American Immigration Lawyers Association
Official AILA Logo
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| Formation | October 14, 1946 |
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| Type | Professional Bar Association |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
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Membership
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13,000 members |
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Executive Director
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Crystal Williams |
| Website | www.aila.org |
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), founded on October 14, 1946, is a voluntary bar association of over 13,000 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law. 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 is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that provides continuing legal education, information, professional services, and expertise through its 38 chapters and over 50 national committees. Its national headquarters are in Washington, D.C.
In 2011, Washingtonian Magazine named AILA one of the "50 Great Places to Work in Washington".
The association (originally called the Association of Immigration and Nationality Lawyers or AINL) was founded on October 14, 1946 by a group of 19 immigration lawyers and professionals in Manhattan, New York. Twelve of the association founders had recently worked for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and saw an opportunity to utilize their professional standing “to elevate the standard and reputation of the practitioner appearing before the Immigration Service” Josh Koenigsberg served as the first president of the association with Gaspare Cusumano as vice president, Anita Streep as secretary, and Daniel Caputi as treasurer.
In 1982, the association established a national headquarters in Washington, D.C. and was renamed the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
By 1985, the association had 1,800 members; a three-fold increase from 1975. As of 2012[update], there are over 12,000 AILA members spread over 36 chapters in the United States and across the world.
AILA's mission, as stated on its website, is 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.
1. Increase member participation in advocacy before Congress, the Judiciary, the Federal Agencies, and the media, for immigration-related interests of our clients and society.
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