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Blog: Think Immigration

Think Immigration: Resolve to Do Pro Bono – One Attorney’s Experience

1/13/2020
AILA member Kursten Phelps shares a recent volunteer experience with asylum seekers and urges that we all resolve to engage, writing, "There are naturalization clinics to staff, border assistance projects to plug into, translations, remote CFI and bond hearing assistance to support."
AILA Doc. No. 20011332

Think Immigration: The Travel Ban – Iran as an Example of Why the Administration Should Revisit This Cruel Policy

1/3/2020
AILA BOG member Ally Bolour describes the impact of the administration's travel ban, using the example of Iran to show how and why the ban is "cruel and unnecessary." He urges everyone to "continue to fight against it for all those impacted, their families, American businesses, and our communities."
AILA Doc. No. 20010331

Think Immigration: Top AILA Videos and Blog Posts of 2019

12/31/2019
This blog post highlights the most-read blog posts and most-watched videos produced and published by AILA in 2019 - take a look, and see you in 2020!
AILA Doc. No. 19123100

Think Immigration: They/Them/Ours

12/27/2019
In this blog post, part of the Diversity and Inclusion Blog Post series, AILA Member Sarah Pitney describes how taking 30 seconds to discuss pronouns with a client or colleague can ensure your firm is more welcoming and inclusive.
AILA Doc. No. 19122703

Think Immigration: Germany’s New Business Immigration Law

12/20/2019
In this blog post, AILA member Dominique Pando Bucci explains how Germany, through measures such as the Skilled Immigration Act, is opening its arms to foreign workers.
AILA Doc. No. 19122041

Think Immigration: Individuals Seeking Protection in El Paso Detention Centers Continue to Face the Impossible. Help Us Push Back.

12/18/2019
In this blog post, AILA member Rebekah Wolf explores some of the hurdles asylum seekers are facing in El Paso, Texas, and explains how to help push back by getting involved with the Immigration Justice Campaign and the El Paso Immigration Collaborative (EPIC).
AILA Doc. No. 19121844

Think Immigration: Eyes on the Border but Shut Out of the Tent Courts

12/13/2019
In this blog post, AILA's leaders share insights from the recent border delegation where they witnessed the terrible impact of the Remain in Mexico policy, urging "more coordination among advocates, more aggressive litigation in each immigration courtroom, more petitions and class actions..."
AILA Doc. No. 19121303

Think Immigration: Why Immigration Lawyers Should Care about the TRAP Act - It Will Address INTERPOL Abuse

11/26/2019
AILA member Sandra Grossman highlights the efforts in Congress to address the abuse of INTERPOL Red Notices in the U.S. immigration context and urges support for the TRAP Act which would move INTERPOL to improve transparency and deter abuse of their system.

Think Immigration: Names Are Important

11/25/2019
In this blog post, part of the Diversity and Inclusion Blog Post Series, AILA Member L. Patricia Ice explains the reasoning behind shifting the name of the AILA African American Interest Group to the African Diaspora Interest Group and invites interested AILA members to join the group.
AILA Doc. No. 19112530

Think Immigration: Prepping for the Next Debate: Where the Candidates Stand on Immigration

11/20/2019
AILA's Greg Chen and Cara Pavlak highlight the positions of the Democratic presidential candidates on immigration and encourage readers to use the AILA 2020 Election Guide, and the accompanying social media toolkit, to engage on immigration during the debate.

Think Immigration: Disturbing Lack of Transparency Implicates Government Data Reliability

11/15/2019
AILA member Alison Griffith describes the recent concerns regarding the reliability of EOIR immigration court data received via FOIA and urges people to contact Congress about the need for EOIR to share accurate data upon which the public depends.
AILA Doc. No. 19111506

Think Immigration: AILA University - Your New Resource for Immigration Law Knowledge

11/13/2019
AILA University Committee Vice Chair Teddy Chadwick describes the new resources available to AILA members today and going forward through AILAU - "I'm sure that no matter your immigration law knowledge or experience, you will find AILA University useful."
AILA Doc. No. 19111331

Think Immigration: DREAMERs Hope: Fate of DACA at the Supreme Court

11/11/2019
AILA Member Faye Kolly describes the cases the U.S. Supreme Court will hear November 12, 2019, relating to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and urges support for permanent protection for DREAMers, writing "While the Supreme Court decision is important, it is not a solution."
AILA Doc. No. 19111103

Think Immigration: For Our Tomorrow, Immigrant Veterans Gave Their Today

11/8/2019
This Veterans Day is a good time to reflect on the Trump administration’s policy changes that impact veterans and servicemembers; AILA encourages readers to contact congressional representatives and advocate for simple but immensely important changes to help veterans and their families.
AILA Doc. No. 19110801

Think Immigration: Keyword: Temporary. Why the War Over the President’s Health Insurance Proclamation Has Just Begun

11/5/2019
AILA Director of Federal Litigation, Jesse Bless, offers insight into the recent litigation against the president's proclamation requiring health insurance and the next steps in the lawsuit, including seeking additional plaintiffs.
AILA Doc. No. 19110530

Think Immigration: Standing Up for Immigrants in the Midst of an Immigration Crackdown

11/1/2019
Karen Lucas, Director of the Immigration Justice Campaign, highlights the incredible impact that pro bono help can have, writing, “Immigration attorneys . . . attorneys from different areas of law . . . and volunteers from other fields altogether, have made an immense—often lifesaving—difference."
AILA Doc. No. 19110102

Think Immigration: Can We Talk?: Avoiding “Gotcha” Moments

10/25/2019
In this blog post, part of the AILA Diversity & Inclusion series, committee member Dahlia French uses Canadian PM Trudeau as an example of how "gotcha" moments occur and urges a proactive alternative: "Frank and civil conversations about meaningful diversity and inclusion efforts..."
AILA Doc. No. 19102503

Think Immigration: Ten Destructive Measures Advanced Under USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli

10/23/2019
In this blog post, AILA Policy Counsel Jason Boyd highlights 10 measures undertaken by USCIS's Acting Director which "constitute an abandonment of USCIS’s duty to fairly and efficiently facilitate legal immigration" and urges Congress to hold the agency fully accountable.
AILA Doc. No. 19102330

Think Immigration: Immigration in the 2020 Election

10/11/2019
In this blog post, AILA Media Advocacy Committee member Fiona McEntee describes her plans to use the new 2020 presidential election guide from AILA now, and during the upcoming debates; she also highlights some specific responses garnered from candidates regarding USCIS accountability.

Think Immigration: You Are the World’s Heroes

10/8/2019
AILA Member Andrea Martinez recently participated in a Netflix Docuseries “Living Undocumented” and in this blog post she shares the key takeaways from conversations with viewers, namely that audiences feel that the work of immigration attorneys is important, difficult, necessary, and yes, heroic.
AILA Doc. No. 19100830

Think Immigration: Amicus Committee Supports Virginia Asylum Applicant Seeking In-State Tuition

10/2/2019
In this blog post, AILA Amicus Committee member Sabrina Damast highlights the impact of amicus efforts, describing them in the context of a case affecting in-state tuition in Virginia for someone in the asylum backlog.
AILA Doc. No. 19100292

Think Immigration: Successful Practice Management from the Ground Up

9/26/2019
Ruby Powers, author of the recently released AILA resource, Build and Manage Your Successful Immigration Law Practice (Without Losing Your Mind), shares some insights that helped her develop and maintain her own practice and surmount various challenges.
AILA Doc. No. 19092634

Think Immigration: Searching for Fairness and Transparency — A Firsthand Look at the Port Courts in Laredo and Brownsville

9/19/2019
Read today's update from inside the San Antonio, TX, court where IJs are hearing cases of asylum seekers located at DHS's new tent facilities in Brownsville and Laredo, TX, via video teleconference. AILA staff Laura Lynch and Leidy Perez-Davis are on the ground to learn about the new port courts.
AILA Doc. No. 19091603

Think Immigration: We All Need to #HoldUSCISAccountable

9/12/2019
In this blog post, AILA Administrative Litigation Task Force leaders Tammy Fox-Isicoff and Ron Klasko urge everyone to do their part to hold USCIS accountable for the unprecedented inaction and delays in adjudications by utilizing resources AILA offers designed to move a case forward.
AILA Doc. No. 19091230

Think Immigration: Life Happens – Making Accommodations for Your Caregiving Workforce

9/6/2019
In this piece, part of the Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce's blog post series, AILA member Ann Cun shares her personal family experience and how it shaped her understanding of the need to have flexible options for caregivers to meet personal and professional needs.
AILA Doc. No. 19090630

Think Immigration: Thinking Beyond the Border When U.S. Immigration Hurdles Arise

8/26/2019
In this blog post, AILA member Roman Zelichenko and co-author Michelle LePage describe the differences between U.S. and Irish immigration policies related to business needs and how "if the U.S. isn't able to compete, other countries will benefit."
AILA Doc. No. 19082636

Think Immigration: Ending Protections for World War II Veterans, What’s Next?

8/13/2019
In this blog post, Alma Rosa Nieto describes the Trump administration's announced termination of a program for Filipino World War II veterans writing, "If we are truly committed to honoring these brave veterans, then we must do all that we can to ensure that they are supported and cared for."
AILA Doc. No. 19081307

Think Immigration: The Trump Administration’s Recent Efforts to Undermine Asylum, Explained

8/5/2019
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.
AILA Doc. No. 19080503

Think Immigration: How to Shrink the USCIS Backlog in One Minute or Less

7/31/2019
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. "We deserve a USCIS that rises to its processing time goals, not one that runs from them," writes Boyd.
AILA Doc. No. 19073105

Think Immigration: It Is Time to Stop Detaining Asylum Seekers

7/25/2019
AILA member Allegra Love calls for an end to the detention of asylum seekers, highlighting two videos that show the immense harm of detention and 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."
AILA Doc. No. 19072522

Think Immigration: What Would Fix the Immigration Courts? Well, Independence is a Start!

7/19/2019
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 lives and livelihoods are on the line” justice is served and people get a fair day in court.
AILA Doc. No. 19071906

Think Immigration: When Will the U.S. Government Stop Detaining and Abusing Migrant Children?

7/18/2019
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.
AILA Doc. No. 19071835

Think Immigration: Why Would a Busy Immigration Lawyer Start a Podcast?

7/16/2019
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. He also provides links to other AILA member podcasts.
AILA Doc. No. 19071630

Think Immigration: Continuing to Build Vital Bridges

7/5/2019
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.
AILA Doc. No. 19070530

Think Immigration: No, Out of Sight Doesn’t Mean Out of Mind This Time

7/3/2019
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 Doc. No. 19070390

Think Immigration: One Way to Tell if it is Paranoia or Good Practice: Ask the Experts

6/28/2019
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.
AILA Doc. No. 19062890

Think Immigration: Lighting the Beacon of Hope for Our Clients and Our Country

6/25/2019
This blog post is adapted from AILA President Marketa Lindt's installation speech given at AILA's 2019 Annual Conference in Orlando, FL. A video of her speech is embedded as well.
AILA Doc. No. 19062501

Think Immigration: Why Immigration Lawyers Shouldn’t Do Math

6/19/2019
AILA Media Advocacy Committee Member Sandra Feist shares the math behind where the H-1B fees have been going, supporting more than $5 billion in training and scholarships in STEM fields for Americans and making a huge difference to researchers and educators alike.
AILA Doc. No. 19061933

Think Immigration: President Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” Program Is an Assault on Human Rights

6/12/2019
AILA member Isabel Duarte describes a recent immigration court hearing she witnessed with families impacted by the “Remain in Mexico” or “Migrant Protection Protocols” policy, showing how the program harms families and is an assault on human rights and due process.
AILA Doc. No. 19061280

Think Immigration: Immigration Attorneys, It’s Time to Add a Whole New Section to Your Client Screening Sheets

6/7/2019
In this blog post, AILA member and ACLU MN Policy Counsel Julia Decker highlights recent changes to social media information collection and the serious civil liberties implications and chilling effect the collection will have.
AILA Doc. No. 19060703

Think Immigration: AILA Bylaws Amendments! Now That I’ve Got Your Attention…

6/3/2019
In this blog post, AILA Treasurer Jeremy McKinney urges AILA members to vote on a set of bylaws amendments, writing that while most of them aren't Earth-shattering, there are amendments that would provide much needed "structure, formality, risk management, and most importantly, due process."
AILA Doc. No. 19060335

Think Immigration: Let’s Break Down the “Perpetual Foreigner” Stereotype

5/24/2019
In this blog post, part of the AILA Diversity & Inclusion series, committee member Olivia Lee explores her own family's history and urges all of us to break down the "perpetual foreigner" stereotype that can divide us.
AILA Doc. No. 190524

Think Immigration: The Fight on Behalf of Transgender Asylum Seekers Detained in Pearsall

5/15/2019
AILA Senior Counsel of Pro Bono Program Jocelyn Dyer highlights recent wins for transgender asylum seekers detained in Pearsall as part of the Immigration Justice Campaign and urges readers to get involved to help more detained immigrants get a fair day in court.
AILA Doc. No. 19051504

Think Immigration: Advocacy in Action: Congress Demands Answers from USCIS

5/13/2019
In this blog post, AILA Media Advocacy Committee Member Fiona McEntee reflects on NDA 2019 and the successful effort to have Congress hold USCIS accountable for crisis-level processing delays.
AILA Doc. No. 19051333

Think Immigration: But the Royal Baby Actually Is a U.S. Citizen…

5/8/2019
AILA member John Manley explains why the citizenship of the new British royal baby is even a question, and highlights some of the complexities of U.S. immigration law.
AILA Doc. No. 19050831

Think Immigration: A Spotlight of Misinformation

5/7/2019
AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson details recent misinformation from the president about the border, immigrants, and asylum seekers, and notes, “Sadly, the Trump administration’s border enforcement strategy remains largely unchanged even as the nature of the challenge has changed dramatically.”
AILA Doc. No. 19050735

Think Immigration: Michelle Angela Ortiz: Illuminating Injustice Through Art

5/6/2019
AILA Senior Legal Editor Rizwan Hassan highlights a visual artist and community educator, Michelle Angela Ortiz, who has brought attention to families detained in Berks, PA, writing "we must use whatever skills and talents we have at our disposal to battle the injustices we see."
AILA Doc. No. 19050600

Think Immigration: USCIS Acknowledges That Its Own Policies Compound Case Processing Delays

4/30/2019
AILA Policy Counsel Jason Boyd highlights data from a recent USCIS response to Congress, noting evidence that “USCIS policies are undermining the agency’s statutory mandate to efficiently process applications and petitions for immigration benefits” and calling for USCIS to be held to account.
AILA Doc. No. 19043031

Think Immigration: A New Resource on Immigration Law: AILA Law Journal Is Live!

4/26/2019
In this blog post, AILA President Anastasia Tonello announces the inaugural edition of the AILA Law Journal, highlighting the articles and themes within the seven pieces and inviting articles for future editions.
AILA Doc. No. 19042671

Think Immigration: “What Do You Mean I’m Not a U.S. Citizen?”

4/19/2019
AILA member Tracie Klinke's recent experiences in practicing family immigration law helped develop the sessions for AILA's Annual Conference Family Track. Have you experienced similar situations? Join us in Orlando to learn solutions. Save $250 on the advanced registration rate through May 13.
AILA Doc. No. 19041933

Think Immigration: Americans Abroad Among Those Being Left in the Lurch by the Trump Administration

4/18/2019
AILA member Jeremy Weber shares insights into the vital role USCIS International Operations serve and highlights how closure of those offices will negatively impact all too many Americans, their families, American businesses, and refugees.
AILA Doc. No. 19041830

Think Immigration: The Chess Prodigy and Asylum Policy

4/9/2019
AILA member and Senior Legal Editor Rizwan Hassan writes about the recent New York State Scholastic Chess child champion Tanitoluwa Adewumi as an example of the asylum seekers and refugees who have made America great over generations, urging that we take action and call for good immigration policy.
AILA Doc. No. 19040996

Think Immigration: Lift the H-1B Cap to Benefit U.S. Employers and U.S. Workers

4/2/2019
AILA Media Advocacy Committee member Doug Penn describes how lifting the cap on H-1B visas could "help the large and small employers who need employees with these skills to meet workforce demands, build up U.S. workforce training programs, and enhance fraud detection and prevention efforts."
AILA Doc. No. 19040296

Think Immigration: Saluting AILA’s Women Trailblazers

3/29/2019
In this blog post for Women's History Month, the women on AILA’s Executive Committee recognize some of the many women who have played a key role in the history of the AILA.
AILA Doc. No. 19032934

Think Immigration: Despite the #MeToo Movement, Rollbacks in Protection Endanger Immigrant Women: It Is Time for #ImmigrantWomenToo

3/27/2019
AILA member Morgan Weibel shares the importance of humanitarian protections for immigrant victims of sexual assault and violence, how they are being undermined, and the need to unite behind the move to recognize and address the plight of #ImmigrantWomenToo.
AILA Doc. No. 19032736

Think Immigration: Fourteen-Year Odyssey to Get U.S. Citizenship Back After Forced Renunciation

3/26/2019
In this blog post, AILA member Alice Yardum-Hunter recounts the 14-year battle her client fought to regain his citizenship which he had not voluntarily renounced.
AILA Doc. No. 19032631

Think Immigration: Read All About It: ABA Report Calls for Independent Immigration Courts

3/20/2019
Jeremy McKinney describes what he is seeing in his practice, which underscores the need for an independent immigration court, a call echoed by the American Bar Association's new report on the immigration system released March 20, 2019.
AILA Doc. No. 19032034

Think Immigration: Harnessing the Power of Social Media as an Immigration Attorney

3/19/2019
William Stock, past AILA president and active social media user, describes some techniques and tactics for engaging on social media and harnessing the power of several digital platforms to help you develop your brand and establish yourself as a thought leader.
AILA Doc. No. 19031900

Think Immigration: The View from the Chair

3/15/2019
In this blog post, part of the AILA Diversity & Inclusion series, Caroline Ostrom shares her experience and explains how "incorporating ways to include those with disabilities into your practice as colleagues, employees, and clients, makes business sense and is the right thing to do."
AILA Doc. No. 19031500

Think Immigration: On-the-Ground Advocacy at a Women and Children's Detention Center

3/13/2019
Recent Dilley Pro Bono Project volunteers and AILA law student members Alex George and Carolina Solano share their experience helping mothers and children incarcerated in Texas, the impact of recent policies and decisions, and why we need to #EndFamilyDetention.
AILA Doc. No. 19031335

Think Immigration: Re-Imagine the H-1B to Match Our Economy’s Needs

3/8/2019
New blog post from Jennifer Minear explains the impact of new policies USCIS Director Cissna recently highlighted in an op-ed, noting that "We don't need to reconfigure the logistical administration of the outdated and ill-equipped H-1B system that we have. We need to re-imagine that system..."
AILA Doc. No. 19030830

Think Immigration: “Migrant Protection Protocols” Policy is a Death Sentence for Asylum Seekers

3/5/2019
Katie Shepherd, National Advocacy Counsel for the Immigration Justice Campaign writes about the immense harm and due process obstacles asylum seekers will face in light of the “Migrant Protection Protocols” or “Remain in Mexico” policy, and why Secretary Nielsen must immediately halt it.
AILA Doc. No. 19030535

Think Immigration: USCIS Processing Delays Soared While Application Rates Fell

3/1/2019
AILA Policy Counsel Jason Boyd highlights newly released USCIS data and shows how the new information "has cast an even harsher glare on the agency’s well-documented failure to process its caseload in a timely fashion."
AILA Doc. No. 19030137

Think Immigration: Black Immigrant History is Part of Black History Month

2/26/2019
In this blog post, part of the AILA Diversity & Inclusion series, AILA Second Vice President Allen Orr recognizes Black History Month, shares important research and analysis, and writes, "In the drive for immigration reform, black immigrants must not be forgotten or left out of the equation."
AILA Doc. No. 19022695

Think Immigration: Shining Some FOIA Light on the Immigration Courts

2/21/2019
AILA Senior Policy Counsel Laura Lynch describes an EOIR memo, obtained via FOIA by AILA and the American Immigration Council, which lays out a plan, purportedly to lessen the immigration court backlog but that has done the opposite, bloating the backlog and undermining due process.
AILA Doc. No. 19022132

Think Immigration: America’s Seasonal Worker Visa Program Desperately Needs an Update

2/20/2019
In this blog post, AILA member Adam Greenberg describes the H-2B visa program and the significant obstacles employers face trying to bring in seasonal workers, including artificially low caps on the number of visas, and technical problems like the iCERT system failing in early January.
AILA Doc. No. 19022033

Think Immigration: Governing with Blinders On

2/16/2019
AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson describes how the border security debate ignores how border enforcement "works in the real world" and highlights how our "immigration system is very much out of step with economic and social reality."
AILA Doc. No. 19021931

Think Immigration: Tool Time: What You Need to Sue the Government

2/12/2019
AILA member Lori Chesser describes how business immigration law experts may want to explore litigation as an option for clients and highlights her recent win along with some useful AILA resources.
AILA Doc. No. 19021230

Think Immigration: AILA Stands with Our Members Against Government Retaliation

2/9/2019
In this blog post, AILA President-Elect Marketa Lindt and AILA Treasurer Jeremy McKinney describe recent troubling events which could impact access to counsel for asylum seekers at the border and avow "We stand with our members...We stand ready to fight."
AILA Doc. No. 19021100

Think Immigration: Agency Delays Enact the Administration’s Immigration Agenda

2/6/2019
AILA member Sandra Feist highlights another brick in the Trump administration's "invisible wall" relating to delays and obstacles to I-751 petitioners and the significant impact those delays can have on immigrants who "got in line" and their families as well.
AILA Doc. No. 19020634

Think Immigration: Matter of A-B-: Case Updates, Current Trends, and Suggested Strategies

1/31/2019
AILA Asylum and Refugee Committee Chair and author of AILA’s Asylum Primer Dree Collopy describes Matter of A-B- and its potential impact on asylum law and previews an upcoming webinar on the topic that is open to interested practitioners.
AILA Doc. No. 19013135

Think Immigration: AILA Analysis Reveals Crisis-Level Delays in USCIS Case Processing

1/30/2019
In this blog post, AILA Policy Counsel Jason Boyd shares key points from AILA's recently released policy brief and explains how USCIS processing delays have reached crisis levels under the Trump administration.
AILA Doc. No. 19013071

Think Immigration: End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act: What's Wrong with the Trump-McConnell Bill

1/24/2019
AILA member Sabrina Damast highlights the damaging provisions in the bill supported by the administration to end the shutdown which would negatively impact Dreamers, TPS recipients, and asylum seekers.
AILA Doc. No. 19012470