Press Room
Recent AILA Press Releases
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AILA: Ending DACA Would Be Inhumane and Bad for America
AILA condemned reported plans that the Trump Administration will end the DACA program with a six-month enforcement delay and urged President Trump to endorse legislation to protect Dreamers “and ensure a solution is passed before terminating the DACA program.”
AILA: Court’s Halt of SB 4 Is Win for Immigrants and Entire Nation
AILA welcomed the decision by federal judge Orlando Garcia to enjoin the implementation of several unconstitutional provisions of SB 4, a Texas law targeting immigrant communities which would have taken effect September 1.
A Shameful Exercise of Presidential Power
AILA condemned President Trump’s decision to grant a pardon to disgraced Sheriff Joe Arpaio; AILA President Annaluisa Padilla noted, “By pardoning Sheriff Arpaio, the President has undermined the judicial branch, a core institution of our democracy.”
ICE Settles Case Challenging Interference with Legal Representation at Dilley
The parties in Dilley Pro Bono Project v. ICE reached a settlement ensuring access to mental health evaluations for detained asylum-seeking mothers and children. The case was filed after ICE barred a full-time legal assistant with the pro bono project from entering the Dilley facility.
RAISE Act Attacks Legal Immigration System; Ignores Needs of U.S. Businesses and Families
AILA opposes yesterday’s introduction of the Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy (RAISE) Act, which does nothing to reform our outdated immigration system yet seeks to curtail legal immigration levels over the next decade.
AILA: House Bills Give Hope to Dreamers, but DACA Still in Danger
AILA praised the Dream Act of 2017 and the American Hope Act introduced in the House, both of which “would provide young people, who were brought to this country as children and grew up in the United States, the chance to apply for lawful permanent residence, and eventually apply for citizenship.”
AILA Urges House to Reject Wasteful and Unnecessary Border Wall Spending
AILA opposes adding funding for a wasteful and unnecessary border wall to the funding package set to be voted on later this week; members of the House plan to add the $1.6 billion in funding to a spending measure covering, among other things, Defense, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs.
AILA Welcomes Bipartisan Dream Act of 2017; Calls on Congress and the Administration to Protect Dreamers
AILA welcomes the introduction of the Dream Act of 2017, a bipartisan bill authored by Senators Lindsey Graham and Dick Durbin, that would provide young people who were brought to the U.S. as children a chance to apply for lawful permanent residence if they meet certain requirements.
House Appropriations Committee Gives Trump Administration Blank Check to Implement Mass Deportation Plan
AILA strongly opposes the funding bill released by the House Appropriations Committee, which would massively increase immigration enforcement and border spending at a time when border apprehensions have plummeted and ICE and CBP funding is already at all-time high levels.
AILA: House Bills Erode Public Safety and the Constitution
AILA urged lawmakers to oppose two bills slated to be taken up this week by the House of Representatives: the “No Sanctuary for Criminals Act” (H.R. 3003) and “Kate’s Law” (H.R. 3004), noting that the bills “will undermine public safety and erode our nation’s bedrock constitutional principles.”
Judge: Government Still Failing to Meet Standards for Detaining Children
AILA welcomed U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee’s decision affirming that the federal government is violating the 20-year-old Flores settlement agreement governing the custody and release of all immigrant children nationwide; Judge ordered a Juvenile Coordinator appointed to ensure compliance.
SCOTUS Says No Ban on Travel for Those with U.S. Connections But Will Hear Full Case in October
AILA welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision to consider the Trump Administration’s Muslim-focused travel and refugee ban litigation but raised strong concerns of the potential impact of the decision to lift part of the injunction that had prevented the federal government from implementing the ban.
AILA Elects New Officers; Annaluisa Padilla to Serve as President of Association
Today, AILA elected new officers to its Executive Committee for the 2017-2018 term during AILA’s Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA. Annaluisa Padilla was installed as AILA’s President.
AILA Announces 2018 Annual Conference Will Be Held in San Francisco
AILA announced that the association’s 2018 Annual Conference will be held in San Francisco, CA, June 13-16, 2018. The conference had been set for Grapevine, TX, but the Board of Governors voted earlier this month to move the event after weighing the potential impact of SB 4.
Free Legal Consultations from Immigration Attorneys During AILA’s Annual Conference in New Orleans
On June 24, 2017, AILA, in partnership with AILA’s Mid-South Chapter and Catholic Charities of New Orleans, will offer free Know Your Rights presentations and immigration law consultations in New Orleans as part of the seventh Pro Bono Clinic held in conjunction with AILA’s Annual Conference.
AILA Presents Nora Elizabeth Phillips with the 2017 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award
AILA will recognize Nora Elizabeth Phillips, of Los Angeles, CA, with the 2017 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award, for outstanding efforts in providing pro bono representation in the immigration field, this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA.
AILA Presents Sarah Owings and Ruby Powers with the 2017 Advocacy Award
AILA will recognize Sarah Weston Hayes Owings, of Atlanta, GA, and Ruby Lichte Powers, of Houston, TX, with the 2017 Advocacy Award for outstanding efforts in support of AILA’s legislative agenda during AILA’s Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA.
AILA Presents Benjamin Casper Sanchez with the 2017 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award
AILA will recognize Benjamin Casper Sanchez, of the University of Minnesota Law School, with the 2017 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award, recognizing an outstanding professor in the area of immigration law, during AILA’s Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA.
AILA Presents the “Airport Lawyers” with the 2017 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award
AILA will recognize the “Airport Lawyers” with the 2017 Arthur C. Helton Human Rights Award for outstanding service in advancing the cause of human rights this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA.
AILA Presents Ava Benach with the 2017 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award
AILA will recognize Ava Benach of Washington, D.C., with the 2017 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA.
AILA Presents Leslie Marshall with the 2017 Media Leadership Award
AILA will present talk show host Leslie Marshall with the 2017 Media Leadership Award, given to the individual whose efforts in the media most accurately depict immigration and immigrants, this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA.
AILA Presents Ben Winograd with the 2017 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award
AILA will recognize Ben Winograd, of Alexandria, VA, with the 2017 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 New Orleans, LA.
AILA Presents Crystal Williams with the 2017 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award
This week, AILA will recognize Crystal Williams of Morrisville, NC, with the 2017 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 Suzanne Brown with the 2017 Sam Williamson Mentor Award
This week, AILA will recognize Suzanne Brown, of St. Louis, MO, with the 2017 Sam Williamson Mentor Award in acknowledgment of her outstanding efforts and excellent counsel to immigration attorneys by providing mentoring assistance.
AILA Presents the Washington v. Trump Litigation Team with the 2017 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award
This week, AILA will recognize the Washington v. Trump Litigation Team: Bob Ferguson, Noah Purcell, and Colleen Melody, with the 2017 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award, for excellence in litigation in the field of immigration law, during AILA’s Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA.