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
Demystifying the Immigrant Detention System
By Stephen Manning Immigrant detention is a labyrinth; it is a maze of interconnected facilities where the United States government has the power to detain people like cattle. A lost, confused expression crosses our collective face each time we search for a reasoned explanation as to why people are
Obstacles, Dead Ends, and Lost Opportunities – Are We Open for Business?
By Tony Weigel and Sonal Verma, AILA Media Committee The 2006 Pixar movie Cars tells the tale of a fictional city, Radiator Springs, a once thriving oasis of commerce located along historic Route 66. As time passed, the then new, nearby Interstate highway diverted both people and business. In spite
Yes, Facts Do Matter In the Immigration Debate
In a blog published yesterday, Cecilia Munoz, White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, argued that the Secure Communities program is critical to smart and effective enforcement of the immigration laws. Ms. Munoz listed some statistics showing that the removal of immigrants with criminal re
ICE Targeting Immigrants LEAVING the Country
By Greg Siskind, AILA Media Committee The New York Times recently reported on ICE's new policy of boarding buses at the US-Mexican border that are headed south and asking for passengers to document their immigration status. Persons suspected of being in the country illegally are being arrested and t
Reform Immigration, Jump Start the Economy
Today, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security that reminded me of a piece I wrote a couple of years ago to explain why I became an immigration lawyer. The hearing was entitled, “The Economic Imperative for Enacting Immigr
Lamar Smith Tries To “HALT!” Smart Enforcement
House Judiciary Committee Chair Lamar Smith (R-TX) is in a position to do great things for America. For the good of our country, he can rise above the partisan rancor that paralyzes Washington, roll up his sleeves, get to work, and fashion an immigration overhaul that will protect American worke
Does Representative Goodlatte Think “Safety” Is Just Keeping Out Immigrants?
Today, the House Judiciary Committee will mark up HR 704, the completely mis-named “Security and Fairness Enhancement for America Act of 2011.“ With that name, you would think the bill was many hundreds of pages of proposed changes to the court system, or enhanced funding for law enforcement,
Arizona All-Stars
The baseball players at Chase Field were not the only all-stars in Arizona last night. Although there were no big salaries or major league teams involved, the good citizens of West Mesa Arizona hit a home run when they forced Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to sign off on a proclamation recalling Arizon
“The Righteous Among Nations”
A visitor walking through the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum starts at the top floor of the museum, viewing film clips, photos and other documentation of the ominous and jarring beginnings of the Nazi regime in Europe - a regime that succeeded in great part because of a vast propaganda mach
Why Immigration Reform Helps Our Economy
By Karol Brown, AILA Media Committee Discussions about immigration reform often focus on the issue of “undocumented“ or “illegal“ aliens. But fixing our broken immigration system is about more than the determining the fate of the estimated ten million people currently living and working
Not Letting Go Of The Dream
Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill) just won't let it go. And that's a good thing when it comes to the DREAM Act, a bill that will provide a pathway to immigration compliance to thousands of undocumented students and young adults. Fueled by his passion for justice, Durbin is determined to see the DREAM Ac
ICE’s Union “On The Water Front”
The ICE union's reaction to ICE Director John Morton's prosecutorial discretion memorandum shows that the union leadership, apparently out of touch with its own members, is hell bent on maintaining the status quo-indiscriminate arrest, detention, prosecution, and deportation of immigrants-without th
Jose Antonio Vargas Takes His Seat
The success of a civil rights movement depends on people who are willing to take extraordinary personal risk. Yesterday Jose Antonio Vargas, the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, did just that by outing himself as an undocumented immigrant in the New York Times, the nation's leading newspaper of r
The Wrong Help Can Hurt: The Administration Acts to Protect Vulnerable Immigrants
By T. Douglas Stump Every year, thousands of immigrant families fill in their forms, pay sometimes tens of thousands of dollars in fees, and still face deportation. They've tried to make better lives for themselves, tried to enter the U.S. legally, and, in the process, they've fallen victim to imm
Hey Kid, Show Me Your Papers
By David Leopold and Eleanor Pelta Remember Kindergarten? For us it was long time ago, but we both still have vivid memories of our teachers, some of the other kids of the class, and, of course, the playground. It can be frightening for young children to start school and learn to separate from the
Momentum Builds For Nationwide End To “Secure Communities”
Guest blog by Michael Mandel, Co-Chair, AILA-NY Advocacy/Media Committee In this era of record deportations, enforcement only policies and an all around refusal by Congress and the Obama administration to ease the daily terror felt by millions of immigrants, advocates welcomed the recent news that M
AILA Dream Defenders
I am thrilled to announce AILA Dream Defenders! AILA Dream Defenders or “AD2“ is a collaborative effort between AILA, United We Dream, the National Immigration Project, and the National Immigration Law Center. Our goal is to establish an effective pro bono program for DREAMERs across the Unit
Hey Guys, When You’re Lost, It’s Okay to Ask for Directions
By Tony Weigel Back in the mid-1990's, before GPS and Mapquest, this midwesterner attempted to navigate the roadways of greater Atlanta. It seemed like every road changed names at least twice and managed to run in every direction. What looked relatively clear on my map was indistinguishable once t
All Children in America Should Have Education and Opportunities
By Karol Brown “[I]t is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he [or she] is denied the opportunity of an education.“ - Brown v. Board of Education Recently, state legislatures around the country have debated or approved laws that penalize undocumented immigr
Action Speaks Louder Than Words: President Obama Can Use The Law To Help Families and Businesses Even If Congress Refuses To Act On Immigration
I think we can all agree that in the past couple of weeks President Obama has demonstrated he has the guts to make tough decisions. He is a Commander-in-Chief worthy of the title; one who is willing to put the country first, regardless of risk to his own political future. Fixing our broken immigrat
Illinois Says “No Mas” to Secure Communities
By Paul Zulkie, AILA Past President On May 4, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn notified ICE that he was pulling the state out of ICE's flawed Secure Communities initiative. For us locals, it is nice to see the Land of Lincoln get national recognition for leadership on immigration policy as opposed to cr
One Down, 300 Million More To Go
Donald Trump isn't satisfied with the President's production of his original birth certificate. And I suspect others in the “birther“ movement won't be either. Trump chose his words carefully today, leaving plenty of wiggle room to keep his “birther“ rant alive. “I have accomplished s
Passover In The First Person
By David Leopold and Eleanor Pelta This week Jews all over the world celebrate Passover. Extended families, friends, and strangers gather together and relive the story of the exodus from the bondage of the Pharaohs of Egypt. It is a holiday of freedom and hope. And also a celebration of springti
Take the Next Step in Protecting Foreign National Same-Sex Spouses
A couple of days ago gay rights groups and immigration advocates applauded an announcement by USCIS that it would suspend decisions on marriage based immigration petitions filed by gay Americans on behalf of their foreign national partners. That was good news for gay and lesbian Americans who have b
Remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Workers
They had old-world names like Gussie, Rose, Max, Albina, Morris and Sarafina, and came from the “old countries“ like Romania, Russia, Austria and Italy, but they had the same dreams that immigrants have always brought to this country, and continue to bring today: dreams of security far away fr