Timeline

... of AILA History

For a full timeline of U.S. immigration laws, check out AILA’s Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook.
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November 22, 1946
Association of Immigration and Nationality Lawyers is created in New York City
The Association of Immigration and Nationality Lawyers (AINL), later renamed American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), was incorporated on October 14, 1946, in New York, NY. Founded by 20 immigration practitioners in Manhattan, AINL’s certificate of incorporation was filed in New York on November 22, 1946, and Josh Koenigsberg became the organization’s first president. Among the stated purposes of the newly formed organization was to “advance the science of the administration of law pertaining to immigration, nationality and naturalization, promoting reforms in the law with regard thereto; facilitating the administration of justice thereunder, and elevating the standard of integrity, honor and courtesy of those appearing in a representative capacity in immigration, nationality and naturalization matters.” The first executive committee was Mr. Koenigsberg, Vice President Gaspare Cusumano, Treasurer Daniel Caputi, and Treasurer Anita Streep.
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1954
Lena Orlow Ginsberg becomes the first female president of AINL
Lena Orlow Ginsberg became the first female president of AINL — an accomplishment that is all the more remarkable as the American Bar Association did not elevate its first female president until 1995. For the Orlows, the organization was the equivalent of a family business — Ms. Orlow Ginsberg’s husband, Abram Orlow, was also a founder and served as president in 1948. Their son, Jim Orlow, served as president of AILA in 1974.
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1977

Benjamin Gim becomes AILA’s first Asian-American president

1978-1979

AINL’s Immigration Newsletter is first produced

1979-1991

AINL’s Immigration Journal is first produced

1981

AINL changes its name to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

1981-1999

AILA’s Monthly Mailing is first produced

1982

AILA hires its first executive director, Warren Leiden, and opens a national office in Washington, D.C.

May 28, 1982

AILA holds its first Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX

1987

The American Immigration Law Foundation is founded

The American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF) — later to become the American Immigration Council — is founded with the mission to provide legal representation to immigrants in court.
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1991-1992

AILA’s Inside Immigration periodical is first produced

1993

AILA Dispatch is first produced

1996

AILA held its first "Lobby Day," now known as a National Day of Action

1996

Denyse Sabagh becomes AILA’s first Arab-American president

1997

Jeanne Butterfield becomes Executive Director of AILA

1997

Launch of AILALink

2000

AILA purchases its first national headquarters building

AILA’s first national headquarters building was located at 918 F Street NW, in Washington, D.C. It was constructed in 1890 by the National Union Fire Insurance Co. and underwent a complete renovation by the American Immigration Lawyers Association in 2001.
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2000 - 2008

Immigration Law Today publication is first produced

2006

Carlina Tapia-Ruano becomes AILA’s first Latina president

Carlina Tapia-Ruano, the first Latina president of AILA, was later named in Hispanic Business Magazine as one of America’s Most Influential Hispanics.
January 1, 2008

AILA sold 918 F Street NW, and moved to 1331 G Street NW

September 28, 2009

Crystal Williams became the Executive Director of AILA

June 2010-April 2015

VOICE: An Immigration Dialogue is produced

AILA’s full-color, online magazine and authoritative source for immigration news and analyses, this professional magazine contained articles by practicing attorneys, policy makers, and other experts in the field.
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June 21, 2012

AILA produces its first AILA8, a daily e-newsletter that allows members to read the top 8 immigration items of the day in 8 minutes or less.

February 19, 2015

AILA reincorporates in Washington, D.C.

June 18, 2015

Victor Nieblas-Pradis becomes AILA’s first Mexican-American president

January 11, 2016

Ben Johnson becomes the executive director of AILA

June 19, 2017

AILA and Council launch the Immigration Justice Campaign

AILA and ​the Council launch the Immigration Justice Campaign responded to a representation crisis with launch of the Immigration Justice Campaign, an initiative to prepare more lawyers to be cutting-edge defenders of immigrants facing deportation. The initiative supports a corps of attorneys mobilized to defend immigrants by training new volunteer lawyers from all fields, facilitating new pro bono representation opportunities, and employing innovative mentorship strategies to leverage the expertise of the immigration bar.
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April 25, 2019

Legal publisher Fastcase and AILA debuted the first edition of the biannual AILA Law Journal

June 10, 2021

Allen Orr becomes AILA’s first African American, openly gay president

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