
This was an exhibit at the Sonja Heine Art Center in Oslo in 1984. Although I did not then imagine immigration law as my field—I was in a different area of law at the time—I found myself drawn to the exhibit, and even bought the poster. Little did I know that, barely a year later, I would shift from a field of law that was work to the field of law that is a calling. Immigration.
One of the first things I did when making that shift was join an organization called AILA.
This was an organization of just over 2,000 members at the time. It had only recently opened a national office after decades of being run entirely by volunteers and having an “office”consisting of a box that was passed from one president to the next. Yet, it had an astonishingly ambitious mission: to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable laws, advance the quality of practice, and enhance the professional development of its members. That was a lot for a relative handful of lawyers to undertake, and yet this was a group of lawyers who didn’t know it couldn’t be done, and therefore did it.Yes, I felt at home immediately.
That is the AILA that has been my professional home, and the home of thousands of others, in the decades since. The numbers have grown exponentially, both in membership and staff, and the execution of the mission has acquired multiple new dimensions, but the commitment and drive remain at peak.
I was privileged to join the staff of AILA in 1999, and to eventually become its Executive Director. The privilege was to serve that ambitious mission and the calling that is immigration law, to work with some of the finest people I have ever known, both on staff and among the membership, and to develop friendships that will long endure.
Through it all, the Reisen til Amerika poster has been on the wall of whatever office I have occupied, including my home office here in retirement land. It is a reminder of the work that AILA and its members do every day. Striving to ensure that the Promise of America is made true.
New York, NY
New York, NY
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New York, NY
New York, NY
New York, NY
Atlanta, GA
Philadelphia, PA
Newark, NJ
New York, NY
Houston, TX
Washington, D.C.
Seattle, WA
Rochester, NY
Raleigh, NC
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
Atlanta, GA
Cleveland, OH
Burlington, VT
Philadelphia, PA
New York, NY
Richmond, VA
New York, NY
New York, NY
New York, NY
New York, NY
New York, NY
New York, NY
Houston, TX
New York, NY
New York, NY
Atlanta, GA
San Jose, CA
Minneapolis, MN
Novato, CA
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Cambridge, MA
Dallas, TX
Washington, D.C.
New York, NY
El Paso, TX
Santa Monica, CA
Just before I assumed the presidency of AILA, a colleague commented that I would have my hands full managing such a large board. I recall being surprised at that statement. I had served for many years on the BOG, loved being a part of that special and august group (and still do) –from the energy of the chapter chairs and the new ideas of the elected directors, to the institutional wisdom of the past presidents. I never felt that we were too many. I did not believe that it was the President’s role to “manage” the board, but rather, to listen to the board with an open mind and benefit from its’ aggregated expertise. I can remember many a time when a BOG colleague, taking the mike, would advance an argument that completely changed my view of an issue and really made me think. As President, I placed a premium on the time and expertise of our BOG members, and tried to use both as effectively and as respectfully as possible, especially at times when the Executive Committee could not reach a consensus on a matter. One of the aspects of my presidency of which I am the most proud is the relationship that the Executive Committee forged with the BOG that year—one that has only improved, in my view, in the years since.
Washington, DC
Oklahoma City, OK
City of Industry, CA
La Habra, CA
Chicago, IL
In my role as the first Black and gay president of the AILA, I will continue to expand volunteer opportunities so that all members of our organization can see themselves leading at all levels of service.
Washington, D.C.