AILA Presents Rebecca Scholtz with the 2026 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award

WASHINGTON, DC - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Rebecca Scholtz with the 2026 Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law.

Rebecca Scholtz was nominated for a myriad of both recent and longstanding work. She has provided training, including legal resources, technical assistance, coordinating coalitions, supporting amicus briefing, developing and executing federal litigation, and setting up the legal response infrastructure, mentorship on habeas cases, and being recognized as an expert on Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). Nominators described her contributions as a reflection of her excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law, especially when it comes to issues involving immigrant youth, a population that nominators noted, “this presidential administration has targeted with impunity.”

The nominators concluded, “In short, Rebecca is one of the best lawyers in the field. What makes her stand out, however, is not just her brilliance, but also her proven dedication to improving the practice of law through her support of other attorneys and through federal litigation.”