Family-Based
Publication Date
On May 7, 2020, ILRC co-authored and signed on to a comment opposing recently published USCIS policy manual instructions for adjustment applications under the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (LRIF).
USCIS took a restrictive view of the LRIF statute and published administrative guidance which would disqualify persons who should be eligible under the statutory language. The LRIF statute has mandatory language, requiring that USCIS “shall adjust” eligible applicants.
The USCIS policy guidance contradicted the mandatory language by imposing onerous documentation requirements on applicants and their family members. The policy manual also imposes additional restrictions on eligible familymembers which are not present in the statute.