
It Is AILA's Distinct Pleasure to Present...
Annual Awards
Each year, it is AILA’s distinct pleasure to recognize and celebrate the individuals and organizations who have achieved excellence in immigration law.
Our Annual Awards are bestowed in up to 11 categories: Advancing the Practice of Immigration Law; Advocacy; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Human Rights; Litigation; Media Leadership; Mentorship; Pro Bono; AILA Service Excellence; Teaching; and Young Lawyers.
Additionally, the Founders Award is given from time to time to the person or entity having the most substantial impact on the field of immigration law or policy in the preceding period.
Awards are presented at the AILA Annual Conference each year.
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- Hannah Cartwright
2023 Advocacy Award for outstanding efforts in support of AILA’s advocacy agenda
- UndocuBlack Network
2023 Arthur C. Helton Human Rights Award for outstanding service in advancing the cause of human rights
- Ban Al-Wardi and Maria C. Chavez
2023 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award for outstanding efforts in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion excellence in the immigration legal profession
- Amy Nice
2023 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law
- Karla McKanders
2023 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award
- AILA Amicus Committee
2023 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award for excellence in litigation in the field of immigration law
Committee Members: Jonathan Weinberg, David Zimmer, Shane Ellison, Lily Axelrod, Nadia Anguiano, David A. Isaacson, Christina Murdoch, Amalia Wille, Becky Sharpless, Jonah Eaton, Mark R. Barr, Elissa Steglich, Dalia Fuleihan, Rekha Sharma-Crawford, and Sabrina Damast.
- Sarah Pitney
2023 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award for outstanding contributions made as a young lawyer in the field of immigration and nationality law
- Priscilla Alvarez of CNN
2023 Media Leadership Award for outstanding efforts in the media to accurately depict immigration and immigrants
- Troutman Pepper
2023 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award for outstanding efforts in providing pro bono representation in the immigration field
- Brian S. Green
2023 Sam Williamson Mentor Award for outstanding efforts and excellent counsel to immigration attorneys by providing mentoring assistance
- Palma Yanni
2023 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award for years of outstanding service in advancing the mission, development, and value of AILA for its members and the public it serves
- Ira Kurzban
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
- 2023 President’s Commendations
Russell Abrutyn, James W. Austin, Maria Theresa Baldini-Potermin, Dan H. Berger, C. Lynn Calder, Rex Chen, James P. Chesser, David W. Cook, Sandra Feist, Ellen Freeman, Amanda Bethea Keaveny, Vincent W. Lau, Daniel Melo, Jennifer Minear, Spojmie Ahmady Nasiri, Andrew K. Nietor, Adriel D. Orozco, Sarah Owings, Rachel M. Self, Margaret D. Stock, Carlina Tapia-Ruano, and Wendy S. Wayne