AILA New England Chapter

PERM Labor Certification Training (Virtual)
2024-07-12 15:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Pathway for Immigrant Workers is a nonprofit helping local employers sponsor their lower-wage immigrant workers for a green card. We provide quarterly 3-hour training sessions, with the next one taking place on July 12th from 3-6pm.

We cover case assessment and eligibility, preparing the prevailing wage request, determining ability to pay, conducting recruitment, completing the 9089, audits, and filing the immigrant visa petition.
The training is geared towards the practitioner newer to the PERM process. All are welcome including removal defense attorneys and humanitarian/family immigration attorneys.
To sign-up, email Info@MyImmigrantPathway.org and include with Subject Line: “July 12 Training.”
See flyer for more details.

KIND Office Hour (Virtual)
2024-07-17 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-08-21 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-09-18 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-10-16 12:00 - 13:00
KIND Office Hours
Please join KIND Boston for a virtual hour at 12 pm EST to discuss issues on your cases surrounding representation of unaccompanied children, potential community referrals, and volunteer opportunities for those interested.

This is a recurring event on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 12 pm.
A member of KIND Boston’s Staff will be available for this hour each month for brainstorming and discussion.
Join at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89432923086, Meeting ID: 894 3292 3086

PAIR Project Asylum Office Hours (New Members Division)
2024-08-14 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-09-11 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-10-09 12:00 - 13:00
The PAIR Project is delighted to offer New Members Division members monthly open asylum “office hours” hosted by PAIR’s Asylum Program staff – an open Zoom line that members can drop in on to ask questions, discuss their cases, and hear from others.

You can drop in any time during the hour – no need to sign up or pre-schedule
Office hours will be 12:00-1:00pm on the second Wednesday of each month
Join at https://zoom.us/j/95442321927, Meeting ID: 954 4232 1927

Open Discussion about PIP under Keeping Families Together
2024-08-29 12:00 - 13:00
Open Discussion about PIP under Keeping Families Together (hosted by the AILA NE CLE Committee)
Date/Time: Thursday August 29 at 12 noon
Join us for an open discussion and brainstorming session about Parole in Place under Keeping Families Together for an opportunity to share experiences, ask questions and strategize.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIuf-yqqDssHtd1KctHiKYjJE6mlk0pLo2h

OPLA Engagement (Hybrid) in Scarborough, ME
2024-09-10 10:00 - 11:00
OPLA will hold a stakeholder engagement meeting in Maine on September 10, 2024, for Maine attorneys. Maine attorneys have raised issues that are unique to them, and OPLA wants to address those.

OPLA will hold an in-person stakeholder engagement meeting on Tuesday, September 10, at 10 AM at the ERO Portland office at 40 Manson Libby Road, Scarborough, ME.
Based on the size of ERO’s space, in-person attendance is limited to 15 people. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to julio@delolmolaw.com directly.
If OPLA receives interest significantly larger than 15 people, it will look into accommodating more people. With your RSVP, please send questions before September 4.
OPLA will also provide a Microsoft Teams link for remote attendance. OPLA wants to limit this event to Maine attorneys only.

Open Forum: Homeland Security Investigations & Enforcement and Removal Operations
2024-09-13 13:00 - 14:00
AILA NE is hosting an Open Forum virtual series on practicing before federal and state agencies in New England. Learn tips and tricks practicing before these agencies from the AILA NE experts who hold leadership roles on these Committees.

The first of the series will be held on September 13, 2024 at 1 pm EST.
It will be hosted by Homeland Security Investigations Committee Chair Annelise Araujo and Member Lindsay Rosenbaum as well as Enforcement & Removal Operations Committee Chair Jeannie Kain and Member Kira Gagarin.

Register here: https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJctduyurzwoGdLOrO6iWzhOEWtDsZ1DuH-v
Future installments of this series will include sessions with the following Committees:

USCIS
Asylum Office
EOIR
Customs & Border Protection
Registry of Motor Vehicle
Probate/Family Court.

This event is co-hosted by New Members Division. Both newer attorneys and experienced attorneys are encouraged to attend.

O-1, EB-1, and NIW Strategies In Advance of New Administration
2024-09-18 12:00 - 13:00
Regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, there will be a new administration. Speakers Erin Brummer (Veridian Immigration Partners) and MJ Lee (Law Office of MJ Lee) will discuss strategies on planning and filing achievement-based applications in an election year.

How should we talk to clients about this topic?
Should we rush to file these applications, or is it business as usual?
What are recent trends in adjudications?
Register here!

Wellbeing Roundtable (Election Anxiety Series)
2024-09-18 13:00 - 14:00
Feeling Emotionally Overwhelmed by Politics, Life or Whatever? You Have More Control Than You May Realize
Our emotional responses to external events can sometimes feel beyond our control, but new research in the neuroscience of emotions shows that you have more agency than you think.

Join Ken Mayeaux, a member of the AILA National Well-Being Committee, for an insightful discussion inspired by Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett’s “How Emotions are Made.” He will explore how Dr. Feldman Barrett’s theory of constructed emotions reveals the power of personal agency over your emotional life, and strategies to combat feelings of hopelessness.
This roundtable, part of our Election Anxiety Series coordinated by AILA National’s Wellbeing Committee, will offer a fresh perspective on managing difficult emotions in challenging times.
Register here.

Motions Practice Before EOIR (NILA webinar)
2024-09-19 14:00 - 15:30
This webinar will address various substantive and procedural motions filed with the immigration courts and Board of Immigration Appeals in removal proceedings.

The panel will provide an overview of: motions to reopen and reconsider; motions to remand; motions to stay removal; and motions to rescind in absentia removal orders. Additionally, we will discuss the differences between statutory and regulatory motions to reopen/reconsider; untimely motions (including how to frame an argument that the statutory deadline should be equitably tolled); post-departure motions (including considerations for individuals abroad); and motions to reopen/reconsider orders that have been reinstated.

Finally, the panel will address procedural motions such as motions to extend time, to expedite adjudication, and supplementing previously filed motions.

CLE Credit: Approved for 1.5 hours Texas CLE credit. Texas is an approved jurisdiction for several state bars.
To register for this webinar, click HERE or visit https://immigrationlitigation.org/nila-webinars/

September Chapter Meeting: National Visa Center & Political Engagement (Virtual event)
2024-09-19 17:00 - 20:00
Our September Chapter Meeting will be held a virtual event (no in-person option):
5:00 – 5:45 pm Moderated Panel Discussion: National Visa Center (virtual)
5:45 – 6:00 pm Chapter Business Meeting
6:00 – 7:00 pm Political Engagement Briefing & Phone Banking (hybrid)
7:00 – 8:00 pm Happy Hour courtesy of AILA NE
Register for the meeting here for part or all of the meeting. The Zoom registration link is embedded in the RSVP form.
1. National Visa Center: We are fortunate to have Allison Reedy from the National Visa Center. She will present virtually, with Mahsa Khanbabai moderating. The NVC will accept pre-submitted questions from AILA NE members at our upcoming meeting. Please share your questions and concerns related to NVC processing so that we can get the most out of the meeting. Feel free to share trends you see related to document collection, processing times, or questions you have always wanted addressed.

We will cover topics including communicating w/ the NVC, transparency related to IV processing times, CSPA, and digitization efforts.
Please submit your questions and report recent trends here by Friday, September 6.

2. Political Engagement Ahead of Presidential Elections: The second half of the meeting will be a political engagement event to mobilize our NE Chapter Members to reach independent and undecided voters in New Hampshire to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris. It will be a phone-banking or text-banking event.
As you know, the results of the Presidential election will hinge on a narrow margin in the swing states. This event will allow AILA New England members to engage and make an impact in NH. Please show up and help elect Harris!
And if that’s not enough incentive: The AILA Ohio Chapter did this last week and it was a success – let’s get even more commitments from NH voters!

WaterFire Providence (AILA NE Social Event)
2024-09-21 17:30 - 20:00
Join your AILA NE colleagues in Providence to view the beautiful WaterFire!
WaterFire evenings consist of 86 burning braziers; some float just above the surface of the rivers that flow through Waterplace Park (the Woonasquatucket River) and the middle of downtown Providence (Credit: Wikipedia)
The show starts at sunset at 6:45 pm. Onshore programming and vendors open at 5:30. Register here.

Walk/Jog on the Charles (AILA NE Wellbeing Event)
2024-09-23 17:30 - 19:00
Have you thought about starting a walking or jogging routine? Please join the AILA Well-Being committee on Monday 9/23 at 5:30 pm in front of the Community Boating Inc. at 21 David G Mugar Way in Boston (on the Charles River) for an initiation to creating good habits and forming new friendships and solidifying existing relationships.

We will split into two groups: one group will take a 30-minute walk on the esplanade, and the other group will do a light initiation to jogging.
Please bring your walking/running shoes and dress comfortably. During the walk/job, we will discuss tips on how to create and build up healthy routines by starting with very small changes.
Reward yourself afterwards! For anyone interested in grabbing beer/food after the walk/jog, we will head over to Night Shift Brewery on the Esplanade.
Register here.

L-1 Visas: Blanket Applications and USCIS Petitions (brown bag)
2024-09-25 12:00 - 13:00
L-1 processes can be difficult to navigate, whether filing at an embassy/consulate office or with USCIS. Speakers Molly O’Shea (Clark Lau LLC) and Troy Wilson (WR Immigration) will discuss strategies on planning and filing L Visa Applications and/or USCIS petitions.

How will a change in administration impact the process?
How to set and manage client expectations if filing with USCIS?
What are common issues that may arise (e.g. new office Ls, qualifying employment, etc.)?
What are recent trends in adjudications?
Register here!

AILA NE DEI Committee Book Club
2024-09-25 18:00 - 19:00
Please join the DEI committee for its first book club meeting as we delve into the first two chapters of White by Law by Ian Haney López.

This critical work explores how legal definitions of race and whiteness have shaped American legal and social systems.
For this session, we will focus on: The foundational concepts introduced in the first two chapters. How these early chapters set the stage for understanding the relationship between race and the law, including key questions and themes raised by López’s analysis.
Please come prepared to discuss your insights and questions about these chapters. If you have any particular points you’d like to explore or specific questions, feel free to share them beforehand to aila.newengland.dei@gmail.com.

AILA NE Brown Bag on CBP Land Border Practice
2024-10-04 11:00 - 12:00
Join a brown bag session to hear about recent trends and strategies at the northern border! Our esteemed CBP land border experts will lead this brown bag:

Leslie Holman, AILA NE CBP Committee Chair and former AILA President
Adeline Boulanger, current AILA NE CBP Committee member
Special Guest David Wilks from AILA Upstate New York Chapter and AILA Elected Director on the Board of Governors

Register here

Hike to Alton Bay, NH (AILA NE Social Event)
2024-10-05 11:00 - 13:00
Join your fellow NE colleagues – make new friends and reconnect with existing friends in nature and enjoy the NE foliage! We are embarking on a beautiful hike to a 360-degree view of the Lakes Region! The trailhead is about a 2-hour drive from Boston. The hike is around 3.6 miles and it is rated “moderate” in difficulty by alltrails.com. Register here.

Congressional Breakfast (Virtual Event)
2024-10-08 08:30 - 10:30
Every year, we have the privilege of hosting the Congressional Breakfast, an important event that offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with our Congressional representatives and their staff. We are opening up invitations to all members of the New England chapter. We believe in the power of diverse voices and are keen on offering this opportunity for more members to connect, discuss, and make an impact. Register here to join us virtually.
Date: Tuesday October 8
Time: 8:30am – 10:30am
Virtual Event. Register here by Friday October 4 EOD.

Temporary Protected Status: Overview and Practical Tips (CBO/Pro Bono Committee Brown Bag)
2024-10-10 12:00 - 13:00
Temporary Protected Status: Overview and Practical Tips
This brown bag will provide an overview of TPS, discuss the type of information necessary to complete the application, and review some of the trickier substantive questions that appear on the form. We hope you leave this brown bag confident about providing TPS assistance — both for your daily practice and for volunteering in the community!

Moderator:

Katie Lambing, Rian Immigrant Center & AILA New England CBO/Pro Bono Committee Member

Panelists:

Marianne Staniunas, Ropes and Gray & AILA New England CBO/Pro Bono Committee Member
Sara Horatius, Central West Justice Center
Stephanie Marzouk, Marzouk Law

AILA NE CBO/Pro Bono Committee is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Temporary Protected Status: Overview and Practical Tips
Time: Oct 10, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83763615694?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 837 6361 5694
Passcode: [REDACTED]

October Chapter Meeting (Virtual, 12 noon)
2024-10-17 12:00 - 13:30
Join us for a virtual meeting on October 17 at 12 noon EST! We are experimenting with this noon time meeting for October.

When: Thursday October 17 at 12 -1:30 pm EST

12 – 12:30 pm Business Meeting
12:30 – 1:30 Featured Topic below

How: Virtually. Register here.
Topic: How to Prepare USCIS Filings with Potential Litigation in Mind
We need to be prepared in advance of the outcome of the presidential elections. Our AILA NE experts panelists will discuss how members can prepare USCIS filings in such a way to set it up for success in case it needs to be litigated down the line.
Experts Gregory Romanovsky, Jesse Bless, and Stephanie Marzouk will discuss best practices, strategies, and considerations when preparing cases with the possibility of litigation.

AILA NE: Get the Most Out of Your Membership!
2024-10-18 12:00 - 13:00
Are you maximizing your AILA membership? Join us over your lunch break to meet with the AILA NE Executive Committee and learn about all the ways the ExCom and liaisons can help you and practice.

We’ll talk about what we do on ExCom, upcoming plans, and the many resources available to AILA NE members
Explore how you can help make us an even stronger, more amazing Chapter!
Register here!

Speed Networking Event (New Members Division)
2024-10-18 18:00 - 19:30
Please join AILA New England New Members Division on Friday October 18th, 2024 at 6 pm at WR Immigration’s offices at 175 Federal Street, Suite 1025 in Boston (near South Station).

There will be a speed networking component and then a mingle session afterwards with food and beverage provided by AILA NE.
For new attorneys, this event will allow them to network with and learn from veteran attorneys.
For experienced attorneys, will be a great opportunity to inspire new attorneys, expand your network, and help AILA NE strengthen its membership! All members welcome.
The first ten registrants will get a $10 gift card to Dunkin, so please register quickly! Registration link is here.

Open Forum: SIJS-Related Issues and Concerns in MA Probate and Family Courts
2024-10-22 12:00 - 13:00
SIJS-Related Issues and Concerns in MA Probate and Family Courts (2nd Session of AILA NE Open Forum Series)
The Probate and Family Court Committee is holding an Open Forum session on October 22 (Tuesday) at noon to gather insights on any issues or concerns SIJS practitioners frequently encounter in the Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts.
· This Open Forum session will help the Committee better understand the current landscape and identify the most common challenges our members face in representing immigrant youths in MA PFCs.
· Please register here.
· Before you attend this event, we ask that you fill out this brief survey by October 18. Due to time constraints, we would like to prioritize the issues most frequently experienced by our members.

Litigation Against Sponsors: Enforcing Form I-864, Affidavit of Support
2024-10-25 12:00 - 13:00
Almost every immigration lawyer has seen the Affidavit of Support, but are you aware of how widely this contract has been enforced in court? While the government rarely pursues reimbursement, sponsored immigrants have a private right of action against sponsors. This has lead to successful state and federal litigation across the country. Greg McLawsen (Sound Immigration) is an attorney based in Seattle who focuses on representing plaintiffs in these lawsuits. This talk will address:

What are a sponsor’s duties under the I-864?
Nuts and bolts of enforcement: who gets sued, where and how?
Federal vs. state court.
What defenses are available?
Practice implications for firms handling family-sponsored immigration.
Written materials available here (6 articles).

Register here:
https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIlde2ppz4oGN0V_C4sqrS3bdLAH4wlhqOY
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

AILA NE Pre-Conference Reception
2024-11-07 18:00 - 21:00

AILA New England Annual Conference
2024-11-08 08:00 - 20:00
Registration is now open for our Annual Chapter Conference, which will take place Friday 11/8/2024 immediately after the presidential elections.
Hear from experts about the impact to immigration based on the results of the election!
Early Bird Rates are available until 9/15!

Our fabulous speakers will share legal updates, agency developments, litigation news, and tips on incorporating wellness and new technologies into our practices.
Please see the conference website (https://www.ailaneconference.org/conference/) for the detailed schedule and to register.
Our committees have been hard at work securing sponsorships from exhibitors who will keep registration costs down and cover many complimentary offerings which all take place at the Hynes Convention Center

Pre-conference reception – Thursday November 7 at 6-9 pm (at Hynes)
Plenary morning sessions followed by concurrent removal/humanitarian and employment tracks in the afternoon
Catered lunch on premises
Opportunity to sign up for a complimentary chair massage
Post-conference reception – Friday November 8 at 6 pm, immediately following the conference (at Hynes)
THIS JUST IN: For Conference Registrants, AILA NE is providing complimentary law practice management strategy sessions (virtual) on Tuesday 11/12 with Practice Management Counsel Charity Anastasio.

Sign up here.
These free, confidential, personalized half-hour sessions on Zoom will be on Tuesday, November 12. Make a plan to actualize what you learned at the conference or take the time to go deep on any ethics or practice topic on your mind. Save your slot so you have time set aside to put what you learned into action. Questions? Contact Charity at canastasio@aila.org.

Please note this year’s conference will be in-person only; there is no hybrid option and the sessions will not be recorded.
The Early Bird rate expires Sept. 15, so register now!
