The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is the national association of more than 15,000 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law. AILA is a nonpartisan, non-for-profit organisation that provides continuing legal education, information, professional services, and expertise to its members through its 39 chapters and over 50 national committees. Members help support AILA’s mission to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members. Founded in 1946, AILA member attorneys represent U.S. families seeking permanent residence for close family members, as well as U.S. businesses seeking talent from the global marketplace. AILA members also represent foreign students, entertainers, athletes, and asylum seekers, often on a pro bono basis.
AILA's Mission
The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.
AILA's Strategic Goals
Increase member participation in advocacy before Congress, the Judiciary, the Federal Agencies, and the media, for immigration-related interests of our clients and society.
- Educate the public about the ways in which U.S. immigration law and policy serves the national interest by reuniting American families, protecting refugees, and providing U.S. employers with the specialised skills they need to remain globally competitive.
- Enhance respect for immigration law, and professional recognition of immigration lawyers, by government, the bar, and society.
- Support American Immigration Council’s Legal Action Center and educational programming.
Increase the level of knowledge and professionalism, and foster the professional responsibility, of our members.
- Enhance the litigation capabilities of the membership as an important option to ensure the just administration of our immigration laws.
- Assist members in effectively and competently pursuing their law practice and enhancing their professional satisfaction.
- Advance the protection of the public by promoting consumer protection and authorised representation.
- Promote and support delivery of competent, ethical, and lawful immigration services by lawyers, authorised accredited representatives, and pro bono programs.
- Encourage and facilitate member participation in, and support for, pro bono services and programs.
AILA's Global Migration Section
The International Lawyer Directorycontains the details of licensed attorneys, advocates, solicitors, or barristers (collectively “practitioners”) who have provided evidence to AILA that they are qualified to practice immigration law for jurisdictions other than the United States. The practitioners listed are either AILA members or International Associates who belong to Global Migration Section and, at the time of entry on to the list, provided AILA with evidence of their law license for each of the jurisdictions in which they are listed.