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
AILA Welcomes Injunctions on Public Charge Rule
AILA welcomed the various injunctions against the implementation of the Public Charge Final Rule. AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson quoted one order which states, "DHS's new definition of 'public charge' is likely to be outside the bounds of a reasonable interpretation of the statute."
You Are the World’s Heroes
AILA Member Andrea Martinez recently participated in a Netflix Docuseries “Living Undocumented“ and in this blog post she shares the key takeaways from conversations with viewers, namely that audiences feel that the work of immigration attorneys is important, difficult, necessary, and yes, her
AILA Files Lawsuit to Halt Last-Minute Form Changes as Administration Seeks to Implement Public Charge Rule
Today, AILA filed suit in U.S. District Court to immediately enjoin USCIS from moving forward with its arbitrary and capricious plan to stop accepting the current versions of various forms on or after October 15, 2019, despite having failed to publish necessary revised and new forms.
New Policy Memo Appears Designed to Collapse Board of Immigration Appeals
Upon review and analysis of the recent policy memo impacting the Board of Immigration Appeals, AILA raised several significant areas of concern, including pressure to speed up adjudications without care for due process. The memo underscores the need for an independent immigration court.
Amicus Committee Supports Virginia Asylum Applicant Seeking In-State Tuition
In this blog post, AILA Amicus Committee member Sabrina Damast highlights the impact of amicus efforts, describing them in the context of a case affecting in-state tuition in Virginia for someone in the asylum backlog.
Successful Practice Management from the Ground Up
Ruby Powers, author of the recently released AILA resource “Build and Manage Your Successful Immigration Law Practice (Without Losing Your Mind)“ shares some insights that helped her develop and maintain her own practice, surmounting various challenges.
USCIS Reestablishes Deferred Action After AILA and Members Campaign for Agency Accountability
AILA welcomed the news that USCIS will reestablish the previous process allowing vulnerable individuals to request deferred action when faced with life-changing circumstances.
Documents Released in H-1B FOIA Lawsuit Shed Light on the Trump Administration’s “Invisible Wall” Against Legal Immigration
AILA President Marketa Lindt and Associate Director of Government Relations Diane Rish comment on USCIS documents obtained through FOIA litigation that shed light on changes to USCIS adjudication practices.
AILA Welcomes Jesse Bless as First Director of Federal Litigation
AILA welcomes Jesse Bless as AILA’s first Director of Federal Litigation. In this position, he will develop, file, and oversee federal litigation and other legal strategies for AILA.
Searching for Fairness and Transparency – A Firsthand Look at the Port Courts in Laredo and Brownsville
This week, AILA staff Laura Lynch and Leidy Perez-Davis are on the ground to observe and learn about the newly opened “port courts“ which they are describing as a “Due process disaster in the making“ - follow along all week for updates!
We All Need to #HoldUSCISAccountable
In this blog post, AILA Administrative Litigation Task Force leaders Tammy Fox-Isicoff and Ron Klasko urge everyone to do their part to hold USCIS accountable for the unprecedented inaction and delays in adjudications by utilizing resources AILA offers designed to move a case forward.
SCOTUS Lifts Nationwide Injunction of “Asylum Ban 2.0”
AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson responded to the SCOTUS decision lifting the nationwide injunction on the Trump administration’s “Asylum Ban 2.0.” which puts “the lives of asylum seekers back in the hands of their persecutors, including transnational gangs and cartels.”
Immigration Law Experts Debriefed Press on “Port Courts” and Due Process Concerns
This statement includes quotes from immigration law experts relating to the newly established “port courts” and the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) who shared insights on the telephonic press briefing held September 12, 2019.
AILA and NALEO Educational Fund Partner to Assist Aspiring Citizens through National Citizenship Day Events
AILA and NALEO Educational Fund proudly sponsor AILA Citizenship Day on September 14, 2019. Now in its 13th year, the day brings together AILA member attorneys, NALEO Educational Fund affiliates, and many others, to help lawful permanent residents take the last steps toward naturalization.
Life Happens – Making Accommodations for Your Caregiving Workforce
In this blog post, part of the Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce's blog post series, AILA member Ann Cun shares her personal family experience and how it shaped her understanding of the need to have flexible options for caregivers to meet personal and professional needs.
AILA Releases Eighth Edition of Asylum Primer
AILA proudly releases the 8th edition of its Asylum Primer: A Practical Guide to U.S. Asylum Law and Procedure by Dree K. Collopy. The comprehensive, practical guide to U.S. asylum law and procedure has been updated to address the myriad changes since the release of the 2015 edition.
AILA Releases New Practice Management-Focused Resource
AILA is proud to release a brand new resource to help members and those interested in immigration law: Build and Manage Your Successful Immigration Law Practice (Without Losing Your Mind), authored by Ruby Powers.
Complaint Demands Oversight of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Facilities
Katie Shepherd, National Advocacy Counsel with the Immigration Justice Campaign, responds to the government’s systematic failure to provide adequate medical care to children in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody.
AILA: Fourth Circuit Strikes Down Attorney General Opinion, Restores Fundamental Power to Immigration Judges
AILA responded to the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in Zuniga Romero v. Barr that immigration judges have the authority to administratively close cases pending before them; the court concluded immigration law unambiguously permits immigration judges to control their own dockets.
Thinking Beyond the Border When U.S. Immigration Hurdles Arise
In this blog post, AILA member Roman Zelichenko and co-author Michelle LePage describe the differences between U.S. and Irish immigration policies related to business needs and how “if the U.S. isn't able to compete, other countries will benefit.“
Trump Administration Eliminates Established Protections for Children and Families
AILA leadership responds to the Trump administration’s announcement that it will reverse the Flores Settlement Agreement, a move that would authorize the indefinite detention of children and families in federal immigration detention facilities.
AILA: DOJ Seeks Termination of Immigration Judges Union, Further Undermining Court Independence
AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson responds to DOJ’s effort to strip immigration judges of their right to be represented by a union.
Ending Protections for World War II Veterans, What’s Next?
In this blog post, Alma Rosa Nieto, member of AILA's Media Advocacy Committee describes the Trump administration's announced termination of a parole program benefitting Filipino World War II veterans and writes, “If we are truly committed to honoring these brave veterans, then we must do all that we
DHS Rule Will Hurt Working Class Families and Restrict Legal Immigration
AILA leaders Marketa Lindt and Benjamin Johnson respond to the DHS “public charge” rule that will dramatically expand the number of immigrants that DHS could deem ineligible for green cards and admission to the United States.
AILA: Massive Raid Adds to Migrant Fears, Endangers Due Process
On August 7, 2019, the administration executed a massive single-state worksite enforcement raid; AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson noted, “This raid was launched with no regard for the fundamental principles of due process that are the foundation of the American justice system.”