AILA NE Webinar: Pretermission of Asylum Claims
2026-04-01 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Register in advance for this meeting: here.
Following the popularity of the recent roundtable on this topic, the AILA New England CBO/Pro Bono Committee has agreed to host another discussion on pretermission of asylum applications
Sarah Allar of the PAIR Project will facilitate this informal space for members to come together and share their experiences with pretermission in Boston and Chelmsford, and to discuss strategies for responding. This includes pretermission based on incomplete applications (Matter of C-A-R-R), failure to establish a prima facie claim (Matter of H-A-A-V-), and asylum cooperative agreements (Matter of C-I-G-M & L-V-S-G-).
Please note that this discussion will not be recorded.

AILA NE Roundtable: Competency Evaluations in Immigration Proceedings: Matter of M-A-M Cases with Mark S. Silver, Esq.
2026-04-13 12:00 - 13:00
Register here: https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/UC2Fylx-TG-DJto_wE1fhw
Join us for a dynamic roundtable on competency evaluations in immigration court, with a special focus on Matter of M-A-M and its real-world impact on respondents with mental health concerns. Attorney and forensic psychiatric social worker Mark S. Silver will walk through practical strategies for identifying competency issues, working with mental health experts, and building a strong record to protect vulnerable clients.

AILA NE Roundtable: Orders of Supervision: Strategy, Survival, and Advocacy
2026-04-14 12:00 - 13:00
Register here: https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/chg56_ykQZS5roNSQyM87Q
Date: April 14, 2025
Time: 12pm
Join us for an AILA New England Roundtable focused on the real-world challenges faced by clients on Orders of Supervision (OSUP). This interactive forum will explore critical issues affecting OSUP clients before and after an order is issued, including how to prepare clients for ICE check-ins, advocacy strategies to reduce the risk of detention, and habeas options when clients are re-detained. Come ready for a practical, solutions‑oriented discussion to sharpen your advocacy and better protect this vulnerable client population.
Presenters:

Claire Maguire, Staff attorney in the Northeast Justice Center’s Affirmative Litigation Unit
Thao Ho, Staff Attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services’ Asian Outreach Center (Boston, MA)
Cari Cornish, Pro Bono Counsel, Metrowest Worker Center – Casa, Framingham, MA
Annery Miranda, Esq., MSW, Staff Attorney in the Immigration Unit at Greater Boston Legal Services.

AILA NE Roundtable: Advocating for Immigrants with Disabilities
2026-04-15 00:00 - 13:30
Register here: https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/sFREA8-MTmuIkV6n16qM_w
Join AILA New England for a powerful discussion with Professor Emerita Arlene S. Kanter and Eric Rosenthal, Executive Director, Disability Rights International, on the urgent realities facing immigrants with disabilities and what immigration attorneys must know to advocate effectively. From understanding disability rights under U.S. and international law to navigating detention, accommodations, recent habeas and asylum victories, and the ethical duties owed to clients whose disabilities impact case strategy or competency, this session will equip you with essential tools to strengthen your practice and better protect vulnerable clients.

AILA NE Webinar: E-filing with USCIS
2026-04-16 12:00 - 13:00
Register here

Speaker: Aleksandra Peryeva (Peryeva Immigration Law)

USCIS continues to expand its online filing system, including more options for business-immigration practitioners. This session will provide a practical overview of the USCIS online account system, including which forms can be filed electronically, key benefits and drawbacks of e-filing. We will discuss practical tips for managing online accounts, filing online, submitting evidence, and communicating with USCIS through the platform.

AILA New England Monthly Chapter Meeting (April) - Virtual (Zoom)
2026-04-23 16:00 - 18:30
Register here: https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/lSUXr8lUQ9uz0m7xiS1ZDg
5:00pm – 5:30pm: Chapter Business meeting
5:30pm – 6:30pm: Main meeting
Main Meeting Topic: Attacks on Attorneys and Consequences of the Administration’s Targeting of Our Profession
Every day, we are grow increasingly concerned about how the current administration could target immigration attorneys. Hear from two experts in ethics who can demystify the bases of potential attacks on attorneys. Learn about current trends, ways we can protect ourselves, and the ethical implications of being an immigration attorney during this time.
Speakers:

Attorney Craig Dobson, Chair, AILA Well-being Committee, Ethics Counsel located in New York, NY
Attorney Andrew Nietor, AILA Board of Governors Elected Director from San Diego, CA

AILA NE Webinar: Step Into Leadership. Shape the Future of Immigration Law in New England
2026-04-27 12:00 - 13:00
You are invited to join the AILA New England Executive Committee for a special leadership conversation designed to demystify Executive Committee service and to show why serving on the Chapter’s Executive Committee is one of the most meaningful ways you can influence the immigration landscape in our region.
Serving on the AILA New England Executive Committee is more than a volunteer role. It is a chance to help shape policy priorities, strengthen the immigration bar, support your fellow practitioners, and advocate for immigrant communities across Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Executive Committee members play a direct role in guiding the Chapter’s response to rapidly evolving legal, policy, and practice challenges, while ensuring that AILA New England remains a strong, inclusive, and effective voice for our members.
This program will feature a candid discussion with current and former AILA New England leaders, who will share what Executive Committee service really looks like: the responsibilities, the time commitment, the support systems in place, and the tangible impact this work has on both the membership and the broader immigration community. Panelists will discuss how leadership within AILA New England translates into meaningful professional growth, deeper connections across the bar, and a lasting contribution to the practice of immigration law.
Attendees will gain practical insight into:
– The role and responsibilities of the AILA New England Executive Committee
– How Executive Committee members influence programming, policy advocacy, government liaison work, and member support
– The skills and perspectives that make members effective leaders at every career stage
– How to prepare for and step into an Executive Committee role with confidence and purpose
– Whether you are early in your career, mid‑career, or a seasoned practitioner looking to give back in a more impactful way, this conversation will offer clarity, encouragement, and a roadmap for getting involved.
Presenters:
– Tania Martinez, AILA NE Chair, AILA Board of Governors
– Michelle Shepard, AILA NE Chair-Elect
– Peter Rees, AILA NE Vice-Chair
– MyungJin MJ Lee, AILA NE Treasurer
– Becky von Trapp, AILA NE Secretary
– Miki Matrician, AILA NE Immediate Past Chair, AILA Elected Director on the Board of Governors

AILA NE Webinar: Challenging immigration denials in Federal Court
2026-04-29 12:00 - 13:00
Register here

Speaker: Jesse Bless

With increasing immigration denial rates and a rise in arbitrary decisions, more practitioners are turning to APA litigation to challenge agency actions. While federal litigation is a powerful tool, it remains outside the comfort zone for many attorneys. Join Jesse Bless, an expert in federal court litigation involving immigration decisions and delays, for a discussion of common scenarios where federal litigation can effectively challenge denials, along with practical filing tips and recent developments in federal immigration litigation. This brown bag session will benefit both employment and family-based immigration practitioners and will focus on challenges to final agency decisions rather than delay-based claims.

AILA NE Webinar: Immigration Updates from Vermont
2026-05-06 12:00 - 13:00
AILA NE Webinar: Immigration Updates from Vermont
Join us for a brown bag to hear from Vermont immigration lawyers and leaders about what is happening in the legislature, at the courts, and on the ground. Topics will include legislative updates, trends in detention and enforcement, and information about federal courts.
Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dMyLXaitQVq0JjzHpNg4tA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

AILA NE Roundtable: Best Practices and Preserving the Record for Appeal, Panel with former Immigration Judges and BIA Judge
2026-05-08 12:00 - 13:00
Register here: https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/7rm_EBDRRaSBMvhcDy5CoQ
Please join us for this much anticipated panel! During this panel, you will hear tips and strategies from former Immigration Judges and a former Board of Immigration Appeals Judge on preserving the record for appeal. They will also discuss best court practices, including what judges find helpful and what they prefer attorneys avoid.
Panelists:

Melanie Shapiro, Law Office of Melanie Shapiro, Co-Chair AILA NE Federal Litigation Committee

Hon. Nina J. Froes, Former Immigration Judge

Hon. Sarah Cade, Former Immigration Judge

Hon. Katherine Clark, Former BIA Judge

AILA New England Monthly Chapter Meeting (May)
2026-05-14 16:00 - 18:30
AILA New England Monthly Chapter Meeting (May)
[Save the date/time – more details to follow]
Register in advance for this meeting: https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/kx1vy023Q9K7kyS0vblw-A
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Unless otherwise stated, the format for each chapter meeting is as follows:
[4:00pm – 5:00pm: We may have a meeting for newer attorneys at select meetings]
5:00pm – 5:30pm: Business meeting
5:30pm – 6:30pm: Main meeting panel or presentation

AILA New England Monthly Chapter Meeting (June)
2026-06-25 16:00 - 18:30
AILA New England Monthly Chapter Meeting (June)
[Save the date/time – more details to follow]
Register in advance for this meeting: https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/aPwOlmZTQoCoEW9iZw6DLg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Unless otherwise stated, the format for each chapter meeting is as follows:
[4:00pm – 5:00pm: We may have a meeting for newer attorneys at select meetings]
5:00pm – 5:30pm: Business meeting
5:30pm – 6:30pm: Main meeting panel or presentation
