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Congress Must Not Weaken Asylum System as Part of Budget Negotiations
AILA President Farshad Owji and Executive Director Ben Johnson urge that Senate negotiators reject the severe restrictions on America’s asylum system being entertained in exchange for a supplemental funding deal; the changes would be harmful and ineffective.
AILA Executive Director Responds to Plans from Trump Campaign and House Republicans’ Impeachment Efforts
AILA ED Ben Johnson called on the Republican party to reject the dark vision of America described in the Trump Campaign’s plans and urged Congress to “do what only they can do” to “ensure America’s immigration system serves the public good, upholds the law, and protects the nation’s prosperity.”
AILA Deeply Troubled by Hate and Violence, Calls for Protections and Positive Change
AILA issued a statement regarding its deep concern at the rise in hate and violence, urging immediate action to ensure the protection and safety of those who are impacted by the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and calling on Americans to “focus on our common humanity, not our differences.”
AILA Executive Director: Anti-Immigrant Provisions Tied to Necessary Funding Must Not Succeed
AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson responded to the extreme anti-immigrant provisions espoused by Senate Republicans that were reported on today; the plan “takes a page out of the far-right House bill, H.R. 2, by functionally closing the door to asylum seekers.”
AILA President Welcomes Addition of Ecuador to Eligible Countries for Family Reunification Parole Process
AILA President Farshad Owji welcomed the news that Ecuador would be added to the list of countries eligible for Family Reunification Parole (FRP) noting it “will allow qualified individuals residing in Ecuador to reunite with their U.S. citizen and legal resident family members more quickly.”
AILA Calls on Biden Administration to Help Those Displaced By Recent Violence in Middle East
AILA calls on the Biden Administration to move immediately to support the safety of all people affected by the recent violence in the Middle East, urging among other things, “deferred action, humanitarian parole, or Temporary Protected Status for those already in the United States.”
AILA Executive Director Responds to Harmful and Deadly Texas Border Actions
AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson responded to reports regarding the harmful actions taken by the Texas Governor, urging the Governor to reconsider and “Texas state employees and residents to join in the call for these inhumane and deadly tactics be immediately halted.”
AILA Elects New Officers: Farshad Owji Installed as President of Association
AILA installed Farshad Owji as the association’s president for the 2023-24 term and elected officers to its Executive Committee.
Visalaw.ai and AILA Unveil Gen, a Groundbreaking AI-Based Solution for Immigration Lawyers
Today, Visalaw.ai and AILA unveiled Gen, a groundbreaking AI-based solution for immigration lawyers; AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson noted the technology’s potential impact to empower AILA members and to “expand their capacity to meet the ever-growing need for legal advice and representation.”
AILA Presents Ira Kurzban with the Founders Award
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Ira Kurzban with the Founders Award, which is given from time to time to the person or entity having the most substantial impact on the field of immigration law or policy.
AILA Presents Palma Yanni with the 2023 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Palma Yanni with the 2023 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award, in recognition of her years of outstanding service in advancing the mission, development, and value of AILA for its members and the public it serves.
AILA Recognizes Brian S. Green with the 2023 Sam Williamson Mentor Award
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Brian S. Green with the 2023 Sam Williamson Mentor Award, in acknowledgment of his outstanding efforts and excellent counsel to immigration attorneys by providing mentoring assistance.
AILA First-Time Survey of Asylum Practitioners Asks and Answers the Question: What Does it Take to Prepare a Migrant for the High-Stakes Asylum Proce
AILA released report on asylum entitled High-Stakes Asylum: How Long an Asylum Case Takes and How We Can Do Better; AILA President Jeremy McKinney noted that the report’s solutions “would go a long way toward ensuring the integrity of a system that is inefficient and often unjust.”
AILA Presents Troutman Pepper with the 2023 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Troutman Pepper with the 2023 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award for outstanding efforts in providing pro bono representation in the immigration field.
AILA Presents Priscilla Alvarez with the 2023 Media Leadership Award
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Priscilla Alvarez of CNN with the 2023 Media Leadership Award, given to individuals whose efforts in the media most accurately depict immigration and immigrants.
AILA Presents Sarah Pitney with the 2023 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Sarah Pitney with the 2023 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award for their outstanding contributions made as a young lawyer in the field of immigration and nationality law.
AILA Presents the AILA Amicus Committee with the 2023 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes the AILA Amicus Committee with the 2023 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award for excellence in litigation in the field of immigration law.
AILA Presents Karla McKanders with the 2023 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Karla McKanders with the 2023 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award.
AILA Presents Amy Nice with the 2023 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Amy Nice with the 2023 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law.
AILA Presents Ban Al-Wardi and Maria Chavez with the 2023 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Ban Al-Wardi and Maria Chavez with the 2023 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award for outstanding efforts in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion excellence in the immigration legal profession.
AILA Presents the UndocuBlack Network with the 2023 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes UndocuBlack Network with the 2023 Arthur C. Helton Human Rights Award for outstanding service in advancing the cause of human rights.
AILA Executive Director Responds to Introduction of the Dignity Act of 2023
AILA ED Ben Johnson responded to the introduction of the bipartisan Dignity Act of 2023 calling it a “heartening sign in this divided and ultra-partisan era… AILA doesn’t agree with everything in this bill but looks forward to working with these leaders to find a smart workable compromise.”
Draconian Anti-Immigrant Legislation Will Negatively Impact Florida’s Communities and Businesses
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) condemns two Florida bills, SB1718 and SB264, which will cause harm to communities and businesses throughout the state and beyond. Governor DeSantis is expected to sign both bills.
H-1B Visa Registration Numbers Show Demand Far Exceeds Supply; Changes Are Necessary to Ensure Integrity of the System
AILA urges the Biden Administration to immediately act to ensure the integrity of the H-1B registration system, applauding USCIS efforts in creating a streamlined registration and lottery process, but noting the flaws and vulnerabilities have become impossible to ignore.
AILA Welcomes Menendez Plan Offering Humane and Effective Border Management Solutions
AILA commends Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) for offering up concrete recommendations on immigration issues noting the “multi-pronged plan” is “a starting point for reasoned discussion and debate grounded in the realities of immigration.”