Ben Johnson
@ailaexecdir.bsky.social
Executive Director of @aila.org. The views expressed here are my personal opinions. RT ≠ Endorsements.
A divided 5th Circuit greenlit ICE’s policy of detaining immigrants without bond, abandoning decades of practice and basic due process. Treating civil immigration cases like criminal punishment erodes the rule of law and human dignity.
Appeals court backs Trump’s mass detention policy
The ruling from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals contradicts thousands of lower-court rulings.
www.politico.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:13 PM
A divided 5th Circuit greenlit ICE’s policy of detaining immigrants without bond, abandoning decades of practice and basic due process. Treating civil immigration cases like criminal punishment erodes the rule of law and human dignity.
New polling is clear: Americans want real ICE reform. Supermajorities support visible IDs, bans on masking, independent investigations on wrongdoing, and an end to racial profiling. Voters want accountability and transparency, not unchecked enforcement. www.gelliottmorris.com/p/what-ameri...
What Americans actually want done about ICE
Democratic proposals for reform earn supermajority support among U.S. voters
www.gelliottmorris.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:07 PM
New polling is clear: Americans want real ICE reform. Supermajorities support visible IDs, bans on masking, independent investigations on wrongdoing, and an end to racial profiling. Voters want accountability and transparency, not unchecked enforcement. www.gelliottmorris.com/p/what-ameri...
The Administration is gutting due process again. This time by issuing an interim final rule making the Board of Immigration Appeals less relevant and offering immigrants less chance to have their case reviewed unless they go to federal court.
February 5, 2026 at 8:06 PM
The Administration is gutting due process again. This time by issuing an interim final rule making the Board of Immigration Appeals less relevant and offering immigrants less chance to have their case reviewed unless they go to federal court.
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to end TPS for Haiti, making clear that TPS holders cannot be deported or denied work authorization while the case moves forward. AILA celebrates this win & will carefully follow further developments on Haitian TPS.
February 3, 2026 at 4:08 PM
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to end TPS for Haiti, making clear that TPS holders cannot be deported or denied work authorization while the case moves forward. AILA celebrates this win & will carefully follow further developments on Haitian TPS.
Don’t waste American taxpayers’ dollars on militarized raids & unchecked detention. Existing DHS resources should be shifted to agencies like FEMA that genuinely protect the public. Public safety is built through transparency, not terrorizing communities. https://bit.ly/3ZgaWh7
Vote Recommendation: AILA Urges NO Vote on FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
AILA sent a vote recommendation to Congress on 1/21/26 urging a NO vote on the FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Don’t waste American taxpayers’ dollars on militarized raids & unchecked detention. Existing DHS resources should be shifted to agencies like FEMA that genuinely protect the public. Public safety is built through transparency, not terrorizing communities. https://bit.ly/3ZgaWh7
Incredibly proud of our AILA member attorneys who worked tirelessly to support Liam and his father and get them out of detention. The reality is they should never have been detained in the first place, and the administration continues to call terrorizing children & families "policy."
Why the Trump administration is detaining immigrant children – and what happens to them next
The detention of Liam Conejo Ramos, age five, marks the turbocharging of a policy discontinued five years ago
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Incredibly proud of our AILA member attorneys who worked tirelessly to support Liam and his father and get them out of detention. The reality is they should never have been detained in the first place, and the administration continues to call terrorizing children & families "policy."
Congress now has until Feb 13 to make real changes at DHS. Congress must halt DHS money until it stops violence by federal agents, racial profiling, warrantless arrests, mass roving patrols, and arrests at schools, churches, and places where emergency services are provided.
Bipartisan Effort Blocks Unchecked DHS Funding
AILA leadership responded to the Senate vote to block passage of a combined spending bill, driven by opposition to increasing funding to DHS without, at the same time, enacting meaningful measures tha...
www.aila.org
February 1, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Congress now has until Feb 13 to make real changes at DHS. Congress must halt DHS money until it stops violence by federal agents, racial profiling, warrantless arrests, mass roving patrols, and arrests at schools, churches, and places where emergency services are provided.
Congress must block the DHS funding bill unless it has the necessary guardrails to end the lawless, deadly actions DHS is engaging in. DHS is endangering, NOT protecting, American communities. Take Action: www.aila.org/library/take...
Take Action: Tell Congress to Vote NO on the FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
The American Immigration Lawyers Association urges Congress to oppose any increase in funding for DHS in the FY26 DHS Appropriations Bill.
www.aila.org
January 30, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Congress must block the DHS funding bill unless it has the necessary guardrails to end the lawless, deadly actions DHS is engaging in. DHS is endangering, NOT protecting, American communities. Take Action: www.aila.org/library/take...
AILA calls on Congress to settle for nothing less than real reforms that ensure compliance with the Constitution, reduce DHS’s excessive and bloated budget, and keep our communities safe.
NEW: AILA leadership responds to today’s bipartisan effort to block unchecked DHS funding. “We stand in solidarity against the violence and chaos DHS has unleashed in our communities," said AILA President Jeff Joseph. https://bit.ly/4tdmNKK
Bipartisan Effort Blocks Unchecked DHS Funding
AILA leadership responded to the Senate vote to block passage of a combined spending bill, driven by opposition to increasing funding to DHS without, at the same time, enacting meaningful measures tha...
www.aila.org
January 29, 2026 at 9:20 PM
AILA calls on Congress to settle for nothing less than real reforms that ensure compliance with the Constitution, reduce DHS’s excessive and bloated budget, and keep our communities safe.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
"If immigration enforcement is civil, it must look civil: transparent, notice-driven, and judge-centered. No masked street operations for civil paperwork. No brandishing of firearms with no imminent threat of harm" -Jeremy McKinney on #ThinkImmigration. https://bit.ly/45zRLm6
Think Immigration: A Civil Code, Enforced at Gunpoint
AILA Past President Jeremy McKinney describes how Congress normalized “arming a civil enforcement agency with criminal-style power while insisting the Constitution counts for less” and what must be do...
bit.ly
January 29, 2026 at 6:11 PM
"If immigration enforcement is civil, it must look civil: transparent, notice-driven, and judge-centered. No masked street operations for civil paperwork. No brandishing of firearms with no imminent threat of harm" -Jeremy McKinney on #ThinkImmigration. https://bit.ly/45zRLm6
Reposted by Ben Johnson
Today, AILA sent a vote recommendation to the Senate urging a NO vote on the FY2026 DHS Appropriations bill. Congress cannot give more money to DHS without putting in place guardrails to stop the unlawful actions that are causing violence & death. https://bit.ly/4k6HJPo
Vote Recommendation: AILA Urges Senate to Vote NO on FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
AILA sent a vote recommendation to the Senate on 1/26/26 urging a NO vote on the FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.
www.aila.org
January 26, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Today, AILA sent a vote recommendation to the Senate urging a NO vote on the FY2026 DHS Appropriations bill. Congress cannot give more money to DHS without putting in place guardrails to stop the unlawful actions that are causing violence & death. https://bit.ly/4k6HJPo
A second U.S. citizen has now been killed as a direct result of DHS’s reckless enforcement operations. This campaign of fear must end. AILA calls for what the country deserves: a full, independent investigation with integrity and accountability; and Senators to vote NO on any DHS funding (1/2)
Live: State officials decry fatal shooting. ‘We can’t live like this,’ Walz says
Protesters have swarmed the street where a man was shot and killed by federal agents Saturday. Republican Tom Emmer said Walz’s response was “dangerous.”
www.startribune.com
January 24, 2026 at 11:36 PM
A second U.S. citizen has now been killed as a direct result of DHS’s reckless enforcement operations. This campaign of fear must end. AILA calls for what the country deserves: a full, independent investigation with integrity and accountability; and Senators to vote NO on any DHS funding (1/2)
When the government tells judges to ignore a federal court order, it undermines the rule of law itself. Court orders aren’t optional. Defying them erodes judicial independence, due process, and the basic promise that the law applies to everyone.
‘Is Bond Now Being Granted?’: Conflicting Orders Leave Detainees, Attorneys in Limbo - Documented
The Trump administration has continued to push mandatory detention despite a court order to stop.
documentedny.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:01 PM
When the government tells judges to ignore a federal court order, it undermines the rule of law itself. Court orders aren’t optional. Defying them erodes judicial independence, due process, and the basic promise that the law applies to everyone.
AILA opposes increased funding for DHS detailed in the FY 26 DHS appropriations bill. Further expansion of a dangerous, harmful, and deadly enforcement system cannot be allowed to continue under the watch of this Congress. We need urgent accountability.
Vote Recommendation: AILA Urges NO Vote on FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
AILA sent a vote recommendation to Congress on 1/21/26 urging a NO vote on the FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.
www.aila.org
January 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM
AILA opposes increased funding for DHS detailed in the FY 26 DHS appropriations bill. Further expansion of a dangerous, harmful, and deadly enforcement system cannot be allowed to continue under the watch of this Congress. We need urgent accountability.
DOJ ordered immigration judges to defy a federal court’s nationwide ruling that said class members have a right to a bond hearing. ICE is terrorizing communities and arresting people with impunity, and now DOJ is limiting any chance for release. Defying court orders erodes the rule of law.
Practice Alert: EOIR Issues Nationwide Guidance on <em>Maldonado Bautista</em>
On January 13, 2026, EOIR issued nationwide guidance instructing all immigration judges to continue denying access to bond hearings despite recent federal court orders.
www.aila.org
January 16, 2026 at 10:29 PM
DOJ ordered immigration judges to defy a federal court’s nationwide ruling that said class members have a right to a bond hearing. ICE is terrorizing communities and arresting people with impunity, and now DOJ is limiting any chance for release. Defying court orders erodes the rule of law.
As an organization of more than 18,000 immigration lawyers, we are concerned about the safety of Americans and their family members in Iran, as well as Iranian nationals in the United States.
AILA has sent a letter to the Trump Administration urging immediate government action to use the full range of immigration authorities available under U.S. law to ensure the safety and security of all people impacted by the current crisis in Iran. https://bit.ly/3NLope8
AILA Sends Letter to President Trump Urging Action to Protect Individuals Affected by the Iranian Crisis
AILA sent a letter to President Trump urging all government action be taken to protect individuals currently affected by the ongoing unrest in Iran. The letter offers multiple actions that government ...
bit.ly
January 15, 2026 at 6:33 PM
As an organization of more than 18,000 immigration lawyers, we are concerned about the safety of Americans and their family members in Iran, as well as Iranian nationals in the United States.
The Administration calls this a “pause on processing.” In reality, it blocks immigrant visas from 75 countries—including family and employment-based cases—and adds a de facto wealth test. The human and economic costs are real. We cannot keep shutting our doors on legal immigration.
US will suspend immigrant visa processing from 75 countries over public assistance concerns
The State Department says it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries whose nationals are deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United State...
apnews.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:20 PM
The Administration calls this a “pause on processing.” In reality, it blocks immigrant visas from 75 countries—including family and employment-based cases—and adds a de facto wealth test. The human and economic costs are real. We cannot keep shutting our doors on legal immigration.
Ending TPS for Somalia is disgraceful given conditions there. Added to the Administration's ICE operations in Minnesota & multiple derogatory statements about the Somali-American community, this is a deliberate attempt by the Administration to sow fear & harm.
DHS announces termination of protected status for Somalis after group targeted by Trump
There are 2,471 Somali nationals currently in the U.S. under TPS, sources said.
abcnews.go.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Ending TPS for Somalia is disgraceful given conditions there. Added to the Administration's ICE operations in Minnesota & multiple derogatory statements about the Somali-American community, this is a deliberate attempt by the Administration to sow fear & harm.
A life was lost in Minneapolis today, and that alone demands pause and accountability. No immigration operation should end in death. This tragedy is a direct result of ICE using excessive force as part of a campaign of fear and intimidation in targeted communities.
US immigration officer fatally shoots woman in Minneapolis, officials say
Local officials accuse immigration agents of
www.bbc.com
January 7, 2026 at 9:37 PM
A life was lost in Minneapolis today, and that alone demands pause and accountability. No immigration operation should end in death. This tragedy is a direct result of ICE using excessive force as part of a campaign of fear and intimidation in targeted communities.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
NEW: AILA President Jeff Joseph responds to the Trump Administration's recent immigration changes, including the expansion of the ban, widespread cancellations of citizenship oath ceremonies, and halt to the Diversity Visa program. https://bit.ly/48WFVod
AILA: Trump Administration Moves Harm Families and Employers and Do Not Make America Safer
AILA President Jeff Joseph responds to the Trump Administration's recent changes, including the expansion of the ban and halt to the Diversity Visa program, noting the continued weaponization of “trag...
bit.ly
December 19, 2025 at 8:55 PM
NEW: AILA President Jeff Joseph responds to the Trump Administration's recent immigration changes, including the expansion of the ban, widespread cancellations of citizenship oath ceremonies, and halt to the Diversity Visa program. https://bit.ly/48WFVod
Ignoring the need for immigration reform affects tens of thousands of American families. Longtime immigrant workers care for our kids, but without a path to legal status, families face constant disruption and uncertainty. @immcouncil.org
Immigrant Workers and the Childcare Crisis - American Immigration Council
Immigrant childcare workers are vital to America’s economy, yet aggressive immigration enforcement and rising costs threaten access to affordable care. Learn why protecting this workforce is essential...
www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org
December 11, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Ignoring the need for immigration reform affects tens of thousands of American families. Longtime immigrant workers care for our kids, but without a path to legal status, families face constant disruption and uncertainty. @immcouncil.org
You can’t be “pro-innovation” and “anti-immigrant” at the same time. The Trump–Miller agenda is a recipe for losing talent, investment, and jobs to our competitors.
New Trump-Miller Strategy Clashes On Immigration And Innovation
The Trump administration’s national security strategy assumes America can gain the benefits of immigration without admitting immigrants.
www.forbes.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:46 PM
You can’t be “pro-innovation” and “anti-immigrant” at the same time. The Trump–Miller agenda is a recipe for losing talent, investment, and jobs to our competitors.
AILA supports new paths to legal status, but there are serious concerns about whether the President has the authority to collect a monetary gift in exchange for an employment-based immigrant visa, especially if applicants who have been waiting in line are moved to the back of the line.
December 10, 2025 at 11:35 PM
AILA supports new paths to legal status, but there are serious concerns about whether the President has the authority to collect a monetary gift in exchange for an employment-based immigrant visa, especially if applicants who have been waiting in line are moved to the back of the line.
AILA is committed to sensible, lawful reforms that address the real challenges in our immigration system, strengthen security, and uphold our nation’s constitutional and humanitarian commitments.
NEW in response to the Trump Administration’s immigration policy announcements and changes following the attack on National Guard troops in Washington, DC: Response to Tragedy Should be Measured and Bolster Security, Not Undermine It.
AILA: Response to Tragedy Should be Measured and Bolster Security, Not Undermine It
As the Trump Administration made a rapid series of immigration policy announcements and changes following the attack on National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., AILA President Jeff Joseph and Execut...
www.aila.org
December 1, 2025 at 11:20 PM
AILA is committed to sensible, lawful reforms that address the real challenges in our immigration system, strengthen security, and uphold our nation’s constitutional and humanitarian commitments.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
"Instead of honoring our legal and moral commitments, the administration is sowing fear and uncertainty and undermining the credibility of its own institutions,” AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson responds to Trump Administration refugee re-screenings.
https://bit.ly/4oduBIF
https://bit.ly/4oduBIF
AILA: Refugee Re-Screenings Sow Fear, Not Security
Ben Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), responded to news that the Trump Administration will reopen vetting for refugees who entered between January 20,...
www.aila.org
November 25, 2025 at 5:57 PM
"Instead of honoring our legal and moral commitments, the administration is sowing fear and uncertainty and undermining the credibility of its own institutions,” AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson responds to Trump Administration refugee re-screenings.
https://bit.ly/4oduBIF
https://bit.ly/4oduBIF