WASHINGTON, DC October 3, 2019 – Today, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) reviewed and analyzed the recent policy memo impacting the workings of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) which serves as the appellate arm of the immigration courts within the Department of Justice (DOJ). Jeremy McKinney, Second Vice President of AILA noted, “This memo […]
American Immigration Lawyers Association
SCOTUS Lifts Nationwide Injunction of “Asylum Ban 2.0”
WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 12, 2019 – In an unsigned order, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) lifted the nationwide injunction put in place on the Trump administration’s “Asylum Ban 2.0.” The ban blocks anyone from seeking asylum at the southern border who had not sought protection in another country through which they transited. […]
Complaint Demands Oversight of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Facilities
September 4, 2019 – On 9/4/19, the American Immigration Council, AILA, and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) filed a complaint with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, DHS Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) highlighting a systematic failure to provide adequate […]
Fourth Circuit Strikes Down AG Barr Opinion, Restores Fundamental Power to Immigration Judges
WASHINGTON, DC, Aug. 30, 2019 – On August 29, 2019, the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in Zuniga Romero v. Barr that Immigration Judges (IJ) and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) have the authority to administratively close cases pending before them. The court of appeals decision overturns a decision issued last year by then-Attorney General […]
AILA: AG’s Decision Ignores Precedent and Is the Latest Attempt to Restrict Asylum
WASHINGTON, DC, July 30, 2019 — On July 29, 2019, Attorney General (AG) William Barr issued a precedent decision in Matter of L-E-A- and announced that in his view, families cannot be considered a particular social group (and thus grounds for asylum) unless they are recognized by society as such. AILA Second Vice President Jeremy […]
Federal Appeals Court Rejects Trump Administration’s Efforts to Deny Bond Hearings to Asylum Seekers
SEATTLE, July 22, 2019— Today, a federal appeals court ruled that asylum seekers must continue to receive bond hearings while the court considers the Trump administration’s appeal to deny bond hearings with procedural protections to asylum seekers. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration’s bid to arbitrarily jail asylum seekers without a […]
Jennifer Minear, AILA: DHS Attempts Massive Expansion of Unilateral Deportation Power
WASHINGTON, DC, July 22, 2019 — Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new policy designed to dramatically expand expedited removal to apply throughout the United States to anyone who has been in the U.S. for less than two years. The policy will take effect on July 23, 2019, before the public has […]
AILA: Administration’s New Rule Is the Latest Attempt to End Asylum
WASHINGTON, DC, June 15, 2019 – Today, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice announced new regulations, effective July 16, 2019, that will prevent migrants on the southern border from seeking asylum in the United States when they have not applied for protection in a third country through which they transited first. […]
Legal Associations Call for Independent Immigration Court System
WASHINGTON, DC, July 11, 2019 – On a press call today, representatives from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the American Bar Association (ABA), the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ), and the Federal Bar Association (FBA) discussed the need for an immigration court system that is independent of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). […]
AILA: AG Barr Attempts Power Grab over Immigration Appeals
WASHINGTON, DC, July 2, 2019 – On July 2, 2019, Attorney General (AG) Barr published a final rule, further expanding his authority to reshape immigration law. The rule was issued in a highly unusual manner by resurrecting an old proposed regulation from 11 years ago and making it final within 60 days without any opportunity […]
AILA: Congress Should Pass the Northern Triangle and Border Stabilization Act
WASHINGTON, DC, June 27, 2019 – The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) welcomed the introduction of the “Northern Triangle and Border Stabilization Act” (H.R. 3524) as an important step toward addressing the humanitarian crisis at our Southern border. The bill introduced by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and other House members offers comprehensive solutions to address […]
House Passes the American Dream and Promise Act
WASHINGTON, DC, June 4, 2019 – The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) applauded the passage of the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6) in the House of Representatives on a bipartisan vote of 237 to 187. The bill offers permanent legal status for “Dreamers” and thousands of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced […]
Bipartisan Group of 36 Senators Calls USCIS to Account for Crisis-Level Processing Delays
WASHINGTON, DC, May 15, 2019 – A bipartisan group of 36 United States Senators sent two letters to the administration, calling it to account for the crisis-level case processing delays at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These letters-one sent to USCIS Director Francis Cissna, the other to CIS Ombudsman Julie Kirchner-cite the American Immigration […]
AILA Joins Senators in Call for Immigration Court Reform and Access to Counsel
WASHINGTON, DC, March 7, 2019 – The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) welcomes the introduction of the “Immigration Court Improvement Act of 2019” and the “Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2019” in the U.S. Senate, led by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). Anastasia Tonello, AILA […]
Need for an Independent Immigration Court Grows More Urgent As DOJ Imposes Quotas on Immigration Judges
WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 1, 2018 — Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ) begins implementing case completion quotas as part of the performance review process for immigration judges, requiring them to finish 700 cases per year or face disciplinary action. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), in voicing its opposition to these quotas, renewed its call […]
AILA: New Rule Would Impose Class-Based Limits on Immigration, Bringing Harm to Hardworking Families
WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 24, 2018 — On Saturday, September 22, 2018, the Trump administration announced the upcoming publication of a proposed rule that if implemented as written, would prevent many immigrants from securing lawful permanent residence and remaining with their families in the United States, simply because they previously received some type of basic health […]
Attorney General’s Concerted Effort to Strip Immigration Judges of Judicial Independence Continues
WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 19, 2018 – Late yesterday, the Attorney General issued the latest in an unprecedented slate of six removal matters that he has referred to himself to unilaterally decide. The decision, Matter of S-O-G- & F-D-B-, will prevent judges from terminating a case, except in exceptionally narrow circumstances. AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson […]
Complaint Details Coercive Tactics Used by Immigration Officials on Separated Parents
WASHINGTON, DC, Aug. 23, 2018 – Government officials used coercive tactics against parents who were separated from their children, according to a complaint filed with Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the American […]
Immigration Judges Spotlight DOJ Hijacking of Court Independence
WASHINGTON, D.C. Aug. 8, 2018 – Today, the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) accused the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR), part of the Department of Justice (DOJ), of violating the Constitution, federal statute and the NAIJ’s union contract by stripping cases away from a judge based on the administration’s desired outcome. “This grievance […]
DHS Instruction to Asylum Officers Violates U.S. and International Law
WASHINGTON, DC, July 13, 2018 – Late on July 11, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued separate guidance redefining core principles of America’s asylum laws, that will have far-reaching implications for asylum seekers, refugees, and others seeking protection under U.S. law. Anastasia Tonello, AILA President stated, “With the issuance of these […]