AILA New England Chapter

Roundtable: What to do about affirmative asylum terminations
2025-07-16 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Roundtable: What to do about affirmative asylum terminations (Wed. July 16 1pm)

Join your colleagues to brainstorm what to do about terminations of affirmative asylum applications. How, when, and whether should we request a Credible Fear Interview? How do we manage client expectations? How do we help clients try to avoid detention? Join here, and if you have a client with a terminated application, please fill out AILA National’s call for examples.

Civil Rights & Rule of Law: What’s Happening Now, What’s Next, and How You Can Help
2025-07-15 12:00 - 13:30
AILA NE is co-sponsoring a streaming event designed to update the legal community on the state of civil rights and rule of law. Lawyers for Civil Rights has teamed up with the MBA and BBA to organize this event, which we’re making available for free to all bar associations and other groups across the Massachusetts legal community. I’m attaching a memo with more details, but here are the basics:
Program Title: Civil Rights & Rule of Law: What’s Happening Now, What’s Next, and How You Can Help
Description: Join us for a one-hour panel discussion on the current state of civil rights and the rule of law—locally and nationally. Our expert panel will unpack where and how key issues are being litigated while sharing forward-looking insights on what to expect in the months ahead. Immediately following the panel discussion, a 30-minute session will spotlight ways attorneys can take action—featuring opportunities for pro bono service and community engagement through Lawyers for Civil Rights and other initiatives.
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 15 from 12 to 1 PM (Panel); 1 – 1:30 PM (Get Involved)
Duration: 60 Minutes (Panel Discussion); 30 Minutes (How to Get Involved)
Moderator: Damian Turco, Turco Legal, MBA Immediate Past President
Panelists: Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, Executive Director, Lawyers for Civil Rights Hon. Nancy Gertner, U.S. District Court (Ret.), Harvard Law School Richard Cole, Cole Civil Rights and Safe Schools Consulting Sponsorship: LCR, BBA, MBA (Seeking co-sponsorship from local associations & schools) Cost: None
Registration: Webinar Registration – Zoom

June Chapter Meeting
2025-06-26 16:00 - 18:30
Please join us this Thursday, June 26, 2025, for our final AILA NE Monthly Meeting before the summer break – and we’re closing the season with connection, celebration, and community!Location: MCLE, 10 Winter Pl, Boston, MA
Come in person – come to mingle!
Zoom option available here: https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/uwIuwY16QvOgNBa42i-boQ
What to Expect?
4:00 PM – New Members Division Mixer
Kick off the evening with a casual mixer hosted by our New Members Division! This is a fantastic opportunity for both new and experienced attorneys to connect. Conversations are encouraged — and not just about immigration law! Light refreshments will be served.
5:00 PM – Business Meeting
Hear important updates from AILA National, local chapter news, and join us as we celebrate our local Pro Bono Champions who go above and beyond for our communities.
5:30 PM – Main Meeting
Members Stefanie Fisher-Pinkert and Branden Ladebush will share highlights, practical tips, and well-being insights they brought back from last week’s AILA National Conference in Denver, CO.
Come learn, reflect, and recharge with us!
Snacks and refreshments will follow.
Let’s gather, connect, and celebrate before the summer break!

When

Thursday Jun 26, 2025 ⋅ 4pm – 6:30pm (Eastern Time – New York)

Location

In-person (MCLE, 10 Winter Pl., Boston, MA 02108) and remote (Zoom)
View map

AILA NE: Information Session for Legal Representation Fund (BIJAN/Beyond Bond,Supported by the MA Attorney General's Office)
2025-06-18 16:30 - 17:30
AILA NE: Information Session for Legal Representation Fund (BIJAN/Beyond Bond,Supported by the MA Attorney General’s Office)
BIJAN/Beyond Bond Legal Defense Fund has created a Legal Representation Fund to help fund free legal representation to detained immigrants who are eligible to request an immigration bond. This program is open to non-profit or private attorneys. Successful applicants should be members of AILA and have significant immigration law experience, including proficiency in bond representation and filing. Suggested skills also include an understanding of the special needs of immigrant populations.
Fill out the Immigration Attorney Interest Form – https://forms.office.com/g/ZnJvSXjRMi if you or your staff are interested in participating in this program. Successful applicants will be eligible to receive reimbursement at a rate of $3,500 per bond motion and hearing held. You must fill out this brief form by June 20, 2025 to be deemed eligible. Please only fill out 1 form PER FIRM/ORGANIZATION, not per person in your firm/organization.
For more information, you can sign up for the Legal Representation Fund information session on Wednesday, June 18 from 4:30 to 5:30 pm here – https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/Z0GKtEcpSau4CbY1LeopWg

AILA NE Webinar: Cross-Cultural Client Representation
2025-06-11 12:00 - 13:00
At this time of anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies, ICE enforcement actions, and heightened stress and anxiety for our clients, it is all the more critical for us immigration attorneys to provide effective advocacy that embraces our clients’ cultures and bridges any gaps.
Please join a virtual session on Cross-Cultural Representation on Wednesday, June 11 at 12-1 pm EDT. This session is hosted and sponsored by several chapters including AILA New England and Connecticut, among others!
You can register for this CLE at this link.
Speakers:
Speakers:
YASMIN BLACKBURN
MIKI MATRICIAN
PETULA MCSHIRAS
BRITTANY FAITH
DAVID WILKS

Hot Topic Roundtable: Matter of Q. Li
2025-06-09 12:00
Hot Topic Roundtable: Matter of Q. Li
Join us for a timely roundtable discussion on Matter of Q. Liand its sweeping implications for bond eligibility. Featuring Adriana Lafaille (ACLU of MA), the PAIR Project, and Kim Williams (Gomez & Martinez LLC), this conversation will explore legal strategies, advocacy approaches, and how to best protect our clients in the wake of this precedent.Don’t miss this crucial discussion!
When:Monday, June 9, 2025 at 12:00 PM

Register here: https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/OoSjGlLdS1KaiqOc3lcVTg

AILA-NE DEI Committee invites you to an End-of-Year brunch:
2025-06-08 11:30 - 13:30
AILA-NE DEI Committee invites you to an End-of-Year brunch:
This event is an opportunity to stay connected, try delicious food, and recognize the cultures that enrich our work & lives.
We will especially honor the Eid Al-Adha holiday. Known as the Festival of Sacrifice, this occasion commemorates the story of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his unwavering faith & willingness to make personal sacrifice for a greater cause. It is a time of reflection, gratitude & community – values that resonate with the work we do as advocates for justice for immigrants.
Date: Sunday, June 8
Time: 11.30am
Place: Masala Art Restaurant, 990 Great Plain Avenue, Needham, MA 02492
Menu: lavish brunch buffet of samosas, pakoras, chaat, chicken tikka masala, dosas, biryani, naan bread, and more.
Cost: $35
RSVP: Sign up by June 6, 2025 here
Join us as we celebrate unity, resilience, and our shared commitment to supporting our immigrant clients.
Christina, Claudia, Mahsa, Ogor & Samia – AILA-NE DEI Committee

TRAINING: Court Watch at the Chelmsford and Boston Immigration Courts
2025-06-04 16:00 - 17:30
TRAINING: Court Watch at the Chelmsford and Boston Immigration Courts

MLRI and MIRA are coordinating a court watch training this coming Wednesday at 4 to 5:30 PM.
Court watch training
Wednesday, June 4 at 4:00 to 5:30 PM
Register Here: Meeting Registration – Zoom

Where do we go from here? A Roundtable Discussion with AILA New England’s DEI committee
2025-05-28 12:00 - 13:00
Where do we go from here? A Roundtable Discussion with AILA New England’s DEI committee
May 28, 2025 at 12pm!

In light of shifting national conversations, we’ll examine how DEI continues to shape the practice of immigration law, the importance of inclusive legal spaces, and the ongoing work of this DEI committee within AILA-NE and beyond. Questions & issues to be addressed:

· What would members like to see the DEI committee doing?
· What is the ongoing benefit of the committee?
· Why DEI still matters for our chapter
· The role of immigration attorneys as DEI advocates
· Sustaining our DEI committee
· Strategies for meaningful engagement & change

For any questions or suggestions contact the chair at samia@samialaw.com We look forward to your voice at the table.

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86472882783?pwd=[REDACTED]

KIND Office Hour (Virtual)
2025-05-21 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-04-16 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-03-19 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

May Chapter Meeting
2025-05-15 16:00 - 18:30

Retirement Celebration for IJ O'Sullivan
2025-05-14 17:00 - 20:00
When: Wednesday May 14 from 5 to 8 pm
Tickets: $30 per person for light food and drinks. Purchase your ticket here.
Who can attend: Each person can purchase 1 ticket per AILA member or former immigration practitioner.
Unfortunately, we cannot open the event to non-AILA guests (significant others, spouses, and friends who are not immigration practitioners or former practitioners). If slots are still available the day before the event, we may be able to open them up for significant others and friends. In that case, we will make an announcement. Thanks for your understanding.
Please note the venue change below.
The celebration will be at
The University of Massachusetts Club
One Beacon Street, 32nd Fl, Boston, MA 02108
Note: This is not the same location as previously posted.
For those who have already registered, we will also send an additional email informing them of the venue change.

PAIR Project Asylum Office Hours (New Members Division)
2025-05-14 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-04-09 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

AILA NE Documentary & Fundraiser Event: Las Abogadas and Fundraiser for Latin American Relief Fund
2025-05-01 17:30 - 20:00
In this difficult immigration climate, let’s get together, stand in solidarity, and celebrate the hard work of all of our attorneys!
Please join us for a screening of the documentary film Las Abogadas at the MCLE auditorium on May 1st at 5:30 pm. Las Abogadas is an award-winning documentary film about female attorneys at the southern border fighting back against anti-immigrant policy changes. During this chaotic time, we hope this movie can be a symbol of hope and inspiration as well as an opportunity to connect as a community. See here for more about Las Abogadas, the team that created this documentary, and the featured asylum seekers.
Where: MCLE, 10 Winter Place, Boston, MA (near Park Street on Red/Green Lines)
When: Thursday 5/1

5:30 – 7:00 pm: Documentary Screening on female attorneys on the front lines
7:00 – 8:00 pm: Reception and fundraiser for Latin American Relief Fund

Register here so we can order the right amount of appetizers and beverages!

AILA NE Webinar: I-9 Compliance (CLE Committee)
2025-04-29 12:00 - 13:00
Join the AILA NE CLE Committee for a webinar focused on I-9 compliance for employers.
Speakers: Katie Minervino (Pierce Atwood LLP) and Nici Kersey (Kersey Immigration Compliance LLC)
Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uo4eKUZgTJOBm-LL55hgVg

AILA NE Roundtable: AILA NE & Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) Roundtable Discussion
2025-04-24 12:00 - 13:00
Register here: https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/PNi19srsScSTrgZA9JMLqw

This roundtable is meant to foster collaboration between AILA NE and LCR. Join us to learn more about LCR’s incredible advocacy and litigation work on behalf of immigrant communities, explore opportunities to support and engage with LCR’s efforts, and strategize ways we can work together to protect immigrant rights—especially in the face of growing challenges under the current administration.

This is a great opportunity to build community and strengthen our collective impact. We hope to see you there!

Open Chats with the Chair
2025-04-18 16:00 - 16:30, 2025-04-04 16:00 - 16:30, 2025-03-21 16:00 - 16:30
Come chat with the Chair using this Zoom link if you would like to:

Learn about getting more involved at AILA, what resources AILA has to offer, or who in the chapter you might seek advice from on a particular topic;
Get oriented as a new member to AILA or to our chapter;
Provide feedback on the chapter’s activities; or
Just to say hi!

April Chapter Meeting: Habeas Training with NILA
2025-04-17 17:00 - 18:30
Join us for our April Chapter meeting to receive a training on filing habeas cases in federal district court. We are fortunate to have presenters Trina Realmuto and Kristin MacLeod-Ball from National Immigration Litigation Alliance.

When: Thursday April 17 at 5 – 6:30 pm

5:00 – 5:30 Chapter Business Meeting;
5:30 – 6:30 Main Meeting

Where: VIRTUAL ONLY Register here for Zoom link
What: Trina and Kristin will discuss:

The requirements of habeas petitions
Timing considerations
How to file a writ of habeas
Pre- and post-filing communications

AILA NE Connected
2025-04-15 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-04-02 12:00 - 13:00
Join us at AILA NE Connected: Navigating the Trump 2.0 Storm, a supportive space for AILA NE attorneys to connect, commiserate, and strategize.
Held twice monthly – 1st Wednesday of the month at 12 pm (join here) and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 5 pm (join here), this forum is designed to empower and sustain you as you face unprecedented changes and challenges, both professionally and personally.
Whether you’re grappling with:

New or intensifying travel restrictions,
Managing DACA clients under shifting policies,
Responding to mass deportation efforts,
Supporting business clients navigating new standard for common work visa, DOL wage rules or other restrictions
Or just feeling the weight of this turbulent environment

No need to register in advance—and you don’t have to stay for the full hour, or come every session—drop in whenever you are able. Just bring yourself and whatever is on your mind. We will stand together as advocates, allies, colleagues, and friends. We will get through this together!

AILA NE: Immigration Habeas Training for Criminal Defense Lawyers (Immigration Attorneys Welcome)
2025-04-15 16:30 - 17:30
We have over 60 criminal defense lawyers through MA Criminal Defense Lawyers Association who are willing to help AILA attorneys serve as local counsel to file habeas cases. We are also exploring attorneys who can serve as local counsel for other NE states.
This training is designed to educate criminal defense lawyers on how to file immigration habeas cases, but AILA NE immigration attorneys are welcome to attend to hear how criminal defense attorneys will help. If you are interested to sit in on this training for criminal defense lawyers, register here: https://aila-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/YTb_Ce76QP2nazlihzHMeA

AILA NE Webinar: Family Preparedness in Uncertain Times (CBO/Pro Bono Committee)
2025-04-10 12:00 - 13:00
Join family law attorney Julie D. Palmer to learn how practitioners and advocates can support families in making legal arrangements to protect their children in the event of parental unavailability. Topics include caregiver affidavits, temporary agent appointments, and guardianship of minors.
Register here.

AILA NE Roundtable: Preparing H-1B Petitions for Beneficiary-Owners Under the H-1B Modernization Rule
2025-03-27 12:00 - 13:00
Under an expansion of the definition of “employer” in the new H-1B modernization rules that became effective in January 2025, it is now possible to file H-1B petitions for beneficiaries who own the employer/business. Come join your colleagues in brainstorming how to prepare H-1B Petitions for beneficiaries who own the business. If you have successfully secured an approval on such an H-1B petition, we want to hear from you!
This workshop/roundtable will be led by veteran AILA NE practitioners and past New England chapter chairs Bennett Savitz, Robin O’Donoghue, and Ed White. Register here!

AILA CLE Committee Brown Bag
2025-03-25 12:00 - 13:00

March Chapter Meeting
2025-03-20 16:00 - 18:30
