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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AILA in the News
Browse the Immigration News collection
Resolve to Do Pro Bono – One Attorney’s Experience
AILA member Kursten Phelps shares a recent volunteer experience with asylum seekers and urges that we all resolve to engage, writing, “There are naturalization clinics to staff, border assistance projects to plug into, translations, remote CFI and bond hearing assistance to support.“
The Travel Ban – Iran as an Example of Why the Administration Should Revisit This Cruel Policy
AILA BOG member Ally Bolour describes the impact of the administration's travel ban, using the example of Iran to show how and why the ban is “cruel and unnecessary.“ He urges everyone to “continue to fight against it for all those impacted, their families, American businesses, and our communi
Top AILA Videos and Blog Posts of 2019
This blog post highlights the most-read blog posts and most-watched videos AILA produced and published in 2019 - take a look, and see you in 2020!
They/Them/Ours
In this blog post, part of the Diversity and Inclusion Blog Post series, AILA Member Sarah Pitney describes how taking 30 seconds to discuss pronouns with a client or colleague can ensure your firm is more welcoming and inclusive.
Germany’s New Business Immigration Law
In this blog post, AILA member Dominique Pando Bucci explains how Germany, through measures such as The Skilled Immigration Act, is opening its arms to foreign workers.
Civil Rights Coalition Successfully Blocks Trump Administration’s Latest Attempt to Implement Health Care Ban
AILA and our litigation partners welcomed the Ninth Circuit’s 2-1 decision to refuse the federal government an administrative stay pending appeal of the preliminary nationwide injunction in Doe v. Trump.
Individuals Seeking Protection in El Paso Detention Centers Continue to Face the Impossible. Help Us Push Back.
In this blog post, AILA member Rebekah Wolf explores some of the hurdles asylum seekers are facing in El Paso, Texas and how to help push back by getting involved with the Immigration Justice Campaign and the El Paso Immigration Collaborative (EPIC).
Eyes on the Border but Shut Out of the Tent Courts
In this blog post, AILA leaders share insights from the border delegation where they witnessed the terrible impact of the Remain in Mexico policy, urging “more coordination among advocates, more aggressive litigation in each immigration courtroom, more petitions and class actions…“
Bipartisan Bill Brings Needs of Farmworkers and Farmers to the Forefront
AILA President Marketa Lindt and AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson respond to the passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 5038) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Civil Rights Coalition Successfully Enjoins Presidential Health Insurance Proclamation
AILA and our litigation partners obtained a preliminary nationwide injunction in Doe v. Trump, thereby ensuring that the administration’s attempt to ban immigrants based on their ability to obtain health insurance will not be implemented while litigation continues.
Why Immigration Lawyers Should Care about the TRAP Act – It Will Address INTERPOL Abuse
AILA Member Sandra Grossman highlights the efforts in Congress to address the abuse of INTERPOL Red Notices in the U.S. immigration context and urges support for the TRAP Act which would move INTERPOL to improve transparency and deter abuse of their system.
Names are Important
In this blog post, part of the Diversity and Inclusion Blog Post Series, AILA Member L. Patricia Ice explains the reasoning behind shifting the name of the AILA African American Interest Group to the African Diaspora Interest Group and invites interested AILA members to join the group.
Prepping for the Next Debate: Where the Candidates Stand on Immigration
Greg Chen and Cara Pavlak highlight the positions of the Democratic presidential candidates on immigration and encourage readers to use the AILA 2020 Election Guide, and the accompanying social media toolkit, to engage on immigration during the debate.
Disturbing Lack of Transparency Implicates Government Data Reliability
AILA Member Alison Griffith describes the recent concerns regarding the reliability of EOIR immigration court data received via FOIA and urges people to contact Congress about the need for EOIR to share accurate data upon which the public depends.
New Rules Would Create Potentially Insurmountable Hurdles to Immigrants and Asylum Seekers
AILA responds to two proposed rules that will detrimentally impact individuals who are seeking to legally live and work in the United States; the first proposes to substantially heighten application and petition fees, and the second implicates the employment authorization process for asylum seekers.
AILA University – Your New Resource for Immigration Law Knowledge
AILA University Committee Vice Chair Teddy Chadwick describes the new resources available to AILA members today and going forward through AILAU - “I'm sure that no matter your immigration law knowledge or experience, you will find AILA University useful.“
DREAMERs Hope: Fate of DACA at the Supreme Court
AILA Member Faye Kolly describes the cases the U.S. Supreme Court will hear November 12, 2019, relating to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and urges support for permanent protection for DREAMers, writing “While the Supreme Court decision is important, it is not a solution.&
For Our Tomorrow, Immigrant Veterans Gave Their Today
This Veterans Day is a good time to reflect on the Trump administration's policy changes that impact veterans and servicemembers; AILA encourages readers to contact congressional representatives and advocate for simple but immensely important changes to help veterans and their families.
Keyword: Temporary. Why the War Over the President’s Health Insurance Proclamation Has Just Begun
AILA Director of Federal Litigation, Jesse, Bless, offers insight into the recent litigation against the president's proclamation requiring health insurance and the next steps in the lawsuit, including seeking additional plaintiffs.
Civil Rights Coalition Halts Implementation of Presidential Proclamation Requiring Health Insurance
Today, litigators from AILA, the Justice Action Center, and the Innovation Law Lab, with Sidley Austin LLP providing pro bono assistance, successfully halted implementation of the administration’s attempt to ban immigrants based on their ability to obtain health insurance upon arrival to the U.S.
Standing Up for Immigrants in the Midst of an Immigration Crackdown
Karen Lucas, director of the Immigration Justice Campaign, highlights the incredible impact that pro bono help can have, writing, “Immigration attorneys…attorneys from different areas of law…and volunteers from other fields altogether, have made an immense—often lifesaving—difference.
Civil Rights Coalition Files Lawsuit to Halt Implementation of Presidential Proclamation’s Healthcare Ban
Today, litigators from AILA, the Justice Action Center, and the Innovation Law Lab, with Sidley Austin LLP providing pro bono assistance, are filing suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon to halt implementation of the administration’s 10/4/19 healthcare ban for immigrants.
Can We Talk?: Avoiding “Gotcha” Moments
In this blog post, part of the AILA Diversity & Inclusion series, committee member Dahlia French uses Canadian PM Trudeau as an example of how “gotcha“ moments occur and urges a proactive alternative, “Frank and civil conversations about meaningful diversity and inclusion efforts…“
Ten Destructive Measures Advanced Under USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli
In this blog post, AILA Policy Counsel Jason Boyd highlights ten measures undertaken by USCIS's Acting Director which “constitute an abandonment of USCIS's duty to fairly and efficiently facilitate legal immigration“ and urges Congress to hold the agency fully accountable.
Immigration in the 2020 Election
In this blog post, AILA Media Advocacy Committee member Fiona McEntee describes her plans to use the new 2020 presidential election guide from AILA now, and during the upcoming debates; she also highlights some specific responses garnered from candidates regarding USCIS accountability.