On October 4, 2024, USCIS announced that there would be no process to renew parole for Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (CHNV) parolees. Can CHNV Parolees Renew Their Parole? Contrary to speculation, CHNV parolees can apply to renew their parole despite USCIS not offering a specific process for it. Any individual parolee can apply to … Read more
IRAP Files FOIA Suit Against USCIS for Information on Family Reunification Process Why is this Case Significant? Refugees separated from loved ones due to FTJ process Congress established FTJ process for family reunion Delays in FTJ process causing prolonged separation FOIA Request for Transparency IRAP submitted FOIA suit against USCIS seeking records on FTJ processing … Read more
IRAP Files Lawsuit Over Denial of Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans What is the background of the case? Five Afghan nationals working with U.S. mission denied access to the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. State Department refused Chief of Mission (COM) approval without providing a required explanation. Applicants left in the dark about eligibility and … Read more
Five Afghan nationals and the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) took legal action against the State Department for denying Chief of Mission (COM) applications required in the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) process without proper explanation, jeopardizing their safety. What are the Plaintiffs Seeking? The opportunity to challenge denials for Afghan allies. The required written explanations … Read more
October 1, 2024 “AMERICA IS BETTER AND STRONGER BECAUSE OF REFUGEES AND THEIR FAMILIES”: IRAP WELCOMES NEW PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION ON REFUGEE ADMISSIONS The Announcement Last night, the Biden administration announced the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions, setting the annual refugee resettlement target for Fiscal Year 2025 at 125,000. This is a significant increase from the … Read more
IRAP Condemns Israeli Attacks on Lebanese Civilians, Calls for Ceasefire September 27, 2024 Press Contact Spencer Tilger | [email protected] (New York, NY) – In response to the escalation of violence by Israel against Hezbollah, including the bombardment of densely populated residential areas, the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) calls for a ceasefire and the upholding … Read more
IRAP and ACLU Sue U.S. Government for Information on Refugee Detention at Guantánamo Bay What is the Lawsuit About? Advocates seek information on the secretive practice of detaining refugees at Guantánamo Bay. IRAP and ACLU filed a lawsuit under the FOIA to compel disclosure of records. What Did the IRAP Report Reveal? Last week, IRAP … Read more
IRAP Report Exposes U.S. Government’s Inhumane Treatment of Refugee Families What is IRAP Revealing? IRAP uncovers the secretive practice of interdicting refugee families at sea. Refugees are detained indefinitely in inhumane conditions at the Migrant Operations Center in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Firsthand accounts from IRAP clients, previously detained refugees, and former staff paint a grim … Read more
On July 1, 2024, Panama and the United States collaborated for a groundbreaking initiative using U.S. State Department funds for deportations from Panama. Let’s delve into the details of this significant partnership: What is the Diplomatic Arrangement Between Panama and the United States? An agreement between Panama and the U.S. for the repatriation of foreign … Read more
On July 8, 2024, IRAP submitted a public comment opposing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Interim Final Rule on Securing the Border, published on June 7, 2024. What does the rule entail? Suspends entry at the U.S. southern border until total border encounter numbers drop persistently and … Read more