This post contains links shared and resources referenced during the January 14, 2026 Legal Working Group call. Consider joining our calls to benefit from the live discussion and context within which these resources were shared. 

This post contains links shared during the January 7, 2026, Legal Working Group call. These resources are provided for attendee reference and are not a substitute for participating in the live session.

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CAST participated in AILA’s November 14, 2024 engagement with USCIS on VAWA, U, and T issues where representatives from the USCIS Office of Policy & Strategy (OP&S), Service Center Operations Directorate (SCOPS), and Public Engagement Division discussed issues relating to T visas and other humanitarian remedies. Key takeaways for T visa practitioners are below.[1]

In recent years, the number of T visa applications filed by victims of trafficking has seen a dramatic increase. This rise underscores both the growing awareness of the T visa program and the increasing need for protections afforded under this visa category. However, this influx of applications has also had a noticeable effect on the rate at which cases are adjudicated, raising important questions about the system’s capacity to handle the rising demand while maintaining robust protections for survivors.