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
Cascading Errors of a Wrong Address
AILA Practice and Policy Counsel Amy Grenier highlights the due process concerns that arise when CBP enters incorrect addresses for vulnerable migrants, sending vital paperwork astray and undermining the migrants' chances to successfully request asylum and protection.
Afghan Allies Still Waiting for America’s Help One Year Later
As we recognize the one-year anniversary of Kabul's fall, Mahsa Khanbabai, Parastoo Zahedi, and Spojmie Nasiri highlight efforts of the AILA Afghan Taskforce and why the Afghan Adjustment Act is so important for the U.S. to live up to its promises to protect our allies.
Why We’re Celebrating the Senate’s Passage of Legislation Without Immigration
AILA's Greg Chen describes the Senate passage of the budget reconciliation bill and the fight against the many anti-immigrant amendments offered.
You’d Think the Threat of Death Would Be Enough
In this blog post, AILA President Jeremy McKinney describes a recent win for his client in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that will help protect asylum seekers and how this case only emphasizes why we need an independent immigration court, free from politicization.
Abuse in ICE Detention Continues and So Does the Funding for It
AILA Policy Counsel Jen Whitlock describes the reports and examples of harmful, unnecessary, and wasteful ICE detention and urges readers to take action and tell Congress to reduce ICE detention bed funding for Fiscal Year 2023.
Why Supporting “Documented Dreamers” Is A Good Idea
AILA member Aaron Kochenderfer explains the plight of “Documented Dreamers“ who are children of employment-based visa holders waiting for permanent residency and urges support of the America's Children Act of 2021 to alleviate their uncertainty.
Immigration and the Power of Storytelling
In this blog post, AILA member John Wheaton writes on the power of storytelling in bringing people together and creating community, encouraging his fellow attorneys to consider asking clients to share their stories and increase understanding of the immigrant experience.
SCOTUS Gets it Right: The Biden Administration Can End the Inhumane Remain in Mexico Program
AILA Policy and Practice Counsel Amy Grenier describes the recent Supreme Court decision, affirming the Biden administration can indeed end the inhumane Remain in Mexico/Migrant Protection Protocols implemented by the Trump administration, and previews what comes next.
Ten Years Later, DREAMers and So Many Others Still Need Permanent Protection
Jeremy McKinney reflects on the importance of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative but urges Congress to take long overdue action to permanently protect DREAMers and other immigrants who have uncertainty.
U.S. Immigration Law – Looking Back 30+ Years
Long-time AILA member Michael Davis shares insights from his decades of practice, including the impact of 245(i) and some reflections on processes and procedures from years past, as part of our final blog post series celebrating AILA's 75 years.
AILA Members Share Dramatic and Complex 245(i) Stories, Part 1
For our final blog post series to celebrate our 75th anniversary year, we asked members to share their most dramatic or interesting 245(i) story with us on Think Immigration. In this post, read about hidden eligibility, tears, unique circumstances, and cases that are still ongoing today!
Efforts to Restore Asylum at the Border Hobbled by the Courts and Congress
AILA Policy and Practice Counsel Amy Grenier shares insights on where things stand with Title 42, and the new interim final rule on asylum and credible fear, noting that “both face challenges before the federal courts and Congress.“
AILA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at Work
AILA 2021-22 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Chair Ban Al-Wardi shares insights into the committee's accomplishments this year and how the AILA community can engage on various DEI Committee efforts, including the 21-Day Invitation starting June 1.
Detention Ombudsman Reports 52% of Complaints Were About Living Conditions
AILA Policy Counsel Jen Whitlock writes about the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO) including the office's history, the data it has shared so far, and some key questions that remain; she urges everyone to use AILA's advocacy tool to tell Congress immigration detention is inhumane
With A Gun To Their Head
In this video blog post, AILA Law Student Member Nathan Hall describes why he decided to dig into the issue of the “serious nonpolitical crime“ bar and its impact on asylum seekers when he wrote his piece for the April 2022 edition of the AILA Law Journal.
Fast Tracking Asylum at the Border will Undermine Due Process
In this blog post, AILA's Amy Grenier walks through the significant due process concerns that have been expressed about the Interim Final Rule on asylum processing from the Biden administration and why having sufficient time, to seek counsel and pull together a substantive claim, is so important.
Tackling Jurisdictional Questions
AILA member Geoffrey A. Hoffman shares insights on the article he wrote for the Spring 2022 edition of the AILA Law Journal focused on the issue of jurisdiction and how the defective NTA-jurisdictional question could play a crucial part in resolving and reducing the 1.6 million case backlog. AILA me
Broadening the Reach of Pro Bono Through Virtual Clinics
In this blog post, AILA Pro Bono Committee Chair Adonia Simpson and Sarah Burrows, Director, Pro Bono & Partnerships at HIAS, share insights into how AILA South Florida successfully pivoted to virtual pro bono events and how you can replicate this effort.
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.