Immigration News
Check out daily roundups of immigration-related news stories, read articles that quote and cite AILA and AILA leadership, and check out analysis from AILA members and leadership on the AILA blog.
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AILA in the News
Browse the Immigration News collection
Why Is Texas Making the Roads Less Safe?
We all want to feel safer. There are dozens of regulations in place to increase our safety on a day-to-day basis. We require people to have health insurance, car insurance, to buckle their seatbelts, strap children into car seats, keep job sites safe, make sure food is labeled clearly, restrict pre
When Pictures Are Worth More than a Thousand Words
I had heard stories about Border Patrol's mistreatment of immigrants. When I volunteered in Artesia, New Mexico, and Dilley, Texas, the mothers and children there told me what a horrible experience they'd had in Border Patrol custody. Over the years, I'd become familiar with the term hieleras, or ic
Avoiding Potential Pitfalls in the Global Immigration Context
Immigration lawyers regularly see the damage “notarios“ can inflict on innocent clients who don't realize they are not dealing with a qualified lawyer or don't understand why it's important to use a lawyer competent in immigration law. Many of us have worked hard to educate the public on the d
Bring Hope Back to Berks
History is full of places designed to hide people. People like Alexandre Dumas' Man in the Iron Mask, imprisoned on an island in the Mediterranean with his identity concealed. Refugees subject to inhumane treatment by the Australian government on the island of Nauru. And, in the United States, for
AILA: Trump Immigration Policy Unworkable and Inhumane
AILA expressed deep concern over Donald Trump’s immigration platform which “reflected a lack of understanding of immigration law, a disregard for fundamental rights of due process guaranteed by the Constitution, and a failure to appreciate the valuable contributions that immigrants make.”
What is Donald Trump’s Position on Immigration?
Why do we ask? And why particularly of Donald Trump and not Hillary Clinton? While the devil is always in the details, it is clear that Secretary Clinton has a more favorable view of immigration and has laid out a fairly clear strategy for how she would reform the current system. But the question
Taking that Final Step Toward Citizenship
Before he was president, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in? What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? What stops one branch of the U.S. government from becoming too powerful? How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have? These four questions seem innocuous but t
AILA: New Business Immigration Rule Takes Step Toward Welcoming Entrepreneurs
AILA welcomed the issuance of a proposed rule from USCIS on immigrant entrepreneurs with AILA President Bill Stock noting that this step is one that “AILA has been advocating for years as we saw countless missed opportunities for entrepreneurs due to outdated immigration laws.”
Hearing Echoes from the Last Refugee Crisis Today
The United States and Europe are facing the worst refugee global migration crisis since World War II. Estimates are that there are more than 60 million refugees worldwide. Every day that we fail to step up and address this issue leaves more refugees at risk of grave and imminent danger, not only for
AILA Urges DHS to Follow DOJ Lead and End Use of Private Prisons
In light of the Department of Justice’s announcement that it will sharply scale back the use of private prisons, AILA President Bill Stock urged the Department of Homeland Security to follow suit, saying “there is no justification for continuing their use in the immigration system.”
DACAversary
On June 15, 2012, President Obama changed many lives for the better with his historic announcement of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative. This critical and necessary action by the President went into effect on August 15, 2012 when young people were able to take the piles of
As Detained Mothers Continue Hunger Strike, AILA Urges Administration to End Family Detention
Twenty-two mothers being held with their children for months in the Berks family detention center began a hunger strike this week; AILA President William A. Stock urged an end to family detention, noting, “These brave mothers are putting their health at risk to draw attention to injustice.”
The Facts on How Immigration Works for America
This election cycle has brought about the worst immigrant bashing in decades—most of it completely unsupported by any facts. The constant barrage of blame is having an effect on many immigrant communities, and not simply the new arrivals, refugees, and unauthorized workers who are most often target
Court Rejects Government Attempt to Categorically Redact Names of IJs
AILA President William A. Stock hailed an appellate court ruling in a FOIA lawsuit against EOIR, saying “This case has always been about ensuring that any allegations of misconduct are addressed in a meaningful way and that judges are held accountable for their actions.”
AILA: U.S. Expands Protection for Refugees South of U.S. Border But Continues Harsh Treatment of Asylum Seekers at the Border
AILA welcomed the Obama administration’s announcement expanding opportunities for refugees in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to seek protection, but continued to challenge the White House to stop the aggressive enforcement, detention, and deportation of asylum seekers arriving at U.S. borders.
The Mandate of Optimism
Listening to the pundits and talkers on TV and radio, we're hammered with politically motivated, incomplete soundbites from people who lack awareness, at best, of the practical effects that our present immigration system engenders. It feels like we're at such a low level of discourse on the issue th
The Economics of Immigration
Discussions on immigration in the United States often consist of heated outbursts based on a multitude of passionate and unreasonable positions. Whenever the topic of immigration comes up, it seems like the most extreme rhetoric, on both sides of the issue, ends up garnering the most attention. But
A Wall of Words
For months, the rhetoric has been increasingly harsh towards immigrants as political candidates continue to lash out at refugees, the vulnerable families coming from Central America, and even entire religions. The result? Well, among other things, there has been a massive increase in the number of
AILA: Government Requests Rehearing of Deferred Action Case
AILA commented on the Department of Justice’s request for the Supreme Court to rehear the United States v. Texas case when a ninth Supreme Court justice is confirmed, urging that the Court rehear the case.
AILA Welcomes Legislation Designed to Protect Refugees
AILA welcomes the introduction of the Refugee Protection Act of 2016 in both the House and Senate; the bill includes provisions to address many of the severe, longstanding problems in the U.S. refugee and asylum systems.
Enforcement Off the Rails
There's been a lot of news coverage of the ICE raids, of the aggressive tactics used to arrest vulnerable families at their homes and to arrest children on the way to school. But what hasn't received as much coverage is the damage that raids victims endure after their arrest. Some remain trapped in
Adjusting Back to Real Life
It's been an adjustment getting back into the “real life“ of being home after being in Dilley for a month. I love my family. When I got home from volunteering at the family detention center in Dilley, the first thing I did was hug my wife and son. It wasn't just because I missed them, […
AILA: Senate Retread of Bad Legislation Would Undermine Public Safety and Harm Communities
AILA President William A. Stock urged lawmakers to oppose two bills, S. 3100 and S. 2193, noting, “At a time when our country desperately needs bipartisan leadership from Congress on immigration reform, these two bills are emblematic of why we still don’t have a workable system.”
AILA Welcomes Senate Introduction of the Secure the Northern Triangle Act
AILA welcomes the introduction in the Senate of the Secure the Northern Triangle Act, S.B. 3106, a bill designed to provide a plan to manage the humanitarian crisis in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras and to improve access to asylum and other protections for those fleeing violence in the region.
AILA: Divided Supreme Court Leaves Millions of Immigrant Families in Limbo
AILA responded to the Supreme Court’s 4-4 deadlock in United States v. Texas with AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson noting, “Though today’s decision is disappointing, we must remember that this is not the end of the road for these incredibly important programs.”