Recent AILA Press Releases
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SCOTUS Jennings Decision Won’t Be the Last Word on Bond Hearings for Immigrants
AILA reacted to and explained today’s Supreme Court decision in Jennings v. Rodriguez; AILA President Annaluisa Padilla emphasized that the decision “does not mean that immigrants may be detained indefinitely and it does not mean that prolonged detention is constitutional.”
Rewrite of USCIS Mission Statement Cannot Change America’s Identity as a Nation of Immigrants
AILA expresses its deep disappointment at the Trump administration’s rewrite of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) mission statement to, among other things, remove the phrase “a nation of immigrants.”
Senate Bipartisan Efforts to Save Dreamers Destroyed by Veto Threat
AILA expressed deep disappointment in the failure of the Senate to pass commonsense reforms to protect Dreamers. At the same time, AILA commends the many senators who stood firm against the nativist voices demanding legislation to gut legal immigration and make our country weaker.
White House Appeals to Nativist Base with Anti-Immigrant Proposal
AILA denounced the latest iteration of the Trump administration’s proposal on immigration as destructive and untenable.
Another Bipartisan Failure to Protect Dreamers
AILA issued a statement about how “Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, once again let politics take precedence over the lives of real people, and has squandered another opportunity to protect Dreamers.”
President’s Discriminatory Rhetoric Is an Affront to American Values
AILA responded to President Trump’s derogatory and hateful comments about Haiti, El Salvador, and several African countries.
Immigration Justice Campaign and Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network Announce New Partnership
The Immigration Justice Campaign, a joint initiative between AILA and the American Immigration Council, announces its partnership with the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) in an effort to increase the legal representation of detained immigrants.
AILA Condemns Termination of TPS for Salvadorans, Calls on Congress to Act
AILA is deeply disappointed by the administration’s decision to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 200,000 nationals of El Salvador, effective September 9, 2019, stating that the “misguided and inhumane decision” will harm “communities, families, and businesses across the nation.”
Congress Leaves Without Passing Dream Act, Jeopardizing the Lives of Thousands
AILA is deeply disappointed by Congress’ failure to pass the Dream Act before the December holidays and calls on Congress and the President to grant Dreamers permanent legal status as soon as possible in 2018.
Joint Complaint Filed With DHS on Behalf of Families Forcibly Separated in CBP Custody
AILA joined civil and human rights organizations in filing a complaint to DHS on behalf of family members who have been forcibly separated while in custody at the southern border of the United States.
AILA: Congress Must Pass Dream Legislation Before the Holidays
AILA urged Congress and the President to pass the Dream Act before the December holidays. Failing to act will hurt Dreamers, their families, and the businesses and communities that depend on them.
AILA: AG Sessions Cites Flawed Facts in Missive on the Immigration Court System
AILA condemned attacks by AG Sessions on the immigration courts and the due process rights of immigrants, stating that “For the AG to blame immigration lawyers for imagined trespasses is both malicious and wrong. We will not let that misinformation pass without setting the record straight.”
Senate Appropriators Propose Billions for Mass Deportation Machine
AILA strongly opposes the funding bill released on 11/21/17 by the Senate Appropriations Committee, which would dramatically increase spending on immigration enforcement while stripping funds for critical oversight programs.
AILA Deeply Disappointed by Decision to Terminate Temporary Protected Status for Haiti
AILA denounced the decision by DHS to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals, effective July 22, 2019. AILA President Annaluisa Padilla noted, “Given the great uncertainty surrounding the future of Haiti…the administration’s decision is shortsighted and uninformed.”
AILA: Ending Protected Status Will Tear Apart American Families, Harm Businesses, and Communities
AILA warned that the decision by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 2,500 Nicaraguan nationals will harm American families, businesses, and communities.
Undeterred by White Supremacist Threats, AILA Stands with America’s Immigrants
After members of a white supremacist group targeted our building, AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson stated: “AILA and its members will not be deterred or distracted from our work and our mission to stand by America’s immigrants and to advocate for fair and just immigration laws and policies.”
AILA: Trump Administration Erodes Integrity and Fairness in Immigration Courts
AILA strongly opposes the Trump administration’s plans to impose numeric quotas on immigration judges in order to speed up deportations which threatens the integrity of the immigration court system and the independence of the judicial branch.
AILA: Attorney General Derides the Role of Due Process in the American Asylum System
AILA rejected the baseless attacks on America’s asylum system by the attorney general, noting that “Given the humanitarian concerns involved, the tragedy here is that nowhere in the attorney general’s harangue against the system were any useful solutions that would actually make the system better.”
AILA: White House Principles on Immigration Fail America
AILA condemned the Trump administration’s “Immigration Principles and Priorities” as destructive and unworkable. AILA reaffirms its commitment and support for real bipartisan immigration reform to increase our country’s shared prosperity and restore our legacy as a nation welcoming to immigrants.
New Edition of AILA Treatise on Immigration and Crimes Released
AILA released the seventh edition of Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity: A Guide to Representing Foreign-Born Defendants by Mary E. Kramer; the book is a vital resource for any lawyer working with foreign national or naturalized citizen clients who have been charged with a crime.
Civil and Human Rights Organizations File Joint Complaint Against DHS on Behalf of Pregnant Women Detained by ICE
AILA joined six other organizations filing a joint complaint today concerning ICE’s treatment of pregnant women in detention, highlighting inhumane conditions, inadequate medical care and failure to implement agency policy limiting the detention of pregnant women.
AILA: Latest Travel Ban Will Weaken Not Strengthen America
AILA expressed concerns about the new travel ban, with AILA President Annaluisa Padilla noting the “changes…will add unnecessary steps to our already robust visa screening procedures and ultimately will block or slow the entry of legitimate business, family, and other travelers.”
AILA Releases Fourth Edition of Litigating Immigration Cases in Federal Court
AILA released the fourth edition of Litigating Immigration Cases in Federal Court by Bob Pauw, which provides expert guidance and a summary of case law for practitioners defending noncitizens who are subject to removal or who have been denied immigration benefits to which they are entitled.
AILA and NALEO Educational Fund to Help Thousands of Eligible New Americans on National Citizenship Day
AILA is proud to sponsor the 11th Annual Citizenship Day on Saturday, September 23, 2017; the event, a partnership with the NALEO Educational Fund, brings together AILA attorneys across the country, along with other advocates, to provide assistance as lawful permanent residents seek to naturalize.
AILA Stands with Dreamers, Condemns DACA Cancellation
In the wake of the announcement by the Trump administration, AILA condemned the cancellation of the DACA initiative and reiterated its support for Dreamers and DACA recipients, calling on Congress to “live up to America’s fundamental principles and stand up for Dreamers.”