Press Room
Recent AILA Press Releases
Browse the Press Room collection
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.”
AILA Deeply Troubled by Hate and Violence, Calls for Protections and Positive Change
AILA issued a statement regarding its deep concern at the rise in hate and violence, urging immediate action to ensure the protection and safety of those who are impacted by the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and calling on Americans to “focus on our common humanity, not our differences.”
AILA Executive Director: Anti-Immigrant Provisions Tied to Necessary Funding Must Not Succeed
AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson responded to the extreme anti-immigrant provisions espoused by Senate Republicans that were reported on today; the plan “takes a page out of the far-right House bill, H.R. 2, by functionally closing the door to asylum seekers.”
AILA President Welcomes Addition of Ecuador to Eligible Countries for Family Reunification Parole Process
AILA President Farshad Owji welcomed the news that Ecuador would be added to the list of countries eligible for Family Reunification Parole (FRP) noting it “will allow qualified individuals residing in Ecuador to reunite with their U.S. citizen and legal resident family members more quickly.”
AILA Calls on Biden Administration to Help Those Displaced By Recent Violence in Middle East
AILA calls on the Biden Administration to move immediately to support the safety of all people affected by the recent violence in the Middle East, urging among other things, “deferred action, humanitarian parole, or Temporary Protected Status for those already in the United States.”
AILA Executive Director Responds to Harmful and Deadly Texas Border Actions
AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson responded to reports regarding the harmful actions taken by the Texas Governor, urging the Governor to reconsider and “Texas state employees and residents to join in the call for these inhumane and deadly tactics be immediately halted.”
AILA Elects New Officers: Farshad Owji Installed as President of Association
AILA installed Farshad Owji as the association’s president for the 2023-24 term and elected officers to its Executive Committee.
Visalaw.ai and AILA Unveil Gen, a Groundbreaking AI-Based Solution for Immigration Lawyers
Today, Visalaw.ai and AILA unveiled Gen, a groundbreaking AI-based solution for immigration lawyers; AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson noted the technology’s potential impact to empower AILA members and to “expand their capacity to meet the ever-growing need for legal advice and representation.”
AILA Presents Ira Kurzban with the Founders Award
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Ira Kurzban 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.