Press Room
Recent AILA Press Releases
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AILA Executive Director Welcomes Anti-Trafficking Effort, Urges Focus on Real Threats
AILA ED Ben Johnson states DOJ’s anti-trafficking and smuggling plans are exactly where DHS and DOJ “should focus efforts to reduce crime and improve border management” but flags concerns with “the agencies’ plan to increase prosecutions of people for improper entry or re-entry after removal.”
AILA Presents Alberto M. Benitez with the 2024 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award
AILA recognizes Alberto M. Benitez of George Washington University Law School with the 2024 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award.
Audio Recording of May 30, 2024, Press Briefing with Rep. Stanton and AILA and Council Border Policy Experts
Listen in on the press briefing featuring Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ), AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson, AILA Senior GR Director Greg Chen, and American Immigration Council Senior Fellow Dara Lind as they discussed possible border solutions in the broader immigration context.
AILA Presents Rex Chen with the 2024 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award
AILA recognizes Rex Chen with the 2024 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law.
AILA Presents Paulina Reyes-Perrariz with the 2024 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award
AILA recognizes Paulina Reyes-Perrariz with the 2024 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award for outstanding service in advancing the cause of human rights.
AILA Presents Allen Orr with the 2024 Advocacy Award
AILA recognizes Allen Orr with the 2024 Advocacy Award for outstanding efforts in support of AILA’s advocacy agenda.
AILA Senior Director of Government Relations Shares Insights on Asylum Rule Notice
Greg Chen responds to the advance copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would give authority to asylum officers to apply existing security and terrorism related bars during the initial screening process for credible fear.
AILA President Welcomes Biden Administration’s Moves on Ethiopian TPS as well as DED and Special Student Relief for Palestinian Nationals
AILA President Farshad Owji responded to the Biden Administration’s recent actions to extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopia and to introduce additional measures for certain Palestinian nationals.
AILA: Automatic Extension of Work Permits Will Help American Economy, Workers, and Families
AILA Senior Director of Government Relations Sharvari Dalal-Dheini welcomed the news that USCIS will modify the period of automatic extensions of work permits for up to 540 days; this change was one of the ten policy recommendations AILA recently made to the Biden Administration.
AILA Executive Director: SCOTUS Wrong to Allow TX SB4 Implementation
AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson responded to the U.S. Supreme Court allowing Texas to implement SB.4, saying it "threatens to create chaos."
AILA Executive Director Urges Biden Administration to Offer Haitians Safety in this Time of Turmoil
AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson urged the Biden Administration to take immediate action as Haiti faces immense challenges and use “all of the tools in the executive branch’s toolbox” to help offer security and safety to those affected, including extending and redesignating TPS for Haitians.
AILA Executive Director Responds to Release of President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget
AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson responded to the release of the FY2025 budget from the Biden Administration, noting that in addition to what is included, “more funds could and should also be directed to improve the entire immigration system.”
AILA Releases New Edition of Immigration and Crimes Resource
AILA proudly releases the 10th edition of Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity; AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson noted the resource is “packed full of analysis” and is “vital for anyone whose practice touches on the intersection of immigration and criminal law.”
House Republicans Vote to Impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary
AILA’s Ben Johnson and the American Immigration Council’s Jeremy Robbins responded to the vote held February 13, in which House Republicans voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas by a vote of 214-213 following a failed attempt last week.
AILA Executive Committee Shares Open Letter Regarding Efforts to Impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
As the House Republican majority moves forward with their efforts to impeach the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the Executive Committee of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) shared the following open letter.
AILA Executive Director Responds to Release of Bipartisan Senate Bill
AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson responded to the newly released bill text from the bipartisan group of Senators negotiating the “Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024.”
AILA Responds to New Biden Administration Rules on Fees and H-1B Registration Process
AILA responded to the advance copies shared publicly by the Biden Administration regarding U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fees and a revised H-1B visa registration process with insights from President Farshad Owji and Dir of Gov’t Relations Shev Dalal-Dheini.
Ninth Edition of AILA’s Invaluable Asylum Primer Released
Ben Johnson on the 9th edition of AILA’s Asylum Primer: A Practical Guide to U.S. Asylum Law and Procedure by Dree K. Collopy: “This book will help practitioners, those new to the area of practice as well as long-time asylum attorneys, do the best job possible for their vulnerable clients.”
Visalaw.Ai Launches GEN 1.0: A Revolutionary AI-Powered Legal Research Tool for Immigration Law Firms
Visalaw.Ai and AILA announce the launch of GEN 1.0, the only GPT designed for immigration lawyers powered by AILA resources; Gen’s initial release is exclusively available to AILA members.
AILA Welcomes Stateside Visa Renewal Pilot Program
AILA welcomes the news from the Department of State that a Stateside Renewal Visa Pilot Program will be launched, initially limited to approximately 20,000 H-1B holders who meet specific eligibility requirements.
AILA ED: Harmful Texas Legislation Will Damage the State and Infringe on Federal Authority
As Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs anti-immigrant bills into law this week, AILA ED Ben Johnson responded stating, “Once again, the Texas governor has signed legislation that attempts to transform how immigration laws and policy are enforced and stands in clear violation of the U.S. Constitution.”
AILA Urges Focus on Actual Solutions for Border Security and Management
As negotiators reportedly consider significant changes to America’s asylum system as well as a nationwide expansion of expedited removal, AILA urges the Biden Administration to turn away from destructive proposals and stand by its original funding request.
Congress Should Focus Supplemental Funding Bill on Real Border Solutions
AILA and the Council share a statement urging Congress to focus supplemental funding discussions on solutions that would improve border processing as well as reduce backlogs elsewhere in the immigration system.
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.”