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
Temporary Restraining Order Requested to Stop Dangerous EOIR and ICE Policies During the COVID-19 Pandemic
AILA and our partners moved for an emergency Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against EOIR and ICE to protect the health of immigration attorneys, immigrants, and the public from the impact of dangerous and unconstitutional policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID19 Era – Post 4
In this blog post, AILA Board of Governors member Neena Dutta muses on the COVID19 pandemic, the varying impacts on peoples' lives and livelihoods, and her personal experience, reminding everyone that in this time, socially distant though we may be, we are not alone.
AILA Files Lawsuit Against USCIS Seeking Maintenance of Status for Nonimmigrants, Extended Immigration Benefit Deadlines
AILA Director of Federal Litigation Jesse Bless and AILA President Marketa Lindt detail the importance of AILA’s complaint against USCIS seeking the immediate suspension of immigration benefit deadlines and the maintenance of status for nonimmigrants in the United States amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID19 Era – Post 3
AILA Second Vice President Jeremy McKinney shares his plans to apply for assistance through the Small Business Administration during the COVID19 crisis to help his law firm stay in business; an update on how he navigates the process is forthcoming.
Immigrants Are Behind the Wheel of Detroit’s Revival
AILA member Aaron Kochenderfer shares the positive impact that immigrants have had on Detroit, Michigan as the city orchestrates a comeback from bankruptcy only a few years ago, writing “Detroit's history was written by immigrants and I firmly believe they will help author its future as well.“
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID-19 Era – Post 2
Alma Rosa Nieto, AILA Media Advo Committee member, offers some details from her day-in-the-life of an immigration attorney amid the COVID19 pandemic, writing: “This too will pass and we will all have learned new ways of doing things, skills we can use later.“
Lawsuit Seeks Halt to Dangerous and Unconstitutional Policies Endangering Immigration Attorneys, Clients, and the Public During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In a lawsuit filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, AILA and our partners demanded that DOJ EOIR and ICE take immediate necessary actions to prioritize the health and safety of attorneys and clients at risk from the COVID-19 pandemic.
We Must Right the Wrongs Being Committed in Our Name on Our Southern Border
AILA Asylum Committee Vice Chair Lindsay Harris describes the asylum seekers she met with just before the COVID-19 pandemic really began in the U.S. She encourages us all to take action and “right the wrongs being committed in our name on our Southern border.“
Practicing Immigration Law in the COVID19 Era – Post 1
Sandra Feist, Chair of AILA's Media Advocacy Committee, shares a glimpse into the life of an immigration attorney during the COVID19 pandemic, ending with a positive note: “My hope is that we all come out of seclusion with greater self-confidence about our own fortitude in a crisis and a greater con
Citing Coronavirus Risks and a New Irresponsible Policy for Immigration Courts, Groups Urge Protecting the Health and Safety of Government Employees,
AILA and the American Immigration Council, with over 100 other organizations, sent a letter to EOIR and ICE calling for the prioritization of the health and safety of government employees, detained individuals, and their legal representatives amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Immigration Judges, Prosecutors, and Attorneys Renew Call for Immediate Closure of All Immigration Courts
AILA, NAIJ, and AFGE #511 (ICE Professionals Union) all say that it is urgent for the public’s safety that DOJ immediately close all 68 immigration courts operated by EOIR. AILA's Second Vice President Jeremy McKinney states, “All live in-person hearings need to be immediately suspended.“
No End in Sight: New Analysis Shows USCIS Case Processing Backlog Keeps Growing
AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson highlights USCIS processing delays, writing, “Even before the COVID-19 virus, backlogs and processing delays were staggering at USCIS. They have continued to grow thanks to burdensome policies and inefficient procedures that needlessly bog down the adjudicati
Lawsuit Seeks to Uncover Problematic Board of Immigration Appeals’ Hiring Procedures
AILA and the Council filed federal litigation on March 17, 2020, to compel DOJ to release records about the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s hiring procedures for appellate immigration judges and Board of Immigration Appeals members.
Business Continuity Planning: Immigration Law Practice In the Era of Covid-19
In this blog post, AILA member Ruby Powers offers some tips she has learned from practicing law through hurricanes and running her practice from half a world away, tips that can be applied in our current COVID-19 era..
When a Phone Call Truly Means Life or Death
In this blog post, AILA member, and Immigration Justice Campaign volunteer with the El Paso Immigration Collaborative (EPIC), Elizabeth Fiechter describes the Kafkaesque labyrinth of obstacles she and her client faced trying to simply speak by phone ahead of an extremely important bond hearing.
My Time in Dilley, Texas
In this blog post, part of the Diversity & Inclusion blog post series, AILA member L. Patricia Ice describes her time volunteering at the Dilley detention center helping families and how the shared bond of being members of the African diaspora helped her connect with one client.
New Rule Seems Designed to Halt Valid Immigration Court Petitions By Drastically Hiking Fees
AILA expressed serious concerns about a new proposed rule that would detrimentally impact individuals seeking a fair day in immigration court by drastically increasing fees required for forms submitted to EOIR.
Trump Administration’s Continued Discriminatory and Unlawful Immigration Policies Toward Haiti
In this blog post, part of the Diversity & Inclusion Blog post series, AILA members John Pratt and Kevin Gregg offer insights into efforts to terminate TPS for Haitians, and highlights how “The work of litigators, therefore, is critical in the fight to expose and legally challenge…immigration
Ninth Circuit Defends Asylum in Two Rulings
AILA welcomed two Ninth Circuit decisions; one again halts the “Migrant Protection Protocols,” and the second ensures that the administration cannot block someone from seeking asylum solely due to where they presented themselves, either at a port of entry or elsewhere within the United States.
Form I-944, Declaration of Self-Sufficiency? More like an Administrative Strip Search
AILA member Kara Hart takes a look at the new I-944 Declaration of Self-Sufficiency required to meet the new “public charge“ rule and considers whether she'd be able to meet the requirements herself.
Bipartisan Legislation Underscores Need for Transparency and Accountability Within USCIS
AILA welcomes the Case Backlog and Transparency Act of 2020 introduced in the House to hold USCIS accountable for severe case processing delays and an ever-growing immigration backlog.
The Bill That Would Guarantee Attorney-Client Access (But Wait, Don’t We Already Have That?)
In this blog post, AILA member Brent Renison describes why new legislation to allow access to counsel for immigrants placed into secondary or deferred inspection upon entry would “allow fairness to have jurisdiction at the borders.“
Defending Freedom Needs More Than Heroes – Governments Must Be Accountable
In this blog post, AILA Director of Government Relations Greg Chen calls for change as he describes the dichotomy with how the Venezuelan opposition leader was hailed at the State of the Union and how vulnerable Venezuelan asylum seekers are treated at the border.
An Inside Look – Tips from a Clinical Social Worker Helping Asylum Seekers
Psychological evaluations can be hugely important for vulnerable clients' cases, but attorneys may have some questions about how best to approach having one done. In this blog post, Jocelyn Dyer shares helpful tips from Aimee Miller, a clinical social worker.
Diversity in Immigration Law Firms
In this post, part of the Diversity and Inclusion blog post series, AILA members John Pratt, David Calles Smith, and Elizabeth Montano highlight the myriad benefits of a diverse and inclusive immigration law firm.