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Postings2021
AILA President Allen Orr Responds to Announced Measures to Strengthen Central America Through Public-Private Partnerships
12/15/2021AILA President Allen Orr welcomed news from Vice President Kamala Harris about planned measures to strengthen Central America through public-private partnerships, noting that such measures must be managed with transparency and the input of civil society.AILA Doc. No. 21121507AILA President Allen Orr Responds to Biden Administration Recognition of Immigration Judges’ Labor Union
12/8/2021AILA President Allen Orr welcomed news that the Biden administration reversed the position taken by the previous administration and has once again recognized the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) as the labor union for immigration judges.AILA Doc. No. 21120806AILA Welcomes Merger of American Immigration Council and New American Economy
12/6/2021AILA welcomes the merger of the American Immigration Council and the New American Economy into a unified American Immigration Council which “will have a dramatic impact on the lives of immigrants, the lawyers and organizations who represent them, and communities all over the country.”AILA Doc. No. 21120681AILA Deeply Disappointed in Even Temporary Resurrection of MPP
12/2/2021AILA is deeply disappointed that politically motivated Attorneys General of Missouri and Texas have managed to temporarily resurrect the inhumane “Migrant Protection Protocols” known as Remain in Mexico, noting the result will be to undermine U.S. asylum laws and traumatize vulnerable immigrants.AILA Doc. No. 2112281AILA President Allen Orr Responds to Latest Travel Bans
12/1/2021AILA President Allen Orr urged the Biden administration to implement common-sense reforms that will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 while reopening America, instead of travel bans that only serve to validate xenophobic and racist attitudes.AILA Doc. No. 21120181House Passes Immigration Measures as Part of Build Back Better Act
11/19/2021AILA welcomed the House passage of the Build Back Better Act which contains several immigration provisions, noting “While this is a critical first step, we still need real, lasting reform to our immigration laws to build out an immigration system that will actually work for America.”AILA Doc. No. 21111961More than 40 Human and Civil Rights Leaders: Ongoing Mistreatment and Expulsions of Haitians and Asylum Seekers Will Stain Biden’s Legacy
11/17/2021AILA President Allen Orr and 42 other organizational leaders urge the Biden administration to change course, as it fails “to do the right thing at our Southern border and is causing harms to thousands of Black and Brown asylum seekers, families and individuals seeking protection.”AILA Doc. No. 21111700Major Settlement Changes How USCIS Adjudicates Work Permits for Nonimmigrant Spouses
11/10/2021AILA and litigation partners Wasden Banias and Steven Brown celebrate the historic settlement with DHS in Shergill, et al. v. Mayorkas, which provides structural changes for nonimmigrant H-4 and L-2 spouses suffering from long-delayed processing times for EAD applications.AILA Doc. No. 21111002AILA and Members File Class Action Challenging Huge USCIS Processing Delays on Work Permits
11/8/202149 plaintiffs represented by AILA, Farshad Owji, Aaron Hall, Charles Kuck, and Greg Siskind filed a class action lawsuit against DHS and USCIS over the extreme processing delays on applications for EADs for noncitizens who are seeking Adjustment of Status (AOS) and E-2 nonimmigrant spouses.AILA Doc. No. 21110891AILA Welcomes Termination Memo Intended to End the “Migrant Protection Protocols” Permanently
10/29/2021AILA welcomed the Biden administration’s memo to terminate the “Migrant Protection Protocols”, with AILA President Allen Orr noting, “May this be the beginning of the final end to this despicable program undermining U.S. asylum law.”AILA Doc. No. 21102909U.S. Employers Settle Lawsuit Challenging USCIS’ Unlawful Denial of H-1B Petitions Filed by American Businesses
10/28/2021AILA and our litigation partners announced the approved settlement in a class action lawsuit challenging USCIS’s pattern and practice of arbitrarily denying H-1B nonimmigrant employment-based petitions for market research analyst positions.AILA Doc. No. 21102864DHS Secretary Strengthens Protections from Enforcement Actions for Sensitive Locations
10/27/2021AILA 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.”AILA Doc. No. 21102781AILA President Allen Orr Celebrates National Pro Bono Week with RFK Human Rights Award Winner Guerline Jozef and Urges Continued Efforts to Help Haitians in Need of Protection
10/27/2021AILA 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.AILA Doc. No. 21102712Biden Administration Rightly Removes Artificial Quotas for Immigration Judges
10/21/2021AILA 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.AILA Doc. No. 21102105Statement from AILA President Allen Orr Regarding National Efforts to Assist Black Migrants
10/15/2021AILA 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 Doc. No. 21101503AILA Welcomes Planned Lift of Travel Restrictions at Land Border Points of Entry
10/13/2021AILA 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 Doc. No. 21101309AILA President Allen Orr Responds to Appeals Court Ruling on Title 42
10/1/2021AILA 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 Doc. No. 21100190AILA: Implementation Will Show if New ICE Guidelines Go Far Enough
9/30/2021AILA 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 Doc. No. 21093011AILA Executive Director Welcomes New Direction at EOIR
9/24/2021AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson welcomed the appointment of David Neal to be Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).AILA Doc. No. 21092405AILA: Goal of Resettling More Refugees Promising But Biden Must Do More
9/21/2021AILA 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 Doc. No. 21092110AILA: Reconciliation Efforts Must Continue; Immigration Reform Cannot Wait
9/20/2021AILA 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 Doc. No. 21092021AILA Urges the Biden Administration to Immediately Course Correct on Rapid Expulsion of Haitians
9/20/2021The 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 Doc. No. 21092016AILA President Allen Orr Responds to Today’s Court Decision on Title 42
9/16/2021AILA 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.”AILA Doc. No. 21091612AILA Applauds Congress for Passing Historic Budget Resolution that Includes Legalization Programs for Dreamers, TPS Holders, Essential Workers, and Other Eligible Immigrants
8/25/2021AILA 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 Doc. No. 21082511Supreme Court Fails to Act — Burden on Biden to Undo Inhumane Trump Policy Denying Protection to Asylum Seekers
8/25/2021AILA 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 Doc. No. 21082508AILA Urges the Biden Administration to Extend the Afghan Troop Withdrawal Date to Guarantee Safe Passage for All
8/24/2021AILA 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.AILA Doc. No. 21082406Federal Judge Blocks ICE Enforcement Guidelines and Attempts to Upend Prosecutorial Discretion
8/19/2021AILA and the American Immigration Council respond to the decision issued by a federal judge in Texas blocking the Biden administration's immigration enforcement priorities.AILA Doc. No. 21081962AILA President Allen Orr Responds to the Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan
8/18/2021AILA 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 Doc. No. 21081840Press Statement: Court Orders Government To Issue 9,095 Reserved 2020 Diversity Visas
8/18/2021On 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 Doc. No. 21081838AILA President Allen Orr Responds to Federal Judge Decision to Reinstate “Remain in Mexico” Asylum Policy
8/16/2021AILA 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 Doc. No. 21081634AILA Welcomes Immigration Reform Opportunity
8/11/2021AILA 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 Doc. No. 21081131AILA Welcomes New USCIS Director Confirmed by the Senate
8/2/2021AILA 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.AILA Doc. No. 21080244Biden Administration’s Latest Move Does Real Harm to Asylum-Seeking Families
7/27/2021AILA 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 Doc. No. 21072791AILA: No Surprise that Texas Judge Puts Politics Ahead of Sound Legal Precedent
7/16/2021AILA 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.AILA Doc. No. 21071699AG Garland Gives Immigration Judges Back Authority to Administratively Close Cases
7/15/2021Attorney 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.AILA Doc. No. 21071540AG Garland Vacates Asylum Precedents That Harmed Victims of Violence
6/16/2021AG 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.AILA Doc. No. 21061648Nine Years Since DACA Was Announced – the Senate Needs to Act
6/15/2021AILA celebrated the ninth anniversary of the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, but AILA President Allen Orr, Jr. called on Congress to enact permanent protection for Dreamers, saying it “would be a moral and economic victory for the entire country.”AILA Doc. No. 21061537AILA Elects New Officers for 2021-2022
6/10/2021AILA selected officers for the 2021-2022 term. Allen Orr, Jr. was installed as President and the following officers were elected: Jeremy McKinney as President-Elect, Farshad Owji as First Vice President, Kelli Stump as Second Vice President, Jeff Joseph as Treasurer, and Alexis Axelrad as Secretary.AILA Doc. No. 21061042AILA Presents Robert Juceam with the Founders Award
6/9/2021AILA recognizes Robert Juceam, of New York, NY, 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. 21060935AILA Presents Sarah Peterson with the 2021 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award
6/8/2021AILA recognizes Sarah Peterson of Minneapolis, MN, with the 2021 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award, in recognition of her 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 Doc. No. 21060830AILA Recognizes Lily S. Axelrod with the 2021 Sam Williamson Mentor Award
6/7/2021AILA recognizes Lily S. Axelrod of Memphis, TN, with the 2021 Sam Williamson Mentor Award, in acknowledgment of her outstanding efforts and excellent counsel to immigration attorneys by providing mentoring assistance.AILA Doc. No. 21060733AILA Presents Margo Cowan with the 2021 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award
6/4/2021AILA recognizes Margo Cowan of Tucson, AZ, with the 2021 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award for outstanding efforts in providing pro bono representation in the immigration field.AILA Doc. No. 21060436AILA Presents Stuart Anderson with the 2021 Media Leadership Award
6/3/2021AILA recognizes Stuart Anderson, senior contributor to Forbes Magazine and Executive Director of the National Foundation for American Policy with the 2021 Media Leadership Award, given to individuals whose efforts in the media most accurately depict immigration and immigrants.AILA Doc. No. 21060332AILA Presents Brittany Faith with the 2021 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award
6/2/2021AILA recognizes Brittany Faith, of Chattanooga, TN, with the 2021 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award for her outstanding contributions made as a young lawyer in the field of immigration and nationality law.AILA Doc. No. 21060239AILA Presents Paul Hughes and Mary Kenney with the 2021 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award
6/1/2021AILA recognizes two litigators this year with the 2021 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award for excellence in litigation in the field of immigration law: Paul Hughes and Mary Kenney.AILA Doc. No. 21060132AILA Presents David Thronson with the 2021 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award
5/27/2021AILA recognizes David Thronson, the Alan S. Zekelman Professor of Int’l Human Rights Law at the Michigan State University College of Law, director of the Talsky Ctr for Human Rights of Women and Children, and cofounder of the Imm. Law Clinic, with the 2021 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award.AILA Doc. No. 21052700AILA Presents Rekha Sharma-Crawford with the 2021 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award
5/26/2021AILA recognizes Rekha Sharma-Crawford of Kansas City, MO, with the 2021 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law.AILA Doc. No. 21052632AILA Presents Dahlia Walker-Huntington with the 2021 Diversity and Inclusion Award
5/25/2021AILA recognizes Dahlia Walker-Huntington of Hollywood, FL, with the 2021 Diversity and Inclusion Award for outstanding efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion excellence in the immigration legal profession.AILA Doc. No. 21052533AILA Presents Elizabeth Jordan with the 2021 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award
5/24/2021AILA recognizes Elizabeth Jordan of Denver, CO, with the 2021 Arthur C. Helton Human Rights Award for outstanding service in advancing the cause of human rights.AILA Doc. No. 21052438AILA Presents Luis Cortes Romero with the 2021 Advocacy Award
5/21/2021AILA recognizes Luis Cortes Romero of Kent, WA, with the 2021 Advocacy Award for outstanding efforts in support of AILA’s advocacy agenda.AILA Doc. No. 21052133AILA Urges Further Shift Away from Detention as DHS Announces End to Contracts with Two Facilities
5/20/2021AILA welcomes news that ICE will end contracts with two detention facilities in Irwin County and Bristol County, but urges the Biden administration to take further action by conducting a full review of all people currently held in ICE custody and expanding community-based case management programs.AILA Doc. No. 21052040AILA Welcomes Biden Administration Expansion of Access to Justice and Legal Representation
5/19/2021AILA welcomed news that President Biden will renew DOJ's efforts to expand access to justice and legal representation, noting that, “Having legal representation is the most important factor in ensuring fair and just proceedings.”AILA Doc. No. 21051901AILA and Members of AILA’s Board of Governors File Complaint to Block H-1B Lottery Rule
5/17/2021Today, five nonprofit organizations and businesses, represented by AILA, Jeff Joseph, Charles Kuck, and Greg Siskind, sued to enjoin the H-1B lottery rule.AILA Doc. No. 21051736Civil Rights Coalition Welcomes Rescission of Trump’s Illegal Healthcare Ban
5/14/2021Today, litigators from the Justice Action Center, AILA, and the Innovation Law Lab, with Sidley Austin LLP, welcomed the rescission of President Trump’s long-enjoined healthcare insurance ban.AILA Doc. No. 21051401Immigration Groups Push Back Against Arizona and Montana’s Efforts to Invoke Unlawful Trump-Era Agreement Restricting DHS Policymaking
5/7/2021AILA joined in an amicus brief opposing Arizona and Montana’s challenge to the Biden administration’s immigration enforcement priorities guidance.AILA Doc. No. 21050733Much Accomplished in First 100 Days, But Biden Administration Has Much Still to Do on Immigration
4/29/2021AILA unveils a new resource tracking actions and decisions by the Biden administration over its first 100 days in office. The resource charts what has been accomplished and highlights what remains to be done based on AILA’s recommendations to the president released in November 2020.AILA Doc. No. 21042930Litigation Team Sues Biden Administration’s State Department as Agency Unlawfully Refuses to Issue Visas
4/8/2021AILA joined Jeff Joseph, Charles Kuck, and Greg Siskind in filing litigation on behalf of scores of plaintiffs against Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, alleging that he and the Department of State have unlawfully refused to issue visas because of temporary regional bans.AILA Doc. No. 21040836Civil Rights Coalition Celebrates End of Harmful Visa Ban
4/1/2021AILA and our litigation partners celebrated the end of the harmful nonimmigrant visa ban that AILA Director of Federal Litigation Jesse Bless noted, “was based on a false premise that foreign nationals take away jobs.” He urged the Biden administration to redress the wrongs caused by the ban.AILA Doc. No. 21040131AILA and Wasden Banias, LLP File Lawsuit Against DHS for L-2 and H-4 Processing Delays
3/23/2021AILA and Wasden Banias, LLP filed a lawsuit against DHS on March 22, 2021, challenging extraordinary processing delays on extensions of status and extensions of employment authorization documents (EAD) for H-4 and L-2 nonimmigrant spouses.AILA Doc. No. 21032301AILA Welcomes End to Trump Administration’s Public Charge “Wealth Test”
3/10/2021AILA celebrates the end of the Trump administration’s public charge “wealth test” and offers gratitude to “everyone who collectively fought to see the battle against this unjust rule through to victory.”AILA Doc. No. 21031034Civil Rights Coalition Celebrates Partial End of Immigration Ban
2/24/2021President Biden revoked former president Trump’s immigrant visa ban, rejecting the previous administration’s proclamation that the entry of immigrants presents a risk to the U.S. economy during the pandemic. However, he did not take action to revoke the entry ban on temporary nonimmigrant workers.AILA Doc. No. 21022500Court Preserves Validity of 2020 Diversity Visas
2/22/2021AILA and our litigation partners welcomed the district court emergency injunction which preserves and extends the validity of most visas from the 2020 lottery, and the news that the State Department had issued national interest exceptions for DV winners with visas expiring Feb 17-28.AILA Doc. No. 21022200ICE Memo Offers Promising Changes but More Reforms Are Needed
2/18/2021The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) welcomed changes to immigration enforcement priorities outlined in a memo from ICE Acting Director Tae Johnson but flagged key areas requiring additional action. The interim guidance is effective immediately.AILA Doc. No. 21021890AILA, NALEO Educational Fund, and the National Partnership for New Americans Team Up for Virtual Citizenship Day Events
2/16/2021AILA, NALEO Educational Fund, and the National Partnership for New Americans are proud to sponsor AILA’s 15th Annual Citizenship Day, taking place virtually on Saturday, February 20, 2021, with dozens of naturalization clinics across the country.AILA Doc. No. 21021633AILA Welcomes Bipartisan Dream Act of 2021; Calls on Congress to Take Action on This and Other Necessary Immigration Legislation
2/4/2021AILA welcomed the introduction of the bipartisan Dream Act of 2021, calling on Congress “to pass this bill as a step forward toward legalization of the undocumented, and the many other necessary changes to our immigration laws our country requires.”AILA Doc. No. 21020437Biden Administration Continues Taking Necessary Steps to Bring Our Immigration and Asylum Policies Back in Line with Our Values, However More Needs to Be Done
2/2/2021AILA welcomed actions taken by the Biden administration that will continue to ameliorate the damage done over the past four years and move our immigration and asylum policies toward fairness and justice, however leaders cautioned that much more needs to be done.AILA Doc. No. 21020200U.S. Government Records Reveal Expanded Methods to Rush Deportations at Border
1/27/2021AILA, the Council, HRW, and Winston & Strawn LLP obtained documents about the Migrant Protection Protocols which reveal U.S. immigration agencies' efforts in 2019 to rapidly deport thousands of people from the United States through the little-known Electronic Nationality Verification (ENV) program.AILA Doc. No. 21012700Day One of the Biden Presidency Focuses on Key Immigration Reforms
1/20/2021AILA commended the Day One actions on immigration undertaken by the Biden administration, recognizing that “the Biden team got straight to work fulfilling promises on immigration.”AILA Doc. No. 21012042AILA Welcomes Biden Plans to Reimagine America's Immigration System
1/19/2021AILA welcomed the planned reimagining of America's immigration laws and policies by the incoming Biden-Harris administration; this reasoned framework lays out the guideposts of smart and necessary immigration reform, something our country has desperately needed for decades.AILA Doc. No. 21011941 - Law
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