AILA President Allen Orr Responds to Recent Slaying of Immigration Attorney Jim Li in New York

AILA President Allen Orr stated, “I didn’t know Jim Li personally, but his loss will be felt by the community he helped build in the AILA New York Chapter. As an asylum seeker himself, Jim knew firsthand the pain of persecution and the huge difference that the protection offered under U.S. asylum law offers. He dedicated his life to bringing that same sense of safety and security to others and helping families reunite. Immigration attorneys meet with and represent people going through extremely stressful situations, fraught with distress and uncertainty every day. It is a tragedy that Jim’s life was cut short, and we will mourn the man he was: someone called to help others. While the investigation into what occurred continues, our hearts go out to all those who miss him and have been wounded by his loss.”