Think Immigration: What’s New In Your AILA Law Journal?

As part of our efforts to amplify the AILA Law Journal, Editor-in-Chief Cyrus Mehta shares some highlights as he describes the key topics from articles published in the newly released Fall 2025 issue of the AILA Law Journal. AILA members, access your free digital copy of the Law Journal to read more!

The October 2025 Issue of the AILA Law Journal doesn’t just contain new and exciting pieces from experts in the immigration law field, we’re also thrilled to share some internal changes that will only improve your experience as a reader and user of this content.

First, we are pleased to announce four new editors to our board who have already enthusiastically begun to use their expertise and talents to take the AILA Law Journal to even greater heights: Michele Carney, Peter Choi, Susan Roy, and Mark Stevens.

In case you’re wondering, the role of editor is another way that AILA members donate their time, energy, and expertise to benefit the membership and the association as a whole. We are so glad to have them join this endeavor, a true labor of love.

This is also a moment that we welcome a new program pioneered by editor Diane Rish, to induct two Law Student Fellows who will be assisting with the AILA Law Journal’s production for the 2025-2026 term. Megan Niemitalo joins us from the University of Minnesota Law School, where she serves as the Lead Articles Editor for the Minnesota Law Review, and Trinh Q. Truong joins us from Yale Law School, where she serves as an Editor for both the Yale Law and Policy Review and the Yale Journal of International Law.

Now, let’s turn to the meat of this new issue – another diverse array of articles that offer valuable insights and practical considerations for navigating the complex immigration landscape:

• “No Second Chance: The Inappropriate Use of Juvenile Delinquencies in Immigration Law Adjudications,” in which authors Sarah Diaz, Jessica Heldman, Lisa Jacobs, and Sierra Garcia highlight how juvenile justice records are increasingly being used against young people in immigration proceedings without an appropriate standard for understanding such records, with devastating consequences for youth.
• “Sanctuary by Proxy: Vicarious Constitutional Protections for Noncitizens in Religious Institutions” by Kristinn Hommel explores the intersection of immigration enforcement and religious freedom under the First Amendment.
• “Can I Vote? Ramifications of False Claims to Citizenship and Emerging Initiatives for Noncitizen Voting,” by Olivia Serene Lee, Karl Krooth, Annette Wong, Shannon V. Reed, and Ron Hayduk addresses the growing movement for noncitizen voting rights in local elections.
• “Rethinking the Role of Patent Licensing in U.S. Immigration Laws,” by Abhilasha Khanal argues for the inclusion of patent licensing as a positive factor in visa petitions and applications.
• “How Artificial Intelligence May Be Failing Us,” is a piece in which Delaram Rezaeikhonakdar and Craig Shagin assert that artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how governments operate, including law enforcement.

I for one found the articles fascinating and hope you do as well. AILA members can access their free digital download of the journal here.