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
Volunteering in Family Detention – Saving One Family at a Time
I volunteered a week in Dilley, Texas, at the South Texas Family Residential Center to give back to the immigrant community and the most vulnerable. While I was there, I also learned more about asylum law, which has made me a better lawyer. Here's what I saw and learned:
Good News You Can Use
Are you overwhelmed yet? I have to be honest, there are moments when I want to throw up my hands and somehow pause it all: the non-stop announcements from the Trump administration, calls and conversations with anxious immigrants and advocates, and our work coordinating pro bono services for vulnerab
Fighting for the Underdog
Some of Hollywood's most iconic films have featured an “underdog“ plot: a protagonist facing impossible odds who proves victorious through greater tenacity and determination. This is certainly a theme our immigrant clients and immigration law practices can relate to, perhaps now more than eve
In the Midst of Chaos, Where is Our Lifeline?
Mother Nature hit Puerto Rico hard with Hurricane Maria. Regardless of the deadline for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals and irrespective of the need for immigration lawyers to respond to Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Mother Nature wins out. But as immigration lawyers, we can't
Liberty and Due Process for Immigrants in the SCOTUS Lineup, Part 2
In this special two-part Think Immigration blog, Mary Kramer, author of Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity: A Guide to Representing Foreign Born Defendants, is joined by Michael Vastine and Sui Chung, co-authors of AILA's upcoming book, Winning on Paper. Read Part 1 of the blog post here
Liberty and Due Process for Immigrants in the SCOTUS Lineup, Part 1
In this special two-part Think Immigration blog post, Mary Kramer, author of Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity: A Guide to Representing Foreign Born Defendants, is joined by Michael Vastine and Sui Chung, co-authors of AILA's upcoming book, Winning on Paper. The trio attended the oral a
RAISE Act Policies Won’t Lift Up America
Several years ago, I moved from Colorado to Connecticut. I had a job opportunity in Stamford, Connecticut and on my daughter's first birthday, we packed up and moved. Moving across the country was one of the hardest things I had ever done. We had no family or friends in Connecticut. For the first ye
Extraordinary Strength in Numbers: AILA Launches New Interest Group for ACES
AILA members - if you have an “ace“ of a client, you have a new tool in your toolbox: the ACES Interest Group. Previously a national committee focused on identifying trends in O, P, EB-1 and EB-2 adjudications, “ACES“ has been relaunched as an interest group that any AILA member with cl
Employment-Based Immigration in a “Hire American” Era
Although we are just eight months into the Trump administration, the U.S employment-based immigration landscape has already shifted dramatically. In recent months, business immigration attorneys have witnessed the suspension of premium processing for most H-1B petitions (though premium processing fi
Risk vs. Uncertainty: Advising and Advocating in the New Paradigm
While listening to a Freakonomics podcast recently focusing on John Urschel's abrupt decision to retire from the NFL., I was intrigued by the discussion of how we make decisions in the face of risk versus uncertainty. By way of explanation, the introduction to the piece asks how it is possible we ha
The New Front in the War on Immigrants: Administrative Action
A few weeks ago, I read an article proclaiming that the president is winning his “war“ on immigration. The conclusion of this opinion piece was that President Trump figured he could take a hard line on immigration that would placate his radical base because the vast majority of Americans - who
Deal or No Deal: Where Does DACA Stand?
If you're like me, you may be feeling some whiplash in terms of where things stand regarding a legislative fix for Dreamers, young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. Between the multiple bills that have been introduced or are about to be introduced, conflicting statements (and twee
Facing the Pro Bono Challenge Head On – One Perspective
Pro bono work is important. But, maybe keeping your practice afloat while following your conscience to increase your pro bono work is something you struggle with, too. Thinking outside the box of pro bono can help you figure out what YOU can do.
Hurricane Harvey Hit Us Hard but We’re Rebuilding and Helping Each Other
It's true that natural disasters can strike anywhere, but Texas got hit with an especially devastating one with Harvey. As a proud member of the Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico AILA chapter, I wanted to share some of the efforts by our members to help in the community. Since the devastation of Hurri
Back to School – The Immigrant Experience
Near the end of July 2017, ICE conducted raids across my hometown, Memphis, TN. By the agency's count, 83 individuals were arrested in a series of raids that occurred in Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans between July 23 and July 26. Not reported in that number is the fact that ICE later admitted th
Mr. Speaker, It’s Time to Stand Up for Dreamers
As my seven-year-old son starts second grade and gears up for his latest round of school lessons, our family also works hard to educate him as a person within a larger community. We talk about what it means to be a good person and what kind of community we want to build. This conversation has [&#
Wasting Money, One Interview at a Time
On August 28, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that as of October 1, 2017, employment-based adjustment of status applicants will be required to attend in-person interviews. The notice references Executive Order 13780, “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Int
Winning Cases – Good for the Client and the Attorney
Fighting the government is a time-honored tradition for removal attorneys, and often a motivation for joining this field, right?? None of us daydreamed in law school of triumphantly signing joint motions to terminate without prejudice to pursue adjustment of status. Nonetheless, successful practice
Trump Administration Endangers Children While Pretending to Fight Trafficking
Children deserve to be safe. When they flee for their lives and come to the United States, our laws require that the government place them in safe situations, usually with family, as they pursue asylum or other humanitarian protection. But right now, the federal government is endangering children a
Business Immigration and Federal Litigation – Where to Start?
Like many other business immigration attorneys, federal litigation was not a tool I had frequently considered as an option for my clients. In fact, I discarded my copy of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) from law school after six years of practicing business immigration, thinking that I
Protesting and Immigration – Know Your Rights
Today, President Trump will hold a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, where it is rumored he may pardon former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. President Trump has historically supported Mr. Arpaio and praised his tough stance on immigration and Mr. Arpaio has requited this sentiment, acting as an early
How Does U.S. Immigration Law Treat Trafficking Victims?
We have all read the news. Federal prosecutors have charged the driver of a truck with transporting people who are in the country illegally. Tragically, ten people died and dozens were hospitalized as they were trapped in a trailer in the Texas heat with no cooling system, no water, and no fresh air
Dream On
Today marks the five year anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that has provided vital relief to hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who came to the United States as children. I wish we could jubilantly celebrate and toast to this half-decade milestone. Inst
H-1B Visa Trends: Is This the New Normal?
As a U.S. immigration lawyer, I find that I need to give myself a pep talk on a regular basis these days. My pep talk tends to go like this: “Responding to complicated Requests for Evidence (RFEs) by the federal government is my job. I specialize in assisting employers - universities, multinational
Time to Reboot the DHS SAVE System
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a vitally important system called “Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements“ (SAVE). But often it is not used properly and many suffer the consequences. A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report shines a light on the system, one