AILA’s Advocacy Action Center allows you to advocate for legislative and policy reforms consistent with AILA’s principles and priorities.
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The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is the national bar association of attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law. Founded in 1946, AILA is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit, voluntary bar association that provides continuing legal education, professional services, information, and expertise to more than 16,000 members through our 39 chapters and 50+ national committees.
Since our founding in 1946, AILA has worked to enhance the professional development of our members, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, and promote justice.
AILA members are part of a diverse and dynamic community that shares resources and information and advocates for immigration laws that make our communities and our country a better place. Members also help support AILA’s mission to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of our members.
Our members include lawyers, professors, international associates, and law students. They represent a wide variety of clients, including U.S. families seeking permanent residence for close family members, as well as U.S. businesses seeking talent from the global marketplace. AILA members also represent foreign students, entertainers, athletes, and asylum seekers, often on a pro bono basis.
AILA, originally called the Association of Immigration and Nationality Lawyers, was founded on October 14, 1946, by a group of 19 immigration lawyers and professionals in Manhattan. Twelve of the founders had recently worked for the Immigration and Naturalization Service and recognized a need for a bar association devoted to representing immigrants in the United States.
The association’s certificate of incorporation was filed in New York on November 22, 1946, and Josh Koenigsberg became the organization’s first president. Gaspare Cusumano served as vice president, Anita Streep as secretary, and Daniel Caputi as treasurer.
AILA’s founders were deeply concerned with promoting the just administration and reform of immigration law in the United States. They also sought to elevate the professional standing and reputation of immigration practitioners appearing before the Immigration Service, as well as to enhance the spirit of community among immigration law practitioners.
Find information about AILA’s leadership and governance structure, including AILA’s Executive Committee, Board of Governors, elections, bylaws, and policies.
Learn about the work of AILA’s National Office in Washington, D.C., and find contact information for staff.
AILA members enjoy a wide range of benefits and resources to build their immigration law knowledge, grow their network, and enhance their practice.
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American Immigration Lawyers Association.
AILA.org should not be relied upon as the exclusive source for your legal research. Nothing on AILA.org constitutes legal advice, and information on AILA.org is not a substitute for independent legal advice based on a thorough review and analysis of the facts of each individual case, and independent research based on statutory and regulatory authorities, case law, policy guidance, and for procedural issues, federal government websites.