecution or torture.
Assessing the Credibility of The Washington Post’s Reporting on U.S. Plans to Deport Ukrainians Amid Wartime Conscription
On November 14, 2025, The Washington Post published a major investigative report revealing that the Trump administration is preparing to deport Ukrainian nationals with final orders of removal, even as Ukraine remains embroiled in one of the most destructive wars on European soil since World War II.
America’s Right to Defend Its Values: Why Vetting for Anti‑Americanism and Antisemitism in Immigration Is Necessary and What Its Practical Implications
The United States has long upheld a proud tradition of welcoming immigrants who come in good faith: those who seek freedom, opportunity, and the chance to contribute to civic society. But openness does not equate to unlimited access—especially not when a person seeks to live, work, or become a citizen while simultaneously rejecting or undermining the very institutions, ideals, and communities that underpin the American experiment.