Blog: Think Immigration
We believe that immigration law is an integral part of America’s past, present and future. We also know that immigration law is complicated. Here you’ll find experts writing in an accessible way about immigration issues, from big, broad ideas down to specific cases. Our members bring knowledge they’ve gleaned from the daily practice of immigration law to this space and offer their expertise to readers.
Browse the Blog: Think Immigration collection
How Do We Respond to the George Floyd Tragedy?
AILA member Paschal O. Nwokocha calls on all immigration attorneys to take concrete steps to address racism and injustice, writing “We cannot be patient anymore; we cannot wait for racial inequality and injustice to recede. We must be involved actors in the future we seek.“
Fight Back Against Chevron Deference in Asylum and Withholding Cases
In this blog post, AILA member Maureen Sweeney previews her AILA Law Journal article and describes several factors litigators can argue weigh against applying Chevron in asylum and withholding cases “and in favor of robust judicial review of BIA and AG decisions.“
Recognizing the Commonality of Our Struggles
AILA Website Editorial Manager Kritika Argawal shares insights about the civil rights movement's impact on immigrants and how we must “recognize the commonality of our struggles with the struggles of Black Americans and take concrete steps to support their fight against racism and injustice.“
Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $1 Billion Dollars Without Changes at USCIS
AILA Director of Government Relations Sharvari Dalal-Dheini shares insights from her time at USCIS related to the agency's request to Congress for $1.2 billion, and urges Congress to “ensure that the agency is transparent about its spending, accountable for its inefficiencies, and on track towards f
Where We Are and Where We Need to Be: LaJuan’s Story
In this blog post, AILA Customer Services Manager LaJuan Campbell shares the experience she has had with racism and injustice and the difficult conversations it forced her to have with her son Dominick about America's societal prejudices and how he could stay as safe as possible.
#BlackLivesMatter – Perspectives from the AILA Diversity and Inclusion Committee
The AILA Diversity and Inclusion Committee is deeply saddened by the recent unjust and tragic police killings of Black Americans and we stand in solidarity for the demands for justice and accountability. This blog post includes four member perspectives and calls for change.
Are We Still Here?
As part of AILA's internal reflection during this time, staff were invited to share perspectives and experiences relating to America's divisive and unjust past, the current situation, and our commitment to a better future. In this blog post, we welcome these insights from Joy Hardy.
Insights on the Impact of COVID-19 in the International Tax Sphere
AILA member Patrick McCormick reviews some of the alterations to Internal Revenue Service policies during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they could impact multinationals in particular, noting however “we all realize that guidance related to COVD-19 is evolving,“
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID-19 Era – Post 13
AILA Member Kevin Gregg shares his experience during COVID-19 thus far, including the fact that with the time freed up from less travel and commuting, he has started a podcast on precedential immigration decisions.
Who Creates American Jobs?
In response to rumored plans by the administration to tighten nonimmigrant visas, AILA member Doug Penn shares the impact one of his clients has had creating American jobs while in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa and why the administration should not block these job creators from the U.S.
Litigation Works for Clients
AILA Past President Chuck Kuck highlights the H-1B class action litigation and renews the call for plaintiffs, noting “The only way to stop USCIS from continuing to rewrite immigration law through RFE and denial is to challenge them boldly, fiercely, and publicly in the federal courts.“
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID19 Era – Post 11
AILA Member Jennifer Schear offers a glimpse into her work and office situation in Tel Aviv, Israel, and shares how during this time she has gleaned some “valuable insights into law firm management, productivity, efficiency, what and who is truly essential.“
When the World is on Fire, Exceptions Should be the Rule
AILA member Amy Myers shares why USCIS should proactively address non-immigrants' (such as students on OPT) concerns about falling out of status, writing “When we are already in a recognized crisis situation, why should discretionary post-situational relief be the only available remedy?“
Bipartisan Effort Would Help Foreign Doctors, Nurses, and All of Us
AILA's Director of Government Relations Sharvari Dalal-Dheini highlights the bill Congress can and should consider quickly to address the physician and nurse shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic and the integral role AILA and its members played in urging Congress to take this important issue up.
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID19 Era – Post 10
AILA Member Sabrina Damast shares lessons learned over the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of practice management, writing “I've learned that as prepared as I thought I was for business emergencies, there are still contingencies that I did not think to address.“
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID19 Era – Post 9
AILA BOG member Rekha Sharma-Crawford writes about a silver lining to the lockdown on the blog which “has allowed us to be able to think of ways to use technology to enhance our practices and…may have also opened the door…to finally contemplate work life balance in a way we have never be
Latest AILA Law Journal is Live – Take a Look!
In this blog post, Danielle Polen, AILA's Director of Publications & Online Resources shares some highlights from the latest edition of the AILA Law Journal, hot off the presses this week with articles by leading experts on a wide array of issues affecting immigration law.
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID19 Era – Post 8
AILA Member Hudaidah Bhimdi shares a bit about the whirlwind of home and work responsibilities facing her as an immigration attorney and single mom during COVID-19 quarantine, and how hope has reentered her life as she finds new perspective on the day to day necessities.
The “CARES Act” Is Misnamed for Immigrant Taxpayers and Their Families
AILA member Jennifer Walker Gates highlights how the CARES Act harms American mixed-status families by denying stimulus funds and the efforts underway to address that negative impact.
“Specialty Occupation” Litigation – A Rundown of the New Lawsuit
AILA member Jeff Joseph gives a rundown of the recently filed lawsuit challenging USCIS' pattern and practice of arbitrarily denying H-1B nonimmigrant employment-based petitions for market research analyst positions filed by businesses in the United States.
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID19 Era – Post 7
Ally Bolour, a member of AILA's Board of Governors, shares his recent difficult client interaction and highlights the need for self care in an extremely stressful time, writing “We will survive this together and come out stronger at the other end.“
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID19 Era – Post 6
AILA member John Manley offers some practical advice as he finds himself shifting from office-based work to home-based work for the foreseeable future and the many adaptations he will need to make.
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID19 Era – Post 4
In this blog post, AILA Board of Governors member Neena Dutta muses on the COVID19 pandemic, the varying impacts on peoples' lives and livelihoods, and her personal experience, reminding everyone that in this time, socially distant though we may be, we are not alone.
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID19 Era – Post 3
AILA Second Vice President Jeremy McKinney shares his plans to apply for assistance through the Small Business Administration during the COVID19 crisis to help his law firm stay in business; an update on how he navigates the process is forthcoming.
Immigrants Are Behind the Wheel of Detroit’s Revival
AILA member Aaron Kochenderfer shares the positive impact that immigrants have had on Detroit, Michigan as the city orchestrates a comeback from bankruptcy only a few years ago, writing “Detroit's history was written by immigrants and I firmly believe they will help author its future as well.“