Immigration News

Check out daily roundups of immigration-related news stories, read articles that quote and cite AILA and AILA leadership, and check out analysis from AILA members and leadership on the AILA blog.

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The AILA blog features posts written by experts about everything from big, broad immigration issues to specific cases.

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AILA Blog

New Documentary Exposes the Realities of Life in Afghanistan for Women

Inspired by a new documentary about the issue, AILA member Mona Shah and co-authors Sarah Salarano and Shaun Chaudhry describe the terrible situation facing women and girls in Afghanistan and urge all of us to become informed and to take action.

8/31/22 Asylum
AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

Biden Administration Moves to Shore Up DACA Protections but Congress Needs to Act

AILA and the American Immigration Council welcomed newly published regulations that codify the DACA program. AILA President Jeremy McKinney noted, "These regulations are essential, but laws are for lasting change," and called on Congress to "pass legislation permanently protecting all Dreamers."

8/24/22 AILA Doc. No. 22082454. DACA, Removal & Relief
AILA Blog

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.

8/24/22 Asylum
AILA Blog

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.

8/15/22 Asylum
AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

AILA Urges Swift Passage of the Afghan Adjustment Act

AILA welcomes the introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral “Afghan Adjustment Act” which would help Afghans fleeing the Taliban takeover find safety and security in the United States. This bill enables the United States to keep its promises to the Afghans who served alongside American troops.

8/9/22 AILA Doc. No. 22080900.
AILA Blog

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.

AILA Blog

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.

8/5/22 Asylum
AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

The American Immigration Lawyers Association Urges Senators to Do No Harm to Immigrants

AILA urges senators to keep the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” focused on deficit reduction, the climate crisis, and prescription drug prices, and to vote no on any amendments that would exclude or harm immigrant communities and that would function as “poison pills” killing the entire bill.

8/3/22 AILA Doc. No. 22080331.
AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

AILA President Jeremy McKinney Responds to SCOTUS Move Keeping ICE Priorities On Hold

In this statement, AILA President Jeremy McKinney responds to the U.S. Supreme Court 5-4 vote to maintain a nationwide injunction blocking the Biden Administration from setting prosecutorial discretion policies for ICE. The court also decided to take up the case in December.

7/21/22 AILA Doc. No. 22072152. Prosecutorial Discretion, Removal & Relief
AILA Blog

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.

AILA Blog

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.

AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

AILA’s Immigration Law Practice and Procedure Manual: A “Cookbook” of Essential Practice Materials: Second Edition Now Shipping!

The 2nd edition of AILA’s Immigration Law Practice and Procedure Manual: A “Cookbook” of Essential Practice Materials is now available, providing expanded “thorough, how-to guidance on preparing and filing many of the more common immigration applications and petitions.”

7/11/22 AILA Doc. No. 22071139.
AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

AILA President Jeremy McKinney Responds to Texas Governor’s Reprehensible Border Announcement

In this statement, AILA President Jeremy McKinney responds to the announcement from Texas Governor Greg Abbott calling on Texas law enforcement officials and Texas National Guard members to illegally involve themselves in federal immigration policy.

7/7/22 AILA Doc. No. 22070714.
AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

AILA's Law Journal Welcomes New Editor-In-Chief Cyrus Mehta

AILA announced the new Editor-in-Chief for the AILA Law Journal will be renowned expert Cyrus D. Mehta of New York, NY. Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia ends her tremendously successful service in the role for the first three years of the law journal’s existence and is passing the torch this month.

7/7/22 AILA Doc. No. 22070703.
AILA Blog

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.

AILA Blog

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.

AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

U.S. Supreme Court Affirms the Biden Administration’s Authority to End MPP

AILA welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Biden v. Texas, which affirmed the Biden Administration’s authority to end the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP).

6/30/22 AILA Doc. No. 22063006. Admissions & Border, Asylum, Removal & Relief
AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

AILA Elects New Officers for 2022-23 Term

Jeremy McKinney was installed as AILA’s President for the 2022-23 term and the following officers were elected today: Farshad Owji as President-Elect, Kelli J. Stump as First Vice President, Jeff Joseph as Second Vice President, Alexis S. Axelrad as Treasurer, and Jacqueline Watson as Secretary.

6/16/22 AILA Doc. No. 22061609.
AILA Blog

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.

6/15/22
AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

Ten Years Later – Where are Permanent Protections for DREAMers?

Today, AILA celebrates 10 years since the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative but calls on Congress to pass permanent protections; AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson notes, “Congress’ inaction on this issue is a moral and political failure.”

6/15/22 AILA Doc. No. 22061409. DACA, Removal & Relief
AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

AILA Presents Charles Oppenheim with the Founders Award

AILA recognizes Charles Oppenheim with the Founders Award, which is given from time to time to the person or entity having the most substantial impact on the field of immigration law or policy.

6/15/22 AILA Doc. No. 22060256.
AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

AILA Presents Marc Van Der Hout with the 2022 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award

AILA recognizes Marc Van Der Hout with the 2022 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award, in recognition of his outstanding service, over a period of years, in advancing the mission, development, and value of AILA for its members and the public it serves.

6/14/22 AILA Doc. No. 22060257.
AILA Blog

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 Public Statements, Press Releases

AILA Recognizes Ian Wagreich with the 2022 Sam Williamson Mentor Award

AILA recognizes Ian Wagreich with the 2022 Sam Williamson Mentor Award, in acknowledgment of his outstanding efforts and excellent counsel to immigration attorneys by providing mentoring assistance.

6/13/22 AILA Doc. No. 22060255.
AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

AILA Presents AILA’s Afghan Response Task Force with the 2022 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award

AILA recognizes the AILA Afghan Response Task Force with the 2022 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award for outstanding efforts in providing pro bono representation in the immigration field.

6/10/22 AILA Doc. No. 22060254.