To the person or entity who has had the most substantial impact on the field of immigration law or policy in the preceding period(established 1950)
- Josie Gonzalez (2008)
- Jeanne A. Butterfield (2003)
- H. Ronald Klasko (1999)
- Daryl R. Buffenstein (1997)
- National Association of Manufacturers (1996)
- National Immigration Forum (1996)
- Women’s Refugee Project of the Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services and the Harvard Law School (1994)
- Hon. Peter W. Rodino, Jr., Chairman, House Judiciary Committee (1986)
- Office of Special Investigations, Department of Justice (1985)
- The Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (1984)
- Louisa Wilson, Board of Immigration Appeals (1978)
- Hon. Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman, Senate Immigration Subcommittee (1977)
- Hon. Emmanual Cellar, Chairman, House Judiciary Committee (1976)
- Maurice A. Roberts, Chairman, Board of Immigration Appeals (1975)
- Hon. William O. Douglas, Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court (1974)
- George H. Owen, Department of State (1973)
- Hon. Raymond F. Farrell, Immigration & Naturalization Service (1968)
- Joshua S. Koenigsberg, Founding AILA President (1967)
- Hon. Michael A. Feighan, Chairman, House Immigration & Naturalization Subcommittee (1966)
- Board of Immigration Appeals (1965)
- His Excellency Edward E. Swanstrom, Auxiliary Bishop of New York (1962)
- August R. Lindt, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (1960)
- President Harry S. Truman (1952)
- U.S. Displaced Persons Commission (1950)
