Think Immigration: On the Flight Home: Reflections on AC26
This blog post is part of our series from the Member Experience Committee highlighting the ways AILA members can join in, build community, access resources, advocate, and enhance the overall AILA member experience.
There’s nothing quite like the deep exhale on your final flight back home after a long conference. At this point in time, the only thing you have control over is deciding what movie you’re going to watch next and what snack sounds most appetizing. These quiet moments are the perfect time to pause and reflect on the whirlwind of excitement, nerves, inspiration and hope you’ve just experienced at AILA’s Annual Conference (AC26), whether you were a new attendee or a seasoned AC veteran. Read some reflections from AILA’s Member Experience Committee:
Reggie Pacis, AILA Member Since 1997
Sitting here at the airport waiting for my flight to be called allowed me a few moments to reflect on AC26 and jot down a few things.
San Diego is a beautiful city; the last time I was here for an AILA conference was in 2011. I loved the location, food, ambience and vibe of the city then and this second time around, the city didn’t disappoint. Unlike 2011, I was able to have my family join me as the conference ended on Father’s Day weekend. By day, I engaged in my AILA obligations and by evening, I got to have dinner and catch up with my family. AILA ended the conference with a party at the San Diego Zoo and for the first time, my family was able to enjoy an AILA party. They enjoyed good food, and talked with my AILA friends old and new (even the new ones we met for the first time that night).
During the conference, I got to meet a lot of first-time conference attendees through the Navigator Program. This wasn’t my first time participating as a Navigator and I was happy to see that the 2026 AC Navigator program was popular; the intention is to help first-time attendees feel less intimidated and be able to get the most out of their membership.
Thursday morning, I had a panel presentation called “Surviving the Storm…” focusing on employment-based immigration issues. And boy is AILA surviving the storm; a political storm where all forms of immigration relief are under attack. One of the best things about AC is that with all of these immigration lawyers here, none of us are alone in trying to make our country great by helping to infuse it with the talent and cultural pool that lies outside of the borders of the United States. I always try and share humor, nuggets of information and substantive discussion in sessions where I am asked to serve when I can.
The rest of my time at the AC was spent checking out vendors to help my colleagues back home with our immigration practice and attending sessions to learn valuable information. I always like attending the Hot Topics session put on by the AILA Executive Committee, even if the news might not be so good.
The best thing about the AC is that I get to connect with new AILA members who become friends and more importantly to reconnect with old friends I may have presented with, served with on committees or just plain had a beer with at the bar in the past. Reconnecting with colleagues and having my family with me made this year's conference especially meaningful.
Karen Hill, AILA Member Since 2019
AILA’s Annual Conference this year was the perfect mix of informative and relevant sessions along with various opportunities to socialize and network, including but not limited to the Navigator Programs, San Diego Chapter’s Taco Party, and Saturday Night Party at the San Diego Zoo. AILA AC26 provided the unique opportunity to connect with fellow AILA members from all over the country and share our thoughts, experiences, and feelings about being immigration lawyers especially under this current administration. I appreciate all the speakers and attendees who took time out of their busy lives and practices to come to sunny San Diego and am grateful to have been a part of it.
Roman Zelichenko, AILA Member Since 2012
AILA Annual Conference in San Diego was the perfect reminder of why this event matters so much in our industry. Yes, there were great sessions, CLEs, panels, vendor conversations, hallway run-ins, exhibit hall conversations, dinners, and late-night discussions, and countless catch-ups with friends and colleagues, but the real value was being in the same place with people who are all trying to understand where immigration law is heading. From marketing and ethics to firm growth, operations, compliance, technology, and the future of legal practice, the conversations felt more candid and more urgent than they often do over email or Zoom. My voice was basically gone by the end, which is usually the sign of a good conference.
The biggest through-line for me was technology, especially AI. A few years ago, people were still asking whether AI in immigration was real or just hype. This year, the conversation was much more practical: what tools should firms actually use, how should lawyers use them correctly, what does this mean for solo and small firms, and how will tech affect the future of immigration practice? That made the conference feel like a real inflection point.
Anna McManus, AILA Staff Member Since 2025
Although this is only my second Annual Conference with AILA, it’s my umpteenth conference as someone who works in the nonprofit sector. However, given the nature of AILA’s mission and purpose and the volatile political climate we’re existing in, this conference felt different, in the best way possible. Heart strings were pulled when award winners gave their acceptance speeches, attendees made room for others to listen in on popular sessions, volunteers gave warm welcomes to those who were new to AILA or AC but unlike any other conference I have worked on, it was incredible to see 3,000+ people in one location who aren’t in competition of each other but instead, supporting and rooting for each other. I’m so excited to see what’s to come next year for AC27 in National Harbor.