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
Immigration Law, Family, and Pride Month
In this blog post, AILA President Allen Orr posed some questions to Jennifer Yeaw, a member of the Diversity & Inclusion committee about Pride month and how immigration law and policies have gradually grown more inclusive to LGBTQIA+ families, but there's still a long way to go.
Welcoming Juneteenth
In this blog post, AILA member Yasmin Blackburn welcomes the federal recognition of Juneteenth as a holiday and urges us to use the day to reflect, research, and learn about America's history and to take action to ensure a more just future.
Recognizing the Impact of Fathers and Father Figures
In recognition of Father's Day, we asked AILA members to share how something their dad did or said helped them choose immigration law as a profession; read these five inspiring and heartfelt examples.
Reflections on the Life and Impact of the Late Judge Robert Katzmann
In this video blog post, Cyrus Mehta reflects on the life and impact of the late Judge Robert Katzmann, explaining how he was the impetus for projects to help immigrants receive legal representation that affected so many families and individuals.
Nine Years Later…DACA is Not Enough
Mo Goldman shares the example of his client to explain that DACA isn't enough and Congress needs to act because “A year from now, we should not be celebrating the ten-year anniversary of DACA“ but instead “the first months of a path to citizenship for these deserving individuals.“
A Transformative Year Ahead
Allen Orr, newly installed AILA President for the 2021-22 term, shares his story and his vision for a transformative year ahead in this transcript of the installation speech he gave on June 10, 2021 during AILA's Annual Conference.
Negligence and Mayhem – We Need to Phase Out the Use of Migrant Detention
In this blog post, Sarah Owings shares the realities of what immigration detainees face and why she wants “you to push for fair and humane ways to process people's' immigration paperwork, outside of detention“ so the detention machine can be shut down entirely.
The Mixed Messages and Missed Opportunities in Biden’s FY 22 Budget
In this blog post, AILA Government Relations Directors Gregory Chen and Sharvari Dalal-Dheini highlight the mixed messages and missed opportunities on immigration issues in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget released by President Biden.
When Clients Die – How COVID-19 Has Affected Me and How I Am Learning to Cope
In this blog post, AILA member Vaman Kidambi shares his experiences learning to cope as clients are taken by COVID-19 and ways he has learned to try and maintain balance in this extremely difficult time.
What President Biden’s Budget Should Say on Immigration
AILA's Government Relations directors Greg Chen and Shev Dalal-Dheini lay out what President Biden's budget for FY22 should have in it on immigration issues, flagging detention, representation, immigration courts, USCIS, and the State Department as areas ripe for necessary reform.
America Closed for Immigration: The COVID-19 Visa Backlog
AILA member Dominique Pando Bucci digs into the data, showing the massive increases in backlogged visa issuances and highlights six ways attorneys can help their clients, as well as how and why the Biden administration needs to take action.
Lingering Trump Policy Changes Continue Harming Trafficking Survivors
Corie O'Rourke, Cory Sagduyu, and Katherine Soltis reflect on their article in the Spring 2021 edition of the AILA Law Journal focused on USCIS's misinterpretation of the T visa's physical presence requirement and why the policy changes must be reversed so trafficking survivors can be protected.
Climate Refugees Are Here
AILA member Christine Popp shares more about her recent article in the AILA Law Journal on climate refugees, explaining how she became interested in the intersection of immigration/ asylum law and climate change realities and what she hopes her article offers for practitioners.
Adjectives Matter: What Does “Exceptional and Extremely Unusual Hardship” Mean?
AILA Member Eva Loney writes about the importance of adjectives in immigration law, specifically what “exceptional“ and “extremely unusual“ mean when considered in a removal case, highlighting why her article on the topic in the Spring AILA Law Journal was important to share.
Iranians Forced Into Military Service Face Immigration Blockade
AILA member Scott Emerick details litigation recently filed to ensure Iranian nationals forced to serve in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aren't harmed by the U.S. government's decision to retroactively name it a terrorist organization.
Stand with Asians, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) Against this Rising Tide of Hate
In this blog post, AILA Media Advocacy Committee Vice Chair Evangeline Chan shares her personal experience and provides insights into ways we can stand together against anti-AANHPI hate, writing “By standing together, we can root out racial injustice and create a truly inclusive society.“
Wanted: A Fierce Advocate for Immigrant Rights!
AILA Media Advocacy Committee Chair Fiona McEntee shares what a “want ad“ for a fierce immigration law advocate in the Biden administration might look like, modeled after the song in Mary Poppins listing the specific qualities being sought for an extremely important position.
Helping Asylees Find Welcome
In this blog post, AILA Law Journal authors Ben Levey and Rachel Zoghlin of HIAS share how they came to write about the reasons why asylees aren't accessing benefits they are eligible for, and policy recommendations to effect change and help clients.
Coercive Population Control and Immigration Law
AILA member Sylvia Miller shares insights into why she wrote for the Spring 2021 edition of the AILA Law Journal, “Ultimately my hope is that this article helps continue and broaden conversations, both within the legal community and between attorneys and our clients“ about coercive population
The Arab American Struggle for an Inclusive Immigration System
AILA member and Executive Director of NIPNLG Sirine Shebaya writes for Think Immigration about how we must ensure administrations “understand the complexity and diversity of our Arab American community and uphold our values of compassion and respect for everyone's rights in both word and policy.R
Why Are AILA Members “Coming” to Virtual National Day of Action?
As AILA members prep for a busy day of online meetings with congressional offices, some of the more than 700 AILA members joining us for NDA virtually shared their perspective about what Congress needs to do.
1-2% of People are Autistic – How That Affects Your Practice
In this piece, part of the Diversity & Inclusion blog post series, AILA member Beckie Moriello shares their insights from personal and professional experience about why autism acceptance matters, writing, “We're used to keeping an open mind. Let's keep opening it more and more.“
Domestic Terrorism: Revisiting the War on Terror and its Impact on BIPOC Communities
In this piece, part of the Diversity & Inclusion blog post series, AILA member Leila Sayed-Taha shares insights about why “one must take a nuanced position when understanding the relationship between the term ‘domestic terrorism' and the enactment of oppressive policies against communities of color&
Rejected Applications and Petitions Leave Lives in Limbo
Jonathan Valdez, a member of AILA's Government Relations team, highlights the recent rejections and delays at USCIS that leave applicants in limbo and cause real hardship in what should be a seamless process., urging USCIS take action to get things right.
Climbing the Virtual Hill
AILA Policy Counsel Jen Whitlock describes why and how AILA members can use opportunities like the upcoming virtual National Day of Action to urge Congress toward curbing and eventually ending inhumane and wasteful immigration detention in favor of proven community-based systems.