Press Room
Recent AILA Press Releases
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AILA Elects New Officers for 2020-2021
Jennifer Minear was installed as AILA’s President, and the following officers were elected today for the 2020-2021 term: Allen Orr as President-Elect, Jeremy McKinney as First Vice President, Farshad Owji as Second Vice President, Kelli J. Stump as Treasurer, and Jeff Joseph as Secretary.
AILA Presents Greg Siskind with the 2020 Advocacy Award
AILA recognizes Greg Siskind of Memphis, TN, with the 2020 Advocacy Award for outstanding efforts in support of AILA's advocacy agenda.
AILA Presents Alexis S. Axelrad with the 2020 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award
AILA recognizes Alexis S. Axelrad, of New York, NY, with the 2020 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award, in recognition of her outstanding service, over a period of years, in advancing the mission, development, and value of AILA for its members and the public it serves.
AILA Recognizes Kathleen M. Gillespie with the 2020 Sam Williamson Mentor Award
AILA recognizes Kathleen M. Gillespie with the 2020 Sam Williamson Mentor Award, in acknowledgment of her outstanding efforts and excellent counsel to immigration attorneys by providing mentoring assistance.
AILA Presents Sidley Austin LLP with the 2020 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award
AILA recognizes Sidley Austin LLP with the 2020 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award for outstanding efforts in providing pro bono representation in the immigration field.
AILA: Proposed Rule Would Deny Asylum Seekers Fundamental Human Rights
The Trump Administration’s proposed rule seeks to fundamentally rewrite U.S. asylum laws and policies, and remove almost any chance for those fleeing persecution to gain protection. AILA highlights some changes of extreme concern, and we urge the public to comment on the proposed rule.
AILA Presents Hamed Aleaziz with the 2020 Media Leadership Award
AILA recognizes Hamed Aleaziz, of San Francisco, CA, with the 2020 Media Leadership Award, given to individuals whose efforts in the media most accurately depict immigration and immigrants.
AILA Presents Sabrina Damast with the 2020 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award
AILA recognizes Sabrina Damast, of Los Angeles, CA, with the 2020 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award for her outstanding contributions made as a young lawyer in the field of immigration and nationality law.
AILA Presents Wasden Banias LLC with the 2020 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award
AILA recognizes Wasden Banias LLC with the 2020 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award for excellence in litigation in the field of immigration law.
AILA Presents Lindsay M. Harris with the 2020 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award
AILA recognizes Lindsay M. Harris, Associate Professor of Law at the University of the District of Columbia School of Law, and Director of the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, with the 2020 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award.
AILA Presents Russell Abrutyn with the 2020 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award
AILA recognizes Russell Abrutyn of Berkley, MI, with the 2020 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law.
AILA Presents the LGBT Asylum Project with the 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Award
AILA recognizes the LGBT Asylum Project of San Francisco, CA, with the 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Award for outstanding efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion excellence in the immigration legal profession.
AILA Presents Taylor Levy with the 2020 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award
AILA recognizes Taylor Levy of El Paso, TX, with the 2020 Arthur C. Helton Human Rights Award for outstanding service in advancing the cause of human rights.
AILA: EOIR Director Attempts to Buy Out Remaining Board Members to Solidify Control of Immigration Courts
AILA responded to the recent effort by EOIR Director McHenry to buy out the remaining pre-Trump administration BIA members and highlighted the continuing push by this administration to manipulate the functions of the BIA, underscoring the urgent need for an independent immigration court system.
Civil Rights Coalition Files Lawsuit to Protect Families from Decades of Separation
AILA, Justice Action Center, and Innovation Law Lab, with pro bono support from Mayer Brown LLP, have filed a lawsuit on behalf of U.S. citizens and LPRs petitioning for their children and derivative relatives to join them in the U.S. who would “age-out” while the administration’s ban is in place.
AILA Urges Strict Congressional Oversight Over Any Emergency Appropriations for USCIS
AILA urges congressional appropriators to demand accountability, conduct strict oversight, and ensure conditions are met before agreeing to an emergency funding request by USCIS.
AILA: Trump Administration’s Indefinite Border Closure Is a Campaign Tool, Not a Public Safety Measure
AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson responds to the announcement by DHS and the CDC extending indefinitely their order blocking entry to asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.
AILA Urges Support for the HEROES Act
AILA urges support for the HEROES Act which would help protect the health and safety of all communities and provide a plan for this nation to rebuild, ensuring our shared prosperity.
US: Lawsuit Over ‘Remain in Mexico’ Program Secrecy
AILA joined the American Immigration Council, Human Rights Watch, and the law firm Winston & Strawn LLP in filing a lawsuit in the U.S. Northern District of California to compel the release of records about the U.S. Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as the “Remain in Mexico” program.
Trump Administration’s Continued Disdain for U.S. Asylum Law and Lack of Concern for Vulnerable Asylum Seekers on Display at Border
AILA opposes MPP and the new procedures announced Sunday, May 10, which create more confusion and instability for the thousands of asylum seekers waiting for their U.S. immigration court hearings in violent and dangerous conditions in Mexico.
AILA Supports House Introduction of the “Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act”
AILA commends the introduction of the “Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act” in the House; the bill is companion legislation to a Senate bill intended to help address the critical healthcare shortage in the United States, a weakness that has been evident during the COVID-19 national emergency.
Complaint Details ICE’s Failure to Protect Those in Its Custody Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Immigration Justice Campaign Director Karen Lucas and National Advocacy Counsel Katie Shepherd detail why ICE’s failure to protect those in its custody during the COVID-19 pandemic demands immediate oversight by DHS.
New Documents Reveal Immigration Judge Hiring Plan Designed to Stack the Courts, Prioritize Politics Over Justice
AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson and American Immigration Council Executive Director Beth Werlin react to documents obtained by the organizations via FOIA revealing DOJ Executive Office for Immigration Review’s updated hiring plan for Immigration Judges and Appellate Immigration Judges.
Ninth Circuit Panel Prevents Trump Administration from Implementing Health Care Ban
AILA and our partners welcomed the Ninth Circuit 2-1 panel decision today to refuse the federal government a stay pending appeal of the preliminary nationwide injunction in Doe v. Trump; the government had sought a stay of the injunction granted by the U.S. District Court in Portland, OR.
AILA Supports the “Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act”
AILA welcomes the announcement by Senators Perdue, Durbin, Young, and Coons that they will introduce bipartisan legislation which would help address the critical healthcare shortage in the United States, a weakness that has been evident during the COVID-19 national emergency.