In Memoriam: Carmen A. DiPlacido – Brilliant, Kind, and Generous

Carmen A. DiPlacido – Brilliant, Kind and Generous

By: Denise C. Hammond and Jonathan Ginsburg

AILA mourns the loss of Carmen A. DiPlacido, an extraordinary lawyer known as much for his kind and gentle spirit as for his singular expertise in citizenship, naturalization, and consular practice. He had superb intellect, enormous practical knowledge, huge institutional memory, and unstinting and consistent generosity in sharing it all.

Carmen was a selfless mentor, and he served AILA on various committees and working groups, including the Department of State Liaison Committee, Border/Security Issues Committee and Border Watch Task Force, and the AILA/DHS International Enforcement Liaison Committee. His most recent appointment was as a member of the Field Operations Liaison Committee.

Before joining the private bar in 1997, Carmen had a distinguished 27-year career in the U.S. Department of State, where he served in numerous positions, including Director, Office of Citizens Consular Services and Director, Office of Policy Review and Interagency Liaison, Overseas Citizens Services, as well as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Passport Services and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Overseas Citizens Services. A singular contribution of his was the landmark Child Citizenship Act of 2000, which Carmen authored to imbue derivative citizenship with his trademark fairness and compassion.

In addition to his service to AILA, Carmen was an ardent supporter of individuals with special needs and was the president of the board of directors of Porto Charities, Inc., a charitable organization dedicated to actively assisting people with developmental or intellectual disabilities, their community and their environment. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to:

Porto Charities, Inc.,
P.O. Box 7266
Arlington, VA 22207.

Carmen is survived by his wife, Ann, and his daughter, Christie.

Carmen was a colleague and a dear friend to us all. We will miss you, Carms, but you’ll be in our hearts forever.