Press Room
Recent AILA Press Releases
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AILA: U.S. Expands Protection for Refugees South of U.S. Border But Continues Harsh Treatment of Asylum Seekers at the Border
AILA welcomed the Obama administration’s announcement expanding opportunities for refugees in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to seek protection, but continued to challenge the White House to stop the aggressive enforcement, detention, and deportation of asylum seekers arriving at U.S. borders.
AILA: Government Requests Rehearing of Deferred Action Case
AILA commented on the Department of Justice’s request for the Supreme Court to rehear the United States v. Texas case when a ninth Supreme Court justice is confirmed, urging that the Court rehear the case.
AILA Welcomes Legislation Designed to Protect Refugees
AILA welcomes the introduction of the Refugee Protection Act of 2016 in both the House and Senate; the bill includes provisions to address many of the severe, longstanding problems in the U.S. refugee and asylum systems.
AILA: Senate Retread of Bad Legislation Would Undermine Public Safety and Harm Communities
AILA President William A. Stock urged lawmakers to oppose two bills, S. 3100 and S. 2193, noting, “At a time when our country desperately needs bipartisan leadership from Congress on immigration reform, these two bills are emblematic of why we still don’t have a workable system.”
AILA Welcomes Senate Introduction of the Secure the Northern Triangle Act
AILA welcomes the introduction in the Senate of the Secure the Northern Triangle Act, S.B. 3106, a bill designed to provide a plan to manage the humanitarian crisis in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras and to improve access to asylum and other protections for those fleeing violence in the region.
AILA: Divided Supreme Court Leaves Millions of Immigrant Families in Limbo
AILA responded to the Supreme Court’s 4-4 deadlock in United States v. Texas with AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson noting, “Though today’s decision is disappointing, we must remember that this is not the end of the road for these incredibly important programs.”
AILA Elects New Officers; William A. Stock to Serve as President of Association
AILA today elected new officers to its Executive Committee for the 2016-2017 term during AILA’s Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV. William A. Stock was installed as AILA’s President.
Free Legal Consultations from Immigration Attorneys During AILA’s Annual Conference in Las Vegas
On June 25, 2016, AILA and its partners will offer free immigration law consultations in Las Vegas, NV, at AILA’s sixth annual Pro Bono Clinic; dozens of immigration attorneys will be available to answer questions and assist immigrants with the naturalization process.
AILA Presents Kathleen M. Vannucci and Sandra Feist with the 2016 Advocacy Award
AILA will award Kathleen M. Vannucci of Chicago, IL, and Sandra Feist, of Minneapolis, MN, with the 2016 Advocacy Award for outstanding efforts in support of AILA’s legislative agenda.
AILA Presents Hiroko Kusuda with the 2016 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award
AILA will award Hiroko Kusuda of the Loyola Law Clinic in New Orleans, LA, with the 2016 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award for outstanding professor in the area of immigration law.
AILA Presents Mitra Ebadolahi and James Duff Lyall with the 2016 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award
AILA will award Mitra Ebadolahi and James Duff Lyall of the ACLU Border Litigation Project with the 2016 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award for outstanding service in advancing the cause of human rights.
AILA Presents Karen T. Grisez with the 2016 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award
AILA will award Karen T. Grisez of Washington, DC, with the 2016 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law.
AILA Presents the 2016 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award to the Mesa Verde Pro Bono Project and to Adam Rosser
AILA will award the 2016 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award for outstanding efforts in pro bono representation in the immigration field to the Mesa Verde Pro Bono Project for services to detainees held at the Mesa Verde Detention Facility, and to Adam Rosser, for his work with Syrian refugees.
AILA Presents Agencia EFE reporter Paula Diaz with the 2016 Media Leadership Award
AILA will award Agencia EFE reporter Paula Diaz, with the 2016 Media Leadership Award in recognition of the individual whose efforts in the media most accurately depict immigration and immigrants.
AILA Presents Elanie Cintron with the 2016 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award
AILA will award Elanie Cintron, of Denver, CO, with the 2016 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award for her outstanding contributions in the field of immigration and nationality law.
AILA Presents Howard “Sam” Myers, III, with the 2016 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award
AILA will award Howard “Sam” Myers, III, of Minneapolis, MN, with the 2016 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award in recognition of his 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 Alexandra Kennedy with the 2016 Sam Williamson Mentor Award
AILA will recognize Alexandra Kennedy of Seattle, WA, with the 2016 Sam Williamson Mentor Award in acknowledgment of her outstanding efforts and excellent counsel to immigration attorneys by providing mentoring assistance.
AILA Presents Thomas Edward Moseley with the 2016 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award
AILA will award Thomas Edward Moseley, of Newark, NJ, with the 2016 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award for excellence in litigation in the field of immigration law.
AILA Details Necessary Steps to Guarantee Due Process to Refugees and Asylum Seekers
In a statement highlighting the release of AILA’s new Due Process Denied report, AILA President Victor Nieblas Pradis noted, “The response thus far from the Obama Administration to the refugee situation in Central America has been abysmal...We can, and must, do better than this.”
AILA Statement on “The H-2B Temporary Foreign Worker Program: Examining the Effects on Americans’ Job Opportunities and Wages” Hearing
AILA submitted a statement regarding a Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest hearing entitled “The H-2B Temporary Foreign Worker Program: Examining the Effects on Americans’ Job Opportunities and Wages.”
AILA Welcomes Torey Carter-Conneen as Deputy Director of Finance and Operations
Torey Carter-Conneen will join AILA as Deputy Director of Finance and Operations on June 6, 2016; he will serve as a critical member of the senior management team and will work with AILA’s elected leadership in implementing the strategic vision and planning for the organization.
AILA Statement on the Markup of H.R. 5203 in the House Judiciary Committee
AILA submitted a statement regarding the markup of H.R. 5203, the “Visa Integrity and Security Act of 2016” in the House Judiciary Committee highlighting the fact that the bill “would bring our immigration visa system to a grinding halt.”
Mothers and Children Detained in Violation of Court Order Plead for Freedom
Pleading for an end to their imprisonment, 69 mothers who have been detained with their children at the South Texas Family Residential Center, an immigration detention facility in Dilley, Texas, wrote a public letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
CARA: Government Continues to Undermine Access to Counsel and Due Process for Children and Mothers Seeking Protection in the U.S.
The CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project shared additional evidence that the federal government and private prison companies are failing to provide child care adequate to ensure access to counsel and meaningful representation as a Texas agency considers licensing the Dilley center.
AILA: Shameful Escalation of ICE Raids is Misdirected at Vulnerable Families and Engenders a Culture of Fear
Responding to confirmed reports that immigration authorities are planning another surge of arrests aimed at families and unaccompanied children across the nation, AILA President Victor Nieblas Pradis joined AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson in condemning the raids.