Press Room
Recent AILA Press Releases
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AILA President Allen Orr Celebrates National Pro Bono Week with RFK Human Rights Award Winner Guerline Jozef and Urges Continued Efforts to Help Haiti
AILA President Allen Orr shared insights as he celebrates National Pro Bono Week with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award Winner Guerline Jozef and urges continued efforts to help Haitians in need of protection.
DHS Secretary Strengthens Protections from Enforcement Actions for Sensitive Locations
AILA President Allen Orr welcomed the new sensitive locations memo from DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas but noted, “Without accountability, ICE and other DHS agents will have the leeway to continue as they have under the previous administration. That would be disastrous and unacceptable.”
Biden Administration Rightly Removes Artificial Quotas for Immigration Judges
AILA welcomed news that the Biden administration has removed the artificial quotas imposed on immigration judges but urged further action to rescind other Trump-era policies which continue to undercut the integrity and independence of our immigration courts.
Statement from AILA President Allen Orr Regarding National Efforts to Assist Black Migrants
AILA President Allen Orr recognized National Day of Action and National Week of Action for Black Migrants, noting “We will work with our partners to…ensure that those who come to our shores have the meaningful chance to seek protection that our laws, and our integrity, require.”
AILA Welcomes Planned Lift of Travel Restrictions at Land Border Points of Entry
AILA welcomed the announcement that U.S. land border and ferry crossing points of entry would reopen to travelers who are fully vaccinated, in addition to all air travelers, next month and continues to urge the White House to lift the “Title 42” order.
AILA President Allen Orr Responds to Appeals Court Ruling on Title 42
AILA President Allen Orr stated “The decision of the appeals court to lift the stay on Title 42 expulsions is a travesty, but the fact the Biden administration appealed the original decision was an abandonment of the commitments and principles that the administration pledged to uphold.”
AILA: Implementation Will Show if New ICE Guidelines Go Far Enough
AILA welcomed new guidelines announced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas which would shape actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents across the country.
AILA Executive Director Welcomes New Direction at EOIR
AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson welcomed the appointment of David Neal to be Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).
AILA: Goal of Resettling More Refugees Promising But Biden Must Do More
AILA welcomed President Biden’s move to increase the refugee “cap” to 125,000 for FY2022, but AILA President Allen Orr hoped, “the administration will recognize the urgency and aim to resettle 200,000 refugees which is consistent with the levels given protection during major refugee emergencies.”
AILA Urges the Biden Administration to Immediately Course Correct on Rapid Expulsion of Haitians
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) denounced the decision of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to rapidly expel hundreds of Haitians using policies that deny asylum seekers the opportunity to seek protection.
AILA: Reconciliation Efforts Must Continue; Immigration Reform Cannot Wait
AILA responded to the Senate parliamentarian's advice that the proposed immigration reforms would not, in her opinion, be appropriate to include in the budget reconciliation; Allen Orr noted, "hitting a roadblock the first time is nothing new in the push for immigration reform."
AILA President Allen Orr Responds to Today’s Court Decision on Title 42
AILA President Allen Orr responded to Judge Sullivan’s ruling that the use of Title 42 against families with young children seeking asylum is illegal, noting the U.S. “can and must protect public health while honoring our humanitarian values and policies that offer protection to asylum seekers.”
Supreme Court Fails to Act — Burden on Biden to Undo Inhumane Trump Policy Denying Protection to Asylum Seekers
AILA disagrees with the Supreme Court’s denial of DOJ’s emergency request to halt a lower court ruling requiring the government to restart the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), a Trump-era policy that forces asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are pending in the United States.
AILA Applauds Congress for Passing Historic Budget Resolution that Includes Legalization Programs for Dreamers, TPS Holders, Essential Workers, and Ot
AILA issued a statement in response to yesterday’s passage by the House of Representatives of a budget resolution that includes over $100 billion to support legalization programs for Dreamers, TPS recipients, essential workers, and other eligible immigrants.
AILA Urges the Biden Administration to Extend the Afghan Troop Withdrawal Date to Guarantee Safe Passage for All
AILA called on the Biden administration to extend the U.S. troop withdrawal date beyond August 31 to ensure the safe evacuation of all U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Afghan special immigrants, and other at-risk Afghans.
Federal Judge Blocks ICE Enforcement Guidelines and Attempts to Upend Prosecutorial Discretion
AILA and the American Immigration Council respond to the decision issued by a federal judge in Texas blocking the Biden administration's immigration enforcement priorities.
Press Statement: Court Orders Government To Issue 9,095 Reserved 2020 Diversity Visas
On Tuesday evening, August 17, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the Biden Administration to issue 9,095 diversity visas from Fiscal Year 2020 that the court reserved nearly a year ago.
AILA President Allen Orr Responds to the Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan
AILA President Allen Orr responded to the current humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, noting that the “lives of countless Afghans depend on the U.S. government acting promptly to exercise humanitarian parole, resume and rapidly scale up special immigrant visa (SIV) and immigrant visa processing.”
AILA President Allen Orr Responds to Federal Judge Decision to Reinstate “Remain in Mexico” Asylum Policy
AILA President Allen Orr shared a statement in response to the nationwide injunction issued on August 13, 2021, directing the Biden administration to reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols, commonly known as “Remain in Mexico.”
AILA Welcomes Immigration Reform Opportunity
AILA welcomed the Senate’s passage of a budget resolution measure which would allow the Judiciary Committee to start the process of drafting legislative text to create a path to permanent status for Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers, and essential workers.
AILA Welcomes New USCIS Director Confirmed by the Senate
AILA welcomed the confirmation of Ur Jaddou, the first Senate-confirmed woman and the first person of Arab and Mexican descent, to lead USCIS; AILA looks forward to working with Ms. Jaddou as she and USCIS staff rebuild and restore trust in our immigration system.
Biden Administration’s Latest Move Does Real Harm to Asylum-Seeking Families
AILA denounced the Biden administration for plans announced to apply expedited removal to families apprehended in the southern border region; AILA is adamantly opposed and urges the administration to rethink this decision.
AILA: No Surprise that Texas Judge Puts Politics Ahead of Sound Legal Precedent
AILA President Allen Orr and Executive Director Benjamin Johnson responded to the ruling by Texas federal judge Andrew Hanen against the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in this statement, urging the administration and Congress to protect Dreamers.
AG Garland Gives Immigration Judges Back Authority to Administratively Close Cases
Attorney General Merrick Garland vacated the precedent decision in Matter of Castro-Tum, restoring “administrative closure,” a key tool used by immigration judges for decades to manage dockets and increase efficiency.
AG Garland Vacates Asylum Precedents That Harmed Victims of Violence
AG Garland vacated decisions in Matter of A-B- and Matter of L-E-A-, both of which had arbitrarily overturned years of established case law. By vacating these two decisions, the AG has restored access to asylum for many people fleeing persecution abroad.