My Platform
1. RISE ABOVE THE NOISE
AILA should be the first place every immigration lawyer turns — not out of obligation, but because it consistently delivers what they need. Our members are navigating constant policy and regulatory changes, court decisions that shift direction overnight, biased BIA decisions designed to accelerate deportation, frequent calls to action, back-to-back webinars, and an ongoing stream of practice management and AI guidance. The firehose never stops. Simply asking members to keep up is not enough. AILA must make practicing law easier.
That means cutting through the noise and simplifying how members access critical information —
delivering it quickly, efficiently, and in ways that meet members where they are. It also means:
● Integrating AI into practice in practical, digestible ways
● Expanding training in evolving legal skills such as federal court litigation
● Providing tools to support sustainable small firm management
● Offering meaningful resources to help members maintain resilience and prioritize wellness in a demanding profession
Practice committees, chapter leaders, and regional committees can play a key role in curating and distilling what matters most, while AILA invests in tools that deliver tailored information based on practice area, experience level, and need.
The solution is a smarter, more accessible AILA — one that combines technology with strong human infrastructure. Less noise. More signal. That is what our members need and deserve.
2. RISE TO SEE WHATS AHEAD
AILA’s work in the present moment remains critical. At the same time, we must also look ahead. The next administration will come, and when it does, AILA should be ready — not defining its priorities in real time, but advancing a clear, cohesive agenda from the outset. We should begin building “Project 2029” now as a parallel effort: developing a concrete roadmap for restoring due process, reducing bureaucratic barriers, and creating a system that truly serves immigrants, families, and businesses. This is not about postponing action until the future, but about ensuring that our long-term vision is informed by and grounded in the realities we are addressing today.
AILA’s Standing Committee on Political Engagement (SCOPE) and Government Relations team have a critical role to play and must continue building the institutional muscle to give political leaders practical, expert-driven ideas for how to accomplish meaningful and long-term immigration change. Our members have the knowledge and experiences. Together, we can make AILA’s voice impossible to ignore.
3. RISE TO LIFT EVERY VOICE
Through a member-driven vote, AILA committed to transitioning to a smaller Board of Directors by 2029. As Chair of Governance, I am proud to have helped lead this work alongside many dedicated members. We have designed a new structure, but our success will be defined by how we implement it — by building a Board that delivers greater responsiveness, accountability, transparency, and forward-looking leadership for our membership.
This transition is an opportunity to build those principles into the foundation of how AILA operates. Every chapter must have a meaningful voice. A chapter with a few hundred members should experience the same quality of engagement from AILA National as one with a few thousand. New advisory bodies such as the Council of Chapter Chairs and the College of Past Presidents must function as active, influential partners in governance, not merely symbolic ones. Regional Coordinating Committees should develop into strong mechanisms for cross-chapter collaboration, enabling chapters to share resources, information, and opportunities — so that AILA can deliver what members need more quickly and closer to where they practice.
AILA is strongest when its chapters, members, and communities feel heard, valued, and connected to one another. This transition gives us the opportunity to intentionally build that culture — together.