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Press Releases and Statements

AILA Applauds Biden Administration’s Temporary Protected Status Decision on Afghanistan; Next, Congress Needs to Step Up

9/22/2023
AILA welcomed news that the Biden Administration is extending and redesignating Afghanistan for TPS and urges Congress to use this time to work together and pass the Afghan Adjustment Act.
AILA Doc. No. 23092205

AILA Welcomes Biden Administration’s Continued Efforts to Ensure Immigration Policies Meet America’s Needs

9/21/2023
AILA welcomed the announcement from the Biden Administration of several important updates to immigration policy, including the extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status for nationals of Venezuela and streamlining work authorization processes.
AILA Doc. No. 23092101

AILA: Judge Hanen Again Ignores Sound Legal Precedent in DACA Decision

9/14/2023
AILA President Farshad Owji and Executive Director Ben Johnson respond to the latest ruling by Judge Andrew Hanen against DACA, calling it incorrect given that the DACA program “clearly falls within the legal authority of the executive branch” and urging Congress to protect Dreamers permanently.
AILA Doc. No. 23091400

AILA, NALEO Educational Fund, National Partnership for New Americans, and Citizenshipworks — in Conjunction with Telemundo Stations — Partner for the 18th AILA Citizenship Day Effort with In-Person and Virtual Events

9/12/2023
AILA, NALEO Educational Fund, NPNA, and Citizenshipworks are partnering again on Citizenship Day efforts throughout the month of September; AILA ED Ben Johnson stated, “Helping others establish themselves as citizens, and feel that sense of true belonging…strengthens our nation.”
AILA Doc. No. 23091203

AILA Welcomes Biden Administration Effort to Restore Integrity to America’s Immigration Courts

9/8/2023
AILA Senior Director of Government Relations Greg Chen welcomed efforts to restore the immigration court system’s integrity as “vital to preventing future political interference with the courts by the executive branch” while urging Congress to establish an Article I immigration court system.
AILA Doc. No. 23090802

AILA Executive Director Responds to Harmful and Deadly Texas Border Actions

7/19/2023
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 Doc. No. 23071905

AILA Calls on Congress to Quickly Pass the Afghan Adjustment Act

7/17/2023
AILA welcomed the introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral Afghan Adjustment Act which would help Afghans who have fled the Taliban find safety and security in the United States, keeping the promises made to the Afghan nationals who served alongside American troops during the decades-long war.
AILA Doc. No. 23071704

Morgan Lewis Establishes Military Immigration Fellowship with Support of AILA and American Immigration Council

7/10/2023
In partnership with and funded by Morgan Lewis, AILA and the Council will host a two-year, full-time legal fellowship to help guide hundreds of noncitizen soldiers and veterans through the naturalization process.
AILA Doc. No. 23071004

AILA President Welcomes Implementation of New Family Reunification Parole Processes for Colombians, Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Hondurans

7/7/2023
AILA President Farshad Owji applauded the Biden Administration’s announcement of new Family Reunification Parole (FRP) processes for nationals of Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, reinforcing family reunification as the cornerstone of U.S. immigration policy.
AILA Doc. No. 23070703

SCOTUS: Biden Administration ICE Guidelines Withstand States’ Challenge

6/23/2023
AILA welcomed the SCOTUS decision in U.S. v. Texas which upholds the prerogative of the executive branch to set agency guidelines; AILA President Farshad Owji called the decision a clear message, adding “The states that attempted to derail this commonsense approach were in the wrong.”
AILA Doc. No. 23062303

AILA Elects New Officers: Farshad Owji Installed as President of Association

6/22/2023
AILA installed Farshad Owji as the association’s president for the 2023-24 term and elected officers to its Executive Committee.
AILA Doc. No. 23062202

Visalaw.ai and AILA Unveil Gen, a Groundbreaking AI-Based Solution for Immigration Lawyers

6/21/2023
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 Doc. No. 23062161

AILA Presents Ira Kurzban with the Founders Award

6/19/2023
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.
AILA Doc. No. 23061502

AILA Presents Palma Yanni with the 2023 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award

6/16/2023
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Palma Yanni with the 2023 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award, in recognition of her years of outstanding service in advancing the mission, development, and value of AILA for its members and the public it serves.
AILA Doc. No. 23061501

AILA Recognizes Brian S. Green with the 2023 Sam Williamson Mentor Award

6/15/2023
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Brian S. Green with the 2023 Sam Williamson Mentor Award, in acknowledgment of his outstanding efforts and excellent counsel to immigration attorneys by providing mentoring assistance.
AILA Doc. No. 23061401

AILA Chief Advisor Responds to Biden Administration’s Extension of Temporary Protected Status for Nationals of Several Countries

6/13/2023
AILA Chief Advisor, Policy and Partnerships Angela Kelley welcomed the Biden Administration’s extension of TPS for El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua, but called for the Administration to go further and protect more recent arrivals from countries facing similar dire circumstances.
AILA Doc. No. 23061304

AILA Presents Troutman Pepper with the 2023 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award

6/14/2023
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Troutman Pepper with the 2023 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award for outstanding efforts in providing pro bono representation in the immigration field.
AILA Doc. No. 23061303

AILA First-Time Survey of Asylum Practitioners Asks and Answers the Question: What Does it Take to Prepare a Migrant for the High-Stakes Asylum Process?

6/14/2023
AILA released report on asylum entitled High-Stakes Asylum: How Long an Asylum Case Takes and How We Can Do Better; AILA President Jeremy McKinney noted that the report’s solutions “would go a long way toward ensuring the integrity of a system that is inefficient and often unjust.”
AILA Doc. No. 23061300

AILA Presents Priscilla Alvarez with the 2023 Media Leadership Award

6/13/2023
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Priscilla Alvarez of CNN with the 2023 Media Leadership Award, given to individuals whose efforts in the media most accurately depict immigration and immigrants.
AILA Doc. No. 23061201

AILA Presents Sarah Pitney with the 2023 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award

6/12/2023
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Sarah Pitney with the 2023 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award for their outstanding contributions made as a young lawyer in the field of immigration and nationality law.
AILA Doc. No. 23060900

AILA Presents the AILA Amicus Committee with the 2023 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award

6/9/2023
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes the AILA Amicus Committee with the 2023 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award for excellence in litigation in the field of immigration law.
AILA Doc. No. 23060801

AILA Presents Karla McKanders with the 2023 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award

6/8/2023
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Karla McKanders with the 2023 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award.
AILA Doc. No. 23060700

AILA Presents Amy Nice with the 2023 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award

6/7/2023
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Amy Nice with the 2023 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law.
AILA Doc. No. 23060600

AILA Presents Ban Al-Wardi and Maria Chavez with the 2023 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award

6/6/2023
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Ban Al-Wardi and Maria Chavez with the 2023 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award for outstanding efforts in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion excellence in the immigration legal profession.
AILA Doc. No. 23060500

AILA Presents the UndocuBlack Network with the 2023 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award

6/5/2023
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes UndocuBlack Network with the 2023 Arthur C. Helton Human Rights Award for outstanding service in advancing the cause of human rights.
AILA Doc. No. 23060201

AILA Presents Hannah Cartwright with the 2023 Advocacy Award

6/2/2023
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Hannah Cartwright of Indianapolis, IN, with the 2023 Advocacy Award for outstanding efforts in support of AILA’s advocacy agenda.
AILA Doc. No. 23060108

AILA Executive Director Responds to Introduction of the Dignity Act of 2023

5/23/2023
AILA ED Ben Johnson responded to the introduction of the bipartisan Dignity Act of 2023 calling it a “heartening sign in this divided and ultra-partisan era… AILA doesn’t agree with everything in this bill but looks forward to working with these leaders to find a smart workable compromise.”
AILA Doc. No. 23052306

Senate Votes to Undo Biden Administration’s Sensible Public Charge Regulation, House Expected to Pass a Copy-Cat Effort

5/19/2023
AILA expressed deep disappointment with the Senate’s vote to disapprove of the USCIS Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule, an attempt to roll back the Biden Administration’s positive efforts in this area. President Biden has announced he plans to veto the legislation.
AILA Doc. No. 23051903

Biden Administration’s Asylum Transit Ban Will Undermine U.S. Humanitarian Law and Harm Vulnerable Asylum Seekers

5/10/2023
AILA renews its opposition to the Biden Administration’s harmful “Circumventing Lawful Pathways” regulation which functionally bans access to asylum for many vulnerable people; AILA President Jeremy McKinney called the rule an unacceptable “departure from our laws and values.”
AILA Doc. No. 23051006

Draconian Anti-Immigrant Legislation Will Negatively Impact Florida’s Communities and Businesses

5/4/2023
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) condemns two Florida bills, SB1718 and SB264, which will cause harm to communities and businesses throughout the state and beyond. Governor DeSantis is expected to sign both bills.
AILA Doc. No. 23050405

H-1B Visa Registration Numbers Show Demand Far Exceeds Supply; Changes Are Necessary to Ensure Integrity of the System

4/28/2023
AILA urges the Biden Administration to immediately act to ensure the integrity of the H-1B registration system, applauding USCIS efforts in creating a streamlined registration and lottery process, but noting the flaws and vulnerabilities have become impossible to ignore.
AILA Doc. No. 23042899

AILA Welcomes Biden Plan to Implement Humane and Efficient Pathways to Safety

4/27/2023
AILA applauds the bold announcement from the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security today to offer safer and more stable pathways to safety for refugees; AILA President Jeremy McKinney said the plan was potentially a “game-changer in modernizing U.S. migration policy.”
AILA Doc. No. 23042701

AILA Welcomes Menendez Plan Offering Humane and Effective Border Management Solutions

4/18/2023
AILA commends Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) for offering up concrete recommendations on immigration issues noting the “multi-pronged plan” is “a starting point for reasoned discussion and debate grounded in the realities of immigration.”
AILA Doc. No. 23041803

New Edition of AILA’s Guide to PERM Labor Certification Released

4/12/2023
AILA is proud to release a new edition of AILA's Guide to PERM Labor Certification, which aims to make learning and succeeding in the PERM arena easier for all immigration attorneys. Practitioners at every experience level will find this book their go-to resource to navigate PERM cases.
AILA Doc. No. 23041201

AILA Releases New Edition of Immigration Law and the Family

4/3/2023
AILA proudly releases the seventh edition of Immigration Law and the Family written by Charles Wheeler, an expert on family immigration issues. The law surrounding family-based immigration has evolved over time into a serious subspecialty; this book is a helpful resource for any practitioner.
AILA Doc. No. 23033106

AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson Responds to the Tragic Loss of Life in Ciudad Juárez Detention Facility

3/29/2023
In this statement, AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson responds to the tragic loss of life in the Ciudad Juárez detention facility, noting also that the “proposed transit rule risks causing more harm as people are blocked from their legal right to seek asylum and forced back into Mexico.”
AILA Doc. No. 23032906

AILA Urges the Biden Administration to Reject the Return of Family Detention and Calls for the Adoption of Humane and Effective Alternatives

3/7/2023
AILA expressed grave concern at the possibility the Biden Administration may resume family detention; AILA urges President Biden to stand by the previous decision to end family detention and reject policies that have been proven to have devastating consequences on children and families.
AILA Doc. No. 23030703

AILA Condemns Biden Administration’s Push to Use “Transit Ban” Against Vulnerable Asylum Seekers

2/21/2023
AILA urged the Biden Administration to change course and stop the effort to establish a “transit ban” against vulnerable asylum seekers, calling the NPRM the administration unveiled today unworkable and a violation of U.S. asylum law.
AILA Doc. No. 23022100

AILA Offers Border Solutions Ahead of First Immigration-Related Hearing in the 118th Congress

1/31/2023
AILA addresses Congress and urges it to take swift action to update our nation’s immigration system at the border and beyond in advance of a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the southern border.
AILA Doc. No. 23013101

Class Action Filed Against USCIS for Extreme Processing Delays that Leave American Families Stranded

1/24/2023
AILA amplifies the filing of a federal class action lawsuit in Seattle against USCIS challenging bureaucratic logjams that have left families in a multi-year limbo as thousands of spouses of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents wait for their unlawful presence waivers to be processed.
AILA Doc. No. 23012403

Biden Administration Expands Legal Pathways with Parole Strategy but Deeply Erodes U.S. Commitment to Asylum Protection

1/5/2023
AILA responds to an announcement from President Biden that expands humanitarian parole programs for migrants from Nicaragua, Cuba, and Haiti but severely restricts asylum access, including expanding Title 42, to migrants from those countries.
AILA Doc. No. 23010504