AILA Presents Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg and Alexander Smith with the 2026 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award

WASHINGTON, DC - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg and Alexander Smith with the 2026 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award for excellence in litigation in the field of immigration law. Each winner was nominated for their superlative legal skills and impact through litigation.

Nominators noted Mr. Sandoval-Moshenberg’s “generosity, stamina, and collegiality…shown to AILA members during one of the most legally turbulent periods our field has ever witnessed,” flagging the representation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia as one that “set the standard for excellence in habeas practice: meticulous, courageous, and consequential.” Further, Mr. Sandoval-Moshenberg’s generosity in sharing his knowledge and skills with the broader AILA membership was highlighted: “Day after day, he showed up for the broader AILA membership, answering questions on listservs, joining emergency calls, sharing pleadings, and talking colleagues through novel procedural dilemmas at all hours. He did this not because it was required of him, but because he understood that in a crisis of this magnitude, the strength of the bar depends on its willingness to function as a community. Countless AILA members filed better, faster, and more effective habeas petitions because Simon took the time to help them.”

Nominators for Mr. Smith shared information about his hard-won victories in Nebraska and Iowa, a jurisdiction “widely recognized as one of the most difficult venues” for habeas cases, with federal judges described as “unfriendly” and “used to deferring to the government, in rural areas where immigrants are not often particularly visible.” His technical mastery of immigration law was highlighted, as well as his steadfast commitment to the immigrant community and his fellow advocates. He is widely recognized as an authority on habeas corpus cases, “where others might see insurmountable hurdles, Al has demonstrated remarkable resilience and fortitude. He approaches every filing with a level of determination that ensures his clients receive the most robust defense possible under the law.” His selfless efforts to help others was also highlighted by nominators, and he is the first person many go to with questions about local practice, strategy around emerging issues, and expertise on the local bench. “In a challenging jurisdiction, he continues to push for better outcomes for his clients, often asking courts to expand the scope of relief available—efforts that benefit not only his own clients but the development of the law as a whole.”