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
Fan Letters to AILA Members’ Favorite Resources
As we continue to celebrate AILA's 75th anniversary year, we asked members to share a fan letter to their favorite AILA resource, in two or three sentences, or haiku form. Read about five favorites in this blog post on Think Immigration.
The “SS EOIR” is Changing Course; Encouraging Winds Ahead
AILA member Stacy Caplow reflects on her Spring 2022 edition of the AILA Law Journal article entitled “The Sinking Immigration Court: Change Course, Save the Ship“ in this blog post and why readers should take heart given a recent shift in EOIR hiring.
How Legal Ethics Has Evolved in Immigration Practice
In this blog post, AILA members Michele Carney and Beth Persky reflect on the changes to legal ethics over the last 75 years, and encourage colleagues to learn more about those changes as a way to look down the road to more changes that may come.
Knowing the History of “The Huddled Masses”
In this blog post, AILA member and Law Journal author John Medeiros introduces his piece featured in the recent special edition of the AILA Law Journal celebrating AILA's 75 years; his piece “Huddled Masses“ chronicles the history of U.S. immigration and the development of U.S. immigration la
A Special Edition of the AILA Law Journal Celebrates #AILA75Years
In this blog post, we walk through the Spring 2022 edition of the AILA Law Journal which features an interview between editor-in-chief Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia and AILA President Allen Orr, along with special and substantive pieces from AILA members as we celebrate AILA's 75 Years.
Reopening America’s Doors to Immigration Requires Addressing the Visa Backlog
AILA member Dominique Pando Bucci shares insights into the backlogs facing businesses trying to bring foreign talent to the U.S. and families trying to reunite due to Department of State backlogs and highlights AILA's recommendations for reopening America's doors.
Why We Need an Independent Immigration Court System
In this video blog post, AILA President-Elect Jeremy McKinney joins Senior Director of Government Relations Greg Chen to discuss the need for immigration court reform and the prospects for the Real Courts, Rule of Law Act which will be marked up by the House Judiciary Committee this week.
AILA Members’ Favorite AC Memories – Part 2
As we continue to celebrate our 75th anniversary year, and look forward to the Annual Conference in June, we asked members to share their favorite memories from Annual Conferences in the past. Today we share memories from three members in the second part of this blog post series.
Fulfilling America’s Promise: Helping Immigrant Service Members Naturalize
Margaret Stock shares insights into challenges facing military service members seeking to naturalize and offers information about key resources, including an upcoming webinar, designed to ensure AILA members have the tools they need to help these heroes become citizens.
Collateral Damage: The Consequences of Delays in Immigration
AILA member Vaman Kidambi shares insights into what backlogs and delays at USCIS mean for clients, communities, and our economy, while highlighting the recent AILA policy brief which has concrete recommendations for USCIS to right the ship.
AILA Members’ Favorite AC Memories – Part 1
As we continue to celebrate our 75th anniversary year, and look forward to the Annual Conference in June, we asked members to share their favorite memories from Annual Conferences in the past. Here are three memorable moments to start us off.
Highlighting Inequities: How the U.S. Treats Refugees Varies Widely
AILA Board of Governors member Ally Bolour calls our attention to the disparate treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, comparing the recent experiences of Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Haiti and urging us all to “end the discriminatory treatment of refugees.“
AILA’s Most Popular Practice Success Tip
In this video blog post, AILA PPC leaders Reid Trautz and Charity Anastasio share the most popular practice success tip as a way to celebrate the myriad resources developed to help members run a practice during AILA's 75 years.
Raising the Bar: Reflections on International Women’s Day
As we celebrate this International Women's Day, AILA Immediate Past President Jennifer Minear shares her gratitude for “the women of AILA and for the role they play in our lives and our community.“
Let’s Give a Hand to AILA Members Doing Amazing Pro Bono Work!
AILA's Practice and Professionalism Center works with AILA members to help them engage in pro bono activities; this Think Immigration post is an opportunity to learn and get inspired by three of our recent Pro Bono High Five videos.
Generations Later, Another Evacuation Effort Stalls
AILA member and volunteer Spojmie Nasiri shares a recent experience when she met a Vietnamese refugee whose story strengthened her resolve to help Afghan evacuees and reminded her of the interconnectedness of all our lives.
Immigrant Women are Entrepreneurs
In this blog post, part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion series, AILA South Florida DEI chair Tarsila Talarico explains the data showing how important a force immigrant women entrepreneurs are and the resilience and strength they bring to bear as they start businesses and benefit the U.S. econ
“Wait, But Isn’t Pot Legal?” – Immigration Law and Cannabis Present Traps for the Unwary
AILA 2022 Border Issues Conference Co-Chair Scott Railton describes the current landscape where cannabis legalization and immigration law collide, highlighting how complicated it is and the need for Congress to act.
Favorite Success Tips of AILA Members
As AILA celebrates its 75th year, we invited members to “Share Your Favorite Success Tip Gleaned from AILA,“ and we are delighted to share this blog post featuring those tips.
“Remember who you are!” A Nation in Need of Knowing its History
In this blog post, AILA member Vaman Kidambi shares insights into the new USCIS mission statement and how it recognizes and honors our nation's diversity and he also highlights the important work of the Council's Center for Inclusions and Belonging.
Did the National Interest Waiver Just Get Easier?
AILA member Peter Rees explains a recent update to the National Interest Waiver determination guidance, which could allow for more NIW grants particularly for advanced STEM degree holders and entrepreneurs,
U.S. Asylum Laws and the People of Haiti
AILA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee member Jamel Connor describes the profoundly unjust situation Haiti and its people face and why this Black History Month she reflects on the country's history and urges the U.S. to stop turning its back on Haitian immigrants.
Biden Is Failing on His Campaign Promise to End Private Immigration Detention
In this blog post, AILA Policy Counsel Jen Whitlock describes how President Biden has failed to fulfill his campaign promise to end the use of private prisons and why AILA and our partners will continue to push for these inhumane practices to end.
My Moment – When Immigration Law Became My Path, Part 3
As AILA celebrates our 75th year, we invited members to “Share the Moment You Realized Immigration Law Was for You“ and we are delighted to share the third blog post featuring those moments; this post includes four members' stories.
Let’s Make International Entrepreneur Parole Great (or Even Feasible): An Open Letter to the Biden Administration
AILA Media Advocacy Committee chair Fiona McEntee and member Tahmina Watson explain why the Biden administration needs to make changes to the International Entrepreneur Parole program in order to ensure our country has a workable immigration option for startup entrepreneurs.