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 Elects New Officers for 2020-2021
Jennifer Minear was installed as AILA’s President, and the following officers were elected today for the 2020-2021 term: Allen Orr as President-Elect, Jeremy McKinney as First Vice President, Farshad Owji as Second Vice President, Kelli J. Stump as Treasurer, and Jeff Joseph as Secretary.
AILA Presents Greg Siskind with the 2020 Advocacy Award
AILA recognizes Greg Siskind of Memphis, TN, with the 2020 Advocacy Award for outstanding efforts in support of AILA's advocacy agenda.
AILA Presents Alexis S. Axelrad with the 2020 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award
AILA recognizes Alexis S. Axelrad, of New York, NY, with the 2020 Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award, in recognition of her outstanding service, over a period of years, in advancing the mission, development, and value of AILA for its members and the public it serves.
AILA Recognizes Kathleen M. Gillespie with the 2020 Sam Williamson Mentor Award
AILA recognizes Kathleen M. Gillespie with the 2020 Sam Williamson Mentor Award, in acknowledgment of her outstanding efforts and excellent counsel to immigration attorneys by providing mentoring assistance.
Recognizing the Commonality of Our Struggles
AILA Website Editorial Manager Kritika Argawal shares insights about the civil rights movement's impact on immigrants and how we must “recognize the commonality of our struggles with the struggles of Black Americans and take concrete steps to support their fight against racism and injustice.“
AILA Presents Sidley Austin LLP with the 2020 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award
AILA recognizes Sidley Austin LLP with the 2020 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award for outstanding efforts in providing pro bono representation in the immigration field.
AILA: Proposed Rule Would Deny Asylum Seekers Fundamental Human Rights
The Trump Administration’s proposed rule seeks to fundamentally rewrite U.S. asylum laws and policies, and remove almost any chance for those fleeing persecution to gain protection. AILA highlights some changes of extreme concern, and we urge the public to comment on the proposed rule.
AILA Presents Hamed Aleaziz with the 2020 Media Leadership Award
AILA recognizes Hamed Aleaziz, of San Francisco, CA, with the 2020 Media Leadership Award, given to individuals whose efforts in the media most accurately depict immigration and immigrants.
AILA Presents Sabrina Damast with the 2020 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award
AILA recognizes Sabrina Damast, of Los Angeles, CA, with the 2020 Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award for her outstanding contributions made as a young lawyer in the field of immigration and nationality law.
Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $1 Billion Dollars Without Changes at USCIS
AILA Director of Government Relations Sharvari Dalal-Dheini shares insights from her time at USCIS related to the agency's request to Congress for $1.2 billion, and urges Congress to “ensure that the agency is transparent about its spending, accountable for its inefficiencies, and on track towards f
AILA Presents Wasden Banias LLC with the 2020 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award
AILA recognizes Wasden Banias LLC with the 2020 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award for excellence in litigation in the field of immigration law.
AILA Presents Lindsay M. Harris with the 2020 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award
AILA recognizes Lindsay M. Harris, Associate Professor of Law at the University of the District of Columbia School of Law, and Director of the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, with the 2020 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award.
Where We Are and Where We Need to Be: LaJuan’s Story
In this blog post, AILA Customer Services Manager LaJuan Campbell shares the experience she has had with racism and injustice and the difficult conversations it forced her to have with her son Dominick about America's societal prejudices and how he could stay as safe as possible.
#BlackLivesMatter – Perspectives from the AILA Diversity and Inclusion Committee
The AILA Diversity and Inclusion Committee is deeply saddened by the recent unjust and tragic police killings of Black Americans and we stand in solidarity for the demands for justice and accountability. This blog post includes four member perspectives and calls for change.
AILA Presents Russell Abrutyn with the 2020 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award
AILA recognizes Russell Abrutyn of Berkley, MI, with the 2020 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law.
AILA Presents the LGBT Asylum Project with the 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Award
AILA recognizes the LGBT Asylum Project of San Francisco, CA, with the 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Award for outstanding efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion excellence in the immigration legal profession.
Are We Still Here?
As part of AILA's internal reflection during this time, staff were invited to share perspectives and experiences relating to America's divisive and unjust past, the current situation, and our commitment to a better future. In this blog post, we welcome these insights from Joy Hardy.
AILA Presents Taylor Levy with the 2020 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award
AILA recognizes Taylor Levy of El Paso, TX, with the 2020 Arthur C. Helton Human Rights Award for outstanding service in advancing the cause of human rights.
Insights on the Impact of COVID-19 in the International Tax Sphere
AILA member Patrick McCormick reviews some of the alterations to Internal Revenue Service policies during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they could impact multinationals in particular, noting however “we all realize that guidance related to COVD-19 is evolving,“
AILA: EOIR Director Attempts to Buy Out Remaining Board Members to Solidify Control of Immigration Courts
AILA responded to the recent effort by EOIR Director McHenry to buy out the remaining pre-Trump administration BIA members and highlighted the continuing push by this administration to manipulate the functions of the BIA, underscoring the urgent need for an independent immigration court system.
Civil Rights Coalition Files Lawsuit to Protect Families from Decades of Separation
AILA, Justice Action Center, and Innovation Law Lab, with pro bono support from Mayer Brown LLP, have filed a lawsuit on behalf of U.S. citizens and LPRs petitioning for their children and derivative relatives to join them in the U.S. who would “age-out” while the administration’s ban is in place.
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID-19 Era – Post 13
AILA Member Kevin Gregg shares his experience during COVID-19 thus far, including the fact that with the time freed up from less travel and commuting, he has started a podcast on precedential immigration decisions.
AILA Urges Strict Congressional Oversight Over Any Emergency Appropriations for USCIS
AILA urges congressional appropriators to demand accountability, conduct strict oversight, and ensure conditions are met before agreeing to an emergency funding request by USCIS.
AILA: Trump Administration’s Indefinite Border Closure Is a Campaign Tool, Not a Public Safety Measure
AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson responds to the announcement by DHS and the CDC extending indefinitely their order blocking entry to asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Who Creates American Jobs?
In response to rumored plans by the administration to tighten nonimmigrant visas, AILA member Doug Penn shares the impact one of his clients has had creating American jobs while in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa and why the administration should not block these job creators from the U.S.