Press Room
Recent AILA Press Releases
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AILA Presents Ronald Klasko with the Founders Award
AILA recognizes H. Ronald Klasko, of Philadelphia, PA, 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. He will receive the award this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.
AILA Presents the Somali 92 Volunteer Team with the 2019 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award
AILA will recognize the Somali 92 Volunteer Team with the 2019 Arthur C. Helton Human Rights Award for outstanding service in advancing the cause of human rights this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.
AILA Presents Betsy Lawrence with the 2019 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award
AILA will recognize Betsy Lawrence, Counsel for the Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee, this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL, with the 2019 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law.
AILA Presents Jodi Goodwin with the 2019 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award
AILA will recognize Jodi Goodwin, of Harlingen, TX, with the 2019 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award for outstanding efforts in providing pro bono representation in the immigration field. The award will be presented this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.
AILA Presents Jacob Soboroff of NBC/MSNBC with the 2019 Media Leadership Award
AILA will recognize NBC/MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff with the 2019 Media Leadership Award, given to individuals whose efforts in the media most accurately depict immigration and immigrants. The award will be presented this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.
AILA Recognizes Michael K. Mehr with the 2019 Sam Williamson Mentor Award
AILA will recognize Michael K. Mehr with the 2019 Sam Williamson Mentor Award in acknowledgment of his outstanding efforts and excellent counsel to immigration attorneys by providing mentoring assistance. The award will be presented this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.
AILA Presents the Pereira Litigation Team with the 2019 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award
AILA will recognize the Pereira Litigation Team with the 2019 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award for excellence in litigation in the field of immigration law this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.
AILA Presents Victor Nieblas Pradis with the 2019 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award
AILA will recognize Victor Nieblas Pradis with the 2019 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL, in recognition of outstanding service, over a period of years, in advancing the mission, development, and value of AILA.
AILA Presents David Wilks with the 2019 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award
AILA will recognize David J. Wilks, of Miller Mayer LLP, Ithaca, NY, with the 2019 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award for his outstanding contributions made as a young lawyer in the field of immigration and nationality law. He will receive the award this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando
House Passes the American Dream and Promise Act
AILA applauds the passage of the American Dream and Promise Act in the House of Representatives.
Tariffs Hurt Americans, Won’t Stop Asylum Seekers
AILA leadership recommended solutions to restore order to the border region, in contrast to President’s Trump’s planned new tariffs on Mexican imports to the United States, calling for improved “processing of migrants without sacrificing fundamental humanitarian values and damaging our economy.”
Moving on Dream and Temporary Protected Status Is the Right Path
AILA urged Congress to move forward legislation to offer permanent legal status for “Dreamers” – young people brought to America as children – and the thousands of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders whose protections have been put in jeopardy.
President’s Speech Short on Details of Workable Immigration Plan
AILA leaders Anastasia Tonello and Benjamin Johnson responded to President Trump's new plan to reform America’s legal immigration system which, if implemented, would prioritize merit-based immigration and reduce family-based immigration.
Bipartisan Group of 38 Senators Calls USCIS to Account for Crisis-Level Processing Delays
A bipartisan group of 38 senators led by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sent two letters to the administration, calling it to account for the crisis-level case processing delays at USCIS and demanding an assessment of how USCIS’s own policies contribute to this trend.
AILA Releases New Edition of INA and CFR
AILA is proud to release the 2019 editions of the INA and CFR; AILA President Anastasia Tonello noted, “Especially as USCIS continues to create new standards and requirements…in-depth knowledge and easy access to primary sources of immigration law are vital for any successful practice.”
AILA: Presidential Memo Seeks to Deny Asylum Seekers Fundamental Human Rights
AILA responded to the White House memo of April 29, 2019, raising concerns that while the memo itself does not change asylum policy, it directs the DHS and DOJ to issue regulations that would dramatically alter how asylum seekers obtain protection and dilute their rights during that process.
AILA Welcomes Sharvari (Shev) Dalal-Dheini as Government Relations Director
AILA welcomes Sharvari (Shev) Dalal-Dheini as Director of Government Relations; she will focus on the employment-based and immigration benefits sphere, and will partner with current Government Relations Director Gregory Chen in leading the department.
Fastcase and American Immigration Lawyers Association Release Inaugural Issue of AILA Law Journal
AILA and Fastcase announced the release of the inaugural edition of the AILA Law Journal featuring articles by experts on topics such as the renunciation of U.S. citizenship, Central American asylum seekers, extraordinary ability adjudications, travel ban waivers, and more.
AILA: AG Aims to Detain Asylum Seekers, Intruding Further on Immigration Court Independence
In response to the AG’s decision in Matter of M-S-, AILA Treasurer Jeremy McKinney stated, “This decision further expands mandatory and prolonged detention of people who are neither dangerous nor flight risks, practices which are constitutionally suspect and a waste of taxpayer money.”
AILA: H-1B Cap Reached Within Days, Highlighting America’s Need for Foreign Professionals to Fill Critical Workforce Gaps
USCIS announced receipt of more than 201,000 H-1B visa petitions for FY2020; AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson noted that, “the lack of adequate visas is only hurting American businesses and workers. Congress needs to raise the cap so the number of visas reflects the needs of our economy.”
American Immigration Council and AILA File Complaint to Bring Injustice in El Paso Immigration Court to Light
The American Immigration Council and AILA filed an oversight complaint demanding investigation and highlighting systemic due process violations that are undermining justice for detained immigrants called before judges at the El Paso Service Processing Center immigration court.
AILA Joins Senators in Call for Immigration Court Reform and Access to Counsel
AILA welcomes the introduction of the “Immigration Court Improvement Act of 2019” and the “Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2019” in the U.S. Senate; the bills would provide safeguards for children and adults and help shore up immigration courts’ independence.
After Congress Refuses to Fund Border Wall to His Liking, President Trump Attempts End Run Around Constitution
AILA responds to President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to get funds for a border wall.
Trump Administration Unveils More Severe Restrictions on Due Process and Asylum in “Remain in Mexico”
AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson raises concerns with new procedures described today by USCIS in which an “assessment” that determines whether Central American asylum applicants can pursue their claims from within the U.S. would be made, but access to counsel would be prohibited.
Damaging Bill Is a Bait-and-Switch on Immigration
A bill slated for introduction in the Senate would fund President Trump’s border wall, but as AILA notes, it also includes many extreme provisions impacting asylum law, Temporary Protected Status holders, and more, that go far beyond what the president laid out in his recent speech.