AILA
@aila.org
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is a national association of 18,000+ attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law. Visit us at aila.org
"Liam Ramos’s detention is not an isolated incident...ICE booked some 3,800 minors into immigrant family detention from January to October 2025, including children as young as one or two years old." https://bit.ly/3LwXH8E
Why the Trump administration is detaining immigrant children – and what happens to them next
The detention of Liam Conejo Ramos, age five, marks the turbocharging of a policy discontinued five years ago
bit.ly
January 26, 2026 at 9:03 PM
"Liam Ramos’s detention is not an isolated incident...ICE booked some 3,800 minors into immigrant family detention from January to October 2025, including children as young as one or two years old." https://bit.ly/3LwXH8E
A second U.S. citizen has now been killed as a direct result of DHS’s reckless enforcement operations. The lack of meaningful oversight & accountability in the FY2026 DHS spending bill endangers communities. Tell Congress to vote NO on another blank check: https://bit.ly/4rdoKom
Take Action: Tell Congress to Vote NO on the FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
The American Immigration Lawyers Association urges Congress to oppose any increase in funding for DHS in the FY26 DHS Appropriations Bill.
www.aila.org
January 26, 2026 at 4:05 PM
A second U.S. citizen has now been killed as a direct result of DHS’s reckless enforcement operations. The lack of meaningful oversight & accountability in the FY2026 DHS spending bill endangers communities. Tell Congress to vote NO on another blank check: https://bit.ly/4rdoKom
“We are very worried about the number of asylum seekers that will be sent back to extremely dangerous conditions,” said AILA's Vanessa Dojaquez-Torres. “It’s worrying to see that an institution like asylum is being so eroded.” https://bit.ly/4jYUg7p
Chinese asylum seeker who exposed rights abuses fights to stay in the US
Guan Heng sought asylum in the United States after exposing human rights abuses in his native China
bit.ly
January 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM
“We are very worried about the number of asylum seekers that will be sent back to extremely dangerous conditions,” said AILA's Vanessa Dojaquez-Torres. “It’s worrying to see that an institution like asylum is being so eroded.” https://bit.ly/4jYUg7p
Reposted by AILA
A second U.S. citizen has now been killed as a direct result of DHS’s reckless enforcement operations. This campaign of fear must end. AILA calls for what the country deserves: a full, independent investigation with integrity and accountability; and Senators to vote NO on any DHS funding (1/2)
Live: State officials decry fatal shooting. ‘We can’t live like this,’ Walz says
Protesters have swarmed the street where a man was shot and killed by federal agents Saturday. Republican Tom Emmer said Walz’s response was “dangerous.”
www.startribune.com
January 24, 2026 at 11:36 PM
A second U.S. citizen has now been killed as a direct result of DHS’s reckless enforcement operations. This campaign of fear must end. AILA calls for what the country deserves: a full, independent investigation with integrity and accountability; and Senators to vote NO on any DHS funding (1/2)
"Barros became eligible for a green card and was waiting for his case to move forward...'This young man was actively engaged in showing up to court doing the things that he was asked to do,'" said AILA member Adam Crayk. https://bit.ly/4rf5JCi
ICE agents detain Colombian man in Utah courthouse after immigration case dismissed
A Colombian man belonging to a protected class was detained by ICE while leaving immigration court. His case had been dismissed minutes before his detention, an
bit.ly
January 23, 2026 at 8:03 PM
"Barros became eligible for a green card and was waiting for his case to move forward...'This young man was actively engaged in showing up to court doing the things that he was asked to do,'" said AILA member Adam Crayk. https://bit.ly/4rf5JCi
Reposted by AILA
When the government tells judges to ignore a federal court order, it undermines the rule of law itself. Court orders aren’t optional. Defying them erodes judicial independence, due process, and the basic promise that the law applies to everyone.
‘Is Bond Now Being Granted?’: Conflicting Orders Leave Detainees, Attorneys in Limbo - Documented
The Trump administration has continued to push mandatory detention despite a court order to stop.
documentedny.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:01 PM
When the government tells judges to ignore a federal court order, it undermines the rule of law itself. Court orders aren’t optional. Defying them erodes judicial independence, due process, and the basic promise that the law applies to everyone.
"International students and foreign workers seeking to renew visas have also been hit with temporary freezes or delays, sidetracking jobs and college enrollment...leaving hiring and travel plans in disarray." https://bit.ly/4k4R2PO
Trump’s ‘Maximum Chaos’ in Immigration Leaves Employers Hanging
Employers are struggling to navigate an evolving patchwork of unpredictable Trump administration policies disrupting entry to the US from nearly 100 countries.
bit.ly
January 23, 2026 at 5:21 PM
"International students and foreign workers seeking to renew visas have also been hit with temporary freezes or delays, sidetracking jobs and college enrollment...leaving hiring and travel plans in disarray." https://bit.ly/4k4R2PO
“I’ve never heard of the Department of Justice immigration court leadership issuing an instruction to judges essentially to disregard a federal court order, which is essentially what this EOIR email does,” said AILA's Greg Chen. https://bit.ly/4a9HHCJ
‘Is Bond Now Being Granted?’: Conflicting Orders Leave Detainees, Attorneys in Limbo - Documented
The Trump administration has continued to push mandatory detention despite a court order to stop.
documentedny.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM
“I’ve never heard of the Department of Justice immigration court leadership issuing an instruction to judges essentially to disregard a federal court order, which is essentially what this EOIR email does,” said AILA's Greg Chen. https://bit.ly/4a9HHCJ
"Tuesday, as residents in the cities of Portland & Lewiston [Maine] noticed a heightened presence of immigration officers in their communities, they began posting videos on social media & calling a community hotline to report the sightings & some arrests." https://nbcnews.to/4r5LWVw
ICE launches immigration enforcement action in Maine
DHS said operation "Catch of the Day" has already begun, with residents in Portland and Lewiston seeing heightened immigration enforcement presence Tuesday.
nbcnews.to
January 23, 2026 at 2:02 AM
"Tuesday, as residents in the cities of Portland & Lewiston [Maine] noticed a heightened presence of immigration officers in their communities, they began posting videos on social media & calling a community hotline to report the sightings & some arrests." https://nbcnews.to/4r5LWVw
"Anyone who has lived through the [immigration] process knows that it’s also an internal journey—one that demands patience, resilience, and a deep sense of purpose," writes Yalda Hajavi on the Think Immigration blog. https://bit.ly/3NXpKi2
Think Immigration: The Spiritual Dimension of the Immigration Journey
AILA member Yalda Hajavi reflects on the spiritual aspect of the immigration journey, writing that “anyone who has lived through the process knows that it’s also an internal journey—one that demands p...
www.aila.org
January 22, 2026 at 11:44 PM
"Anyone who has lived through the [immigration] process knows that it’s also an internal journey—one that demands patience, resilience, and a deep sense of purpose," writes Yalda Hajavi on the Think Immigration blog. https://bit.ly/3NXpKi2
Last chance for Early Bird rates! This virtual conference will focus on the major issues surrounding EB-5 cases leading up to the September 30, 2026, deadline and what to expect of the Regional Center program after the close of fiscal year 2026. Register: https://bit.ly/4qs27wB
January 22, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Last chance for Early Bird rates! This virtual conference will focus on the major issues surrounding EB-5 cases leading up to the September 30, 2026, deadline and what to expect of the Regional Center program after the close of fiscal year 2026. Register: https://bit.ly/4qs27wB
The death of Geraldo Lunas Campos "has been officially deemed a homicide, according to an autopsy report...[he] died during an interaction with guards after being placed into solitary confinement, according to the government." https://wapo.st/3LGjMSc
January 22, 2026 at 7:02 PM
The death of Geraldo Lunas Campos "has been officially deemed a homicide, according to an autopsy report...[he] died during an interaction with guards after being placed into solitary confinement, according to the government." https://wapo.st/3LGjMSc
"Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota have detained at least four children from the same school district this month, including a 5-year-old boy, school officials in a Minneapolis suburb said Wednesday." https://wapo.st/4tahkV1
January 22, 2026 at 4:02 PM
"Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota have detained at least four children from the same school district this month, including a 5-year-old boy, school officials in a Minneapolis suburb said Wednesday." https://wapo.st/4tahkV1
"Federal immigration officers are asserting sweeping power to forcibly enter people’s homes without a judge’s warrant...marking a sharp reversal of longstanding guidance meant to respect constitutional limits on government searches." https://bit.ly/4sOJdSl
Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that the agency allows immigration officers to forcibly enter homes to make arrests without a judicial warrant.
bit.ly
January 22, 2026 at 2:13 PM
"Federal immigration officers are asserting sweeping power to forcibly enter people’s homes without a judge’s warrant...marking a sharp reversal of longstanding guidance meant to respect constitutional limits on government searches." https://bit.ly/4sOJdSl
Reposted by AILA
AILA opposes increased funding for DHS detailed in the FY 26 DHS appropriations bill. Further expansion of a dangerous, harmful, and deadly enforcement system cannot be allowed to continue under the watch of this Congress. We need urgent accountability.
Vote Recommendation: AILA Urges NO Vote on FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
AILA sent a vote recommendation to Congress on 1/21/26 urging a NO vote on the FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.
www.aila.org
January 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM
AILA opposes increased funding for DHS detailed in the FY 26 DHS appropriations bill. Further expansion of a dangerous, harmful, and deadly enforcement system cannot be allowed to continue under the watch of this Congress. We need urgent accountability.
The FY26 DHS funding bill, set for a House vote tomorrow, would facilitate the continued expansion of the Administration’s massive immigration enforcement & detention agenda without any meaningful accountability measures. Join us in opposing this funding: https://bit.ly/3Nz6EyI
Take Action: Tell Congress to Vote NO on the FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
The American Immigration Lawyers Association urges Congress to oppose any increase in funding for DHS in the FY26 DHS Appropriations Bill.
bit.ly
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 AM
The FY26 DHS funding bill, set for a House vote tomorrow, would facilitate the continued expansion of the Administration’s massive immigration enforcement & detention agenda without any meaningful accountability measures. Join us in opposing this funding: https://bit.ly/3Nz6EyI
ICE has "nearly $29 billion on hand each year...To give that large number a sense of scale, consider that the Trump administration's 2026 appropriations request for the entire Justice Department, including the FBI, stands at a little over $35 billion." https://n.pr/4qrYbMl
How ICE grew to be the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency
ICE's budget hovered around $10 billion for years. But President Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress are taking the agency's funding to unprecedented levels.
n.pr
January 21, 2026 at 11:24 PM
ICE has "nearly $29 billion on hand each year...To give that large number a sense of scale, consider that the Trump administration's 2026 appropriations request for the entire Justice Department, including the FBI, stands at a little over $35 billion." https://n.pr/4qrYbMl
"Analysts note there is no policy justification for the Trump administration’s reductions in legal immigration other than the desire of Stephen Miller and others to allow fewer immigrants the opportunity to live in the United States." https://bit.ly/4qxihoD
Trump And Miller Slashing Legal Immigration By 33% To 50%
New research concludes the Trump administration’s policies will reduce legal immigration to the United States by 33% to 50% over four years.
bit.ly
January 21, 2026 at 8:00 PM
"Analysts note there is no policy justification for the Trump administration’s reductions in legal immigration other than the desire of Stephen Miller and others to allow fewer immigrants the opportunity to live in the United States." https://bit.ly/4qxihoD
Registration is now open for the 2026 AILA Annual Conference! Join immigration law’s brightest minds, boldest ideas, and strongest advocates in beautiful San Diego, CA. Register today: https://bit.ly/3Zm8xRR
January 21, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Registration is now open for the 2026 AILA Annual Conference! Join immigration law’s brightest minds, boldest ideas, and strongest advocates in beautiful San Diego, CA. Register today: https://bit.ly/3Zm8xRR
AILA member Mo Goldman writes for the Arizona Daily Star: "A key component to resisting the onslaught of actions by ICE is to provide compassion and support...Your community depends on it." https://bit.ly/45miTVp
Local opinion: When ICE appears, be like Colette
You can make a difference by observing, recording, and providing support to those who are victimized by the actions of rogue ICE agents. Never get violent as that is obviously
bit.ly
January 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM
AILA member Mo Goldman writes for the Arizona Daily Star: "A key component to resisting the onslaught of actions by ICE is to provide compassion and support...Your community depends on it." https://bit.ly/45miTVp
AILA member Sarah Peterson shares what led to an increased federal presence in Minnesota and the current state of affairs, explaining that this has been years in the making as Congress has "failed to enact any sort of meaningful immigration reform." https://bit.ly/4jZA59h
Local attorneys speak on immigration enforcement in Minnesota
Immigration enforcement in Minnesota: Experts say the current situation has been long in the making.
bit.ly
January 21, 2026 at 12:13 AM
AILA member Sarah Peterson shares what led to an increased federal presence in Minnesota and the current state of affairs, explaining that this has been years in the making as Congress has "failed to enact any sort of meaningful immigration reform." https://bit.ly/4jZA59h
"Over the past six months, 9% of Tennessee construction companies surveyed reported a jobsite was visited by immigration agents...and 32% reported their subcontractors had lost workers as a result of immigration enforcement actions." https://bit.ly/3NvvBem
Immigration crackdowns impact Tennessee construction firms, survey finds • Tennessee Lookout
Tennessee construction companies are feeling the impact of the Trump administration immigration crackdown as workers failed to show up.
bit.ly
January 20, 2026 at 9:05 PM
"Over the past six months, 9% of Tennessee construction companies surveyed reported a jobsite was visited by immigration agents...and 32% reported their subcontractors had lost workers as a result of immigration enforcement actions." https://bit.ly/3NvvBem
Victor Manuel Diaz, 36, is the 3rd person to die in 44 days at Camp East Montana on Fort Bliss in El Paso. "A soft-sided tent-style structure, which ICE increasingly favors over brick-and-mortar buildings," the facility detains 2,903 people as of Jan. 8. https://nbcnews.to/3LDtaWE
Third immigrant detainee at facility in El Paso has died, ICE says
Camp East Montana on Fort Bliss in El Paso is one of the largest ICE detention centers in the country.
nbcnews.to
January 20, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Victor Manuel Diaz, 36, is the 3rd person to die in 44 days at Camp East Montana on Fort Bliss in El Paso. "A soft-sided tent-style structure, which ICE increasingly favors over brick-and-mortar buildings," the facility detains 2,903 people as of Jan. 8. https://nbcnews.to/3LDtaWE
"A federal judge refused Monday to temporarily block the Trump administration from enforcing a new policy requiring a week's notice before members of Congress can visit immigration detention facilities." https://bit.ly/3LDgcs0
Judge refuses to block new DHS policy
A federal judge has refused to temporarily block the Trump administration from enforcing a new policy requiring members of Congress to give a week’s notice before they can visit immigration detention ...
bit.ly
January 20, 2026 at 2:19 PM
"A federal judge refused Monday to temporarily block the Trump administration from enforcing a new policy requiring a week's notice before members of Congress can visit immigration detention facilities." https://bit.ly/3LDgcs0
Reposted by AILA
DOJ ordered immigration judges to defy a federal court’s nationwide ruling that said class members have a right to a bond hearing. ICE is terrorizing communities and arresting people with impunity, and now DOJ is limiting any chance for release. Defying court orders erodes the rule of law.
Practice Alert: EOIR Issues Nationwide Guidance on <em>Maldonado Bautista</em>
On January 13, 2026, EOIR issued nationwide guidance instructing all immigration judges to continue denying access to bond hearings despite recent federal court orders.
www.aila.org
January 16, 2026 at 10:29 PM
DOJ ordered immigration judges to defy a federal court’s nationwide ruling that said class members have a right to a bond hearing. ICE is terrorizing communities and arresting people with impunity, and now DOJ is limiting any chance for release. Defying court orders erodes the rule of law.