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
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El Paso Immigration Collaborative (EPIC) Seeks to Change the Asylum Landscape for Detained Immigrants
The Immigration Justice Campaign, along with local and national partners, launched the El Paso Immigration Collaborative (EPIC). EPIC seeks to increase legal representation for detained immigrants around El Paso and promote oversight of the immigration courts and detention centers in the region.
The Trump Administration’s Recent Efforts to Undermine Asylum, Explained
AILA member Catha (Nikki) Lyons describes how the administration's “Asylum Ban 2.0“ is contrary to both domestic and international laws and encourages other lawyers to do their best to inform and educate the public about U.S. laws.
How to Shrink the USCIS Backlog in One Minute or Less
USCIS leadership recently testified about a backlog reduction plan which, AILA Policy Counsel Jason Boyd argues, would simply move the goalposts and not solve the backlog at all, writing “We deserve a USCIS that rises to its processing time goals, not one that runs from them.“
AILA: AG’s Decision Ignores Precedent and Is the Latest Attempt to Restrict Asylum
AG Barr issued a decision in Matter of L-E-A- impacting how family membership could be considered in asylum proceedings. AILA Second VP Jeremy McKinney noted: “Courts, like the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, have voluminous case law directly contradicting the Attorney General’s decision.”
It Is Time to Stop Detaining Asylum Seekers
Allegra Love urges an end to the detention of asylum seekers, highlighting the immense harm of detention via two videos writing, “It is time we act, so the story of our country is the bravery and resilience of people like Alpha and Luz, and not the brutality of detention that further harms them.R
AILA: DHS Attempts Massive Expansion of Unilateral Deportation Power
DHS announced a new policy designed to dramatically expand expedited removal to apply throughout the United States to anyone who has been in the United States for less than two years; the American Immigration Council is already planning litigation.
What Would Fix the Immigration Courts? Well, Independence is a Start!
AILA Secretary Kelli Stump highlights recent efforts by AILA and its partners to urge Congress to establish an Article I immigration court system to ensure that “when cases are as serious as they are, when lies and livelihoods are on the line“ justice is served and people get a fair day in cou
When Will the U.S. Government Stop Detaining and Abusing Migrant Children?
In this blog post, AILA member Ola Mohamed draws attention to the conditions migrant children have been subjected to and encourages a “grassroots movement, a sustained outcry for the abolishment“ of the detention of migrant children.
Why Would A Busy Immigration Lawyer Start a Podcast?
In this blog post, AILA member David Wilks shares his experience launching a podcast to address the “general misunderstanding of how the immigration system works“ that members of the public often seem to share and also includes links to other AILA member podcasts.
House Committee Ramps Up Bipartisan Concern Over Crisis Delays at USCIS
The House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship held a hearing at which representatives called administration officials to account for the crisis-level case processing delays at USCIS and heard from stakeholders including AILA President Marketa Lindt.
AILA: Administration’s New Rule Is the Latest Attempt to End Asylum
As DHS and DOJ attempt to prevent migrants who have not applied for protection in a third country from seeking asylum, AILA Second Vice President Jeremy McKinney offered solutions that would make our asylum system more efficient and live up to our values, noting “This rule isn’t one of them.”
Continuing to Build Vital Bridges
In this blog post, adapted from her speech as outgoing AILA president, Anastasia Tonello reflects on the past year and the bridges AILA and our members have built and the impact we have had.
No, Out of Sight Doesn’t Mean Out of Mind This Time
AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson shares four concrete steps the administration should take to improve the asylum process rather than try and strong-arm Mexico into helping deny asylum seekers the due process mandated by our laws.
AILA: AG Attempts Power Grab over Immigration Appeals
The administration published a rule which would authorize the attorney general (AG) “to singlehandedly designate Board of Immigration Appeals decisions as precedent—and do so literally overnight, bypassing the necessary legal procedures and without any checks and balances.”
One Way to Tell if it is Paranoia or Good Practice: Ask the Experts
AILA member Amanda Brill shares a recent experience in which lessons learned from other AILA experts in the Athletics, Culture, Entertainment, and Science (ACES) interest group helped her serve her clients, and encourages others to attend the upcoming first-ever ACES conference in August.
Congress Should Pass the Northern Triangle and Border Stabilization Act
AILA welcomed the introduction of H.R. 3524, the “Northern Triangle and Border Stabilization Act” which offers comprehensive solutions to address the violence and instability in Central America while also increasing the federal government’s capacity to manage the situation at the southern border.
AILA Responds to Emergency Border Spending Bills
AILA responded to the passage of House and Senate bills to provide humanitarian assistance to asylum seekers at the U.S. southern border.
Lighting the Beacon of Hope for Our Clients and Our Country
This blog post is adapted from the president's installation speech given by Marketa Lindt at AILA's Annual Conference 2019 in Orlando, FL. A video of the speech is embedded as well.
AILA: Raids Targeting Families Would Sow Fear and Solve Nothing at Border
AILA issued a statement in response to widespread reports that ICE will be conducting mass round-ups of vulnerable families. Marketa Lindt, AILA President, noted, “Conducting raids on families would sow more fear and confusion without bringing order to the border region.”
AILA Elects New Officers for 2019–2020
Today, Marketa Lindt was installed as AILA’s President at AILA’s Annual Conference and the following officers were elected: Jennifer Minear as President-Elect, Allen Orr as First Vice President, Jeremy McKinney as Second Vice President, Farshad Owji as Treasurer, and Kelli Stump as Secretary.
AILA Presents the Roundtable of Former Immigration Judges with the 2019 Advocacy Award
AILA will recognize the Roundtable of Former Immigration Judges with the 2019 Advocacy Award for outstanding efforts in support of AILA’s advocacy agenda. The roundtable will accept the award this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.
AILA Presents the Irish International Immigrant Center with the 2019 Diversity and Inclusion Award
AILA will recognize the Irish International Immigrant Center of Boston, MA, with the 2019 Diversity and Inclusion Award for outstanding efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion excellence in the immigration legal profession this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.
AILA Presents Sui Chung with the 2019 Diversity and Inclusion Award
AILA will recognize Sui Chung, of the Immigration Law & Litigation Group in Miami, FL, with the 2019 Diversity and Inclusion Award for outstanding efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion excellence in the immigration legal profession this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.
AILA Presents Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia with the 2019 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award
AILA will recognize Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, Director of the Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Penn State Law, with the 2019 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.
AILA Presents Ronald Klasko with the Founders Award
AILA recognizes H. Ronald Klasko, of Philadelphia, PA, 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. He will receive the award this week during AILA’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.