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Ben Johnson

@ailaexecdir.bsky.social
122 followers 15 following 234 posts

Executive Director of @aila.org. The views expressed here are my personal opinions. RT ≠ Endorsements.

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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
As Xi Jinping arrives in Washington, the U.S. is focused on competing with China for technological leadership. But Trump's immigration policies are pushing the scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs we need out & directly to the hands of our competitors.
insidehighered.com
Top Scientists Lead Exodus of Chinese Academics From U.S.
Funding uncertainty and heightened scrutiny of China are some of the factors prompting thousands of Chinese researchers to leave the U.S.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Trump has renewed his $100k fee on new H-1B workers & ordered agencies to scrutinize H-1B petitions more heavily. We expect a wave of evidence demands and denials and these policies are already making America less competitive on the world stage.
forbes.com
Trump Enacts New Immigration Policies Against H-1B Visa Holders
The administration enacted additional policies to restrict businesses from hiring skilled foreign nationals and renewed the $100,000 entry fee blocked in court.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
An ICE officer's shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin is the latest in a disturbing pattern of enforcement actions resulting in serious injury & death: at least 22 people shot by on-duty ICE & CBP agents during the second Trump Administration, 8 fatally.
texastribune.org
Report: Immigration officer shoots, injures man in Austin
The reported shooting in Austin came more than two months after an ICE officer fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
DHS purposely broke the asylum system and now has the audacity to blame immigration lawyers & AILA for the wreckage. AILA won’t stand for the false claims, rather, we stand for the highest standards of professional responsibility.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Let’s be clear: this is not an official extension or decision by DHS as to the fate of TPS for El Salvador. The Administration is still leaving more than 170,000 people, their families, and their employers in limbo.
nytimes.com
Salvadorans to Keep Temporary Protected Status for Now, Trump Officials Say (Gift Article)
Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador was set to expire on Wednesday. The Trump administration said it would make an announcement about the program’s future at the “appropriate time.”
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
The proposed pay-to-play fees do not make our country great, but signal to the world that the United States is closing its doors to scientists, doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs who help build companies, expand research, and strengthen communities.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
USCIS’s new public charge guidance is a massive step backward. A policy that discourages families from accessing health care, food assistance, or education support undermines public health, family stability, and long-term economic resilience.
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
American Immigration Council @immcouncil.org · 18/08/2026
The U.S. wants high-skilled immigrants to treat patients, drive innovation, conduct research... But what happens when those workers want to build a more permanent life in the U.S.? They face increased uncertainty and mounting obstacles. (1/7) www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/press-releas...
americanimmigrationcouncil.org
New Data: Workers Seeking Green Cards Face Uncertain Path
New data shows that workers seeking employment-based green cards are facing greater uncertainty and mounting obstacles.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Under a new policy, ICE is detaining massive numbers of people despite federal courts having ruled over 16,000 times that ICE is violating the law. ICE is separating families and flooding courts with emergency cases.
politico.com
‘We’ve never seen anything like this’: ICE’s detention crackdown swamps the courts
Families, lawyers and judges describe a year of frantic emergency cases after ICE began detaining people who have lived in the U.S. for years.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
A nationwide network of legal providers represented more than 20,000 unaccompanied children in immigration court cases. The administration has undermined their right to legal representation by cutting off funding and demanding confidential client information.
pbs.org
Unaccompanied migrant children at risk of losing legal representation
Thousands of unaccompanied migrant children could lose legal representation, now that a federal contract with legal aid groups representing the minors is expiring. That contract, held by the non-profi...
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
The State Department has made its visa bond program permanent, requiring some business and tourist B-1 & B-2 visitors to put down up to $20,000 before they can travel to the U.S. For many families, entrepreneurs, and professionals, it's an insurmountable financial barrier.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
AILA is proud to endorse Sen. Cortez Masto’s Fairness for Immigrant Families Act, a commonsense step toward creating lawful pathways, protecting families, increasing transparency, and building a fairer immigration system. @cortezmasto.senate.gov
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
This is one more nail the Administration has hammered into the coffin of the U.S. asylum system that has included closing off the border to asylum seekers, arresting them at court hearings, and sending them to dangerous, conflict-ridden countries where they’ve never lived or even set foot.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Reports from airports in Colorado, Connecticut, Tennessee, California, Texas, Kansas, Virginia, New Jersey, and more show a troubling rise in ICE detentions involving travelers and airport workers.
aila.org
Practice Alert: Reports of Increased Detention at U.S. Airports for Individuals Traveling Domestically
AILA has received a number of reports over the past few days of individuals without lawful status, including those in a period of authorized stay based on pending applications, being detained at airpo...
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
AILA @aila.org · 27/07/2026
The Trump Administration has filed the first ever application to remove a non-citizen through the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC). AILA member Eric Lee describes the implications in a new #ThinkImmigration blog post. bit.ly/3THGb53
bit.ly
Think Immigration: Trump Moves to Weaponize Decades-Old “Alien Terrorist Removal Court”
AILA Member Eric Lee describes how a 30-year-old, never-used tribunal may be weaponized by the Trump Administration, writing that “its use today should be concerning to all as there are significant im...
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
AILA thanks @kirstengillibrand.bsky.social & @durbin.senate.gov for championing this vital legislation to restore independence, integrity, and fairness to America’s immigration courts.
gillibrand.senate.gov
Gillibrand, Durbin Introduce Two Bills To Reform America’s Broken Immigration System - Kirsten Gillibrand | U.S. Senator for New York
Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced two bills to reform America’s broken immigration system.  The Protection of Kids in Immigrant Detention (PROKID) Act wo...
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
AILA @aila.org · 16/07/2026
DHS has published its Final Rule to eliminate "duration of status" for F, J & I nonimmigrants. One of the most significant changes to international student, exchange visitor & foreign media programs in decades, it will be costly, cause chaos, and cut legal immigration.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
The President's reversal of the day-old policy is clear evidence that temporary directives won’t work. After multiple deaths tied to ICE enforcement, Congress must act now to create lasting protections require enforceable standards and accountability.
theguardian.com
White House overturns DHS halt to ICE traffic stops despite killings of two men
Move comes after Trump rebuked his own homeland security department and insisted ICE maintain policy
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
An ICE-involved shooting has claimed another life just days after the fatal shooting in Houston. Another family grieving, another community left searching for answers. The growing number of fatal encounters tied to immigration enforcement should alarm every American.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Another life has been tragically lost during an ICE operation. Immigration enforcement should never become synonymous with fatal encounters. Every use of deadly force demands independent investigation, full transparency & accountability. The public deserves answers, and the rule of law demands them.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Today, AILA President Jeff Joseph and I sent a letter to Secretary Mullin and Secretary Rubio urging the Administration to take immediate immigration-related actions to protect those affected by the devastating earthquakes that have recently struck Venezuela.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed a fundamental constitutional promise: if you're born in the United States, you're a U.S. citizen. Our rights are rooted in the Constitution, not changing political agendas.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
This 6-3 decision from SCOTUS ignores the reality that justice cannot exist when people fleeing persecution are blocked from even accessing our asylum laws. Denying a person the chance to seek protection undermines both fairness and the rule of law.
americanimmigrationcouncil.org
In Blow to Asylum Rights, Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration to Block Asylum Seekers at Border - American Immigration Council
The Supreme Court ruled today that the Trump administration could turn back asylum seekers at ports of entry along the southern border, and that doing so does not violate federal immigration law. The ...
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
On its path to end legal immigration, this Administration continues to weaponize every policy option they have to force immigrants into unlawful status and make them vulnerable to deportation. Congress must not allow this to continue.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Immigration courts should never become traps for people seeking their day in court. AILA applauds today's nationwide ruling blocking ICE from arresting individuals at immigration courthouses.
nytimes.com
Federal Judge Bars ICE From Making Arrests in Immigration Courts
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
The D.C. Circuit's ruling subjects even more people to the unfair “expedited removal” procedure with no court review or any due process – just a DHS official making a unilateral deportation.
theguardian.com
Appeals court allows Trump to fast-track deportation process nationwide
Ruling lets DHS apply expedited removal to non-citizens who are living far from border
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
I'm excited to announce the public release of A Better Way on Immigration: Principles for America's Future, AILA's vision for how our nation can modernize and right-size our immigration system to better serve America's interests and values. aila.org/library/a-better-way-on-immigration
aila.org
A Better Way Forward: Principles for America’s Future
Informed by the experience of the more than 18,000 immigration attorneys who are members of AILA, this document outlines five core principles to restore trust, strengthen the rule of law, and build a ...
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Today #SCOTUS announced in Blanche v. Lau that border officials can impose serious consequences on green card holders reentering the US with little evidence of wrongdoing if they believe the person committed certain crimes.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
On the 14th anniversary of DACA, continued uncertainty affects not only recipients, but also employers, educational institutions, families, and communities across the country. Dreamers have invested in America's future. It's time for Congress to provide a lasting solution.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
We are deeply alarmed by reports that the Trump Administration plans to deport Afghan and Iranian nationals to the Central African Republic tomorrow. Third-country removals raise serious due process and humanitarian concerns. We urge immediate action to halt these transfers.
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
AILA @aila.org · 13/05/2026
New on #ThinkImmigration: Rekha Sharma-Crawford, AILA Second Vice President and member of the AROL Task Force, discusses Matter of Lozada, "a legal decision [that] exposes not merely a flawed rule, but a systemic failure." bit.ly/3Rm6ZGN
aila.org
Think Immigration: A Rule Meant to Protect Is Cutting Both Ways: Why Matter of Lozada Makes the Case for Independent Immigration Courts
AILA Second Vice President Rekha Sharma-Crawford, member of the AROL Task Force, describes how "Matter of Lozada is not the disease; it is the symptom. The disease is a court system never given the st...
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
We have read reports of overcrowding, medical neglect, abuse by guards & sleep deprivation at ICE detention facilities. Horrific conditions have caused 48 deaths in ICE custody during the current Trump administration. 18 people have died since January of this year.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
The ruling reaffirms the right to seek asylum is fundamental & enshrined in US law. By rejecting the sweeping use of ‘invasion’ as a pretext to close the border, the decision upholds America’s commitment to due process & the rule of law. Asylum seekers deserve a fair hearing, not blanket exclusions.
washingtonpost.com
Appeals court clears way for U.S. to reopen border for asylum seekers
A federal appeals court found Trump’s declaration of an “invasion” at the U.S.-Mexico border was illegal, effectively reopening the U.S. to migrants seeking asylum.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
The Trump administration has identified 384 naturalized Americans it wants to strip of citizenship & is dispatching prosecutors in 39 US attorney's offices across the country to do it. This is a dangerous escalation & every American should understand why. 🧵
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Aims to Strip Citizenship From Hundreds of Naturalized Americans
The Trump administration is assigning denaturalization cases to regular prosecutors, which could lead to a surge of people stripped of U.S. citizenship.
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
AILA @aila.org · 13/04/2026
This Thursday, 300+ AILA members from 34 chapters will meet with congressional delegations for AILA’s National Day of Action to elevate community voices & advocate for policies that treat people with dignity & deliver 21st-century solutions #AILANDA26 bit.ly/4tgefCs
bit.ly
Think Immigration: A Step Toward a Better Way on Immigration
AILA Grassroots Advocacy Associate Paul Rampersaud describes the key components that members will be sharing with congressional delegations this week as AILA's National Day of Action takes place on Ca...
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Trump has fired 100+ immigration judges, replaced them w/ "deportation judges," ordered courts to stop granting bond & is pressuring judges to rule against immigrants. The result: immigration courts have become extensions of his mass deportation campaign.
nytimes.com
How Trump Purged Immigration Judges to Speed Up Deportations
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Yesterday at SCOTUS, justices from across the ideological spectrum (including Trump appointees) expressed deep skepticism about the administration's effort to end birthright citizenship. Here's what they said.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Today, the Supreme Court hears a case challenging Trump’s executive order denying citizenship to children born in the U.S. if their parents lack permanent legal status. The stakes are enormous – more than 250,000 children born here every year.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
No law enforcement agency should be funded without being required to follow the Constitution and the law. Congress must deliver binding protections, real transparency, and meaningful oversight.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
This is staggering. DOJ concedes it relied on a memo that never authorized immigration court arrests yet defended the practice in court for months. Meanwhile, people were arrested and deported while trying to obey court orders. That’s a betrayal of due process and professional ethics.
courtlistener.com
Letter – #77 in African Communities Together v. Lyons (S.D.N.Y., 1:25-cv-06366) – CourtListener.com
LETTER addressed to Judge P. Kevin Castel from AUSA Tomoko Onozawa dated March 24, 2026 re: Correction of Material Mistaken Statement of Fact. Document filed by Pamela Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noe...
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
As a result of the hard work of the American Immigration Council and their litigation partners, and the courage of the plaintiffs in this case, we have all secured a meaningful victory for justice and the rule of law. @immcouncil.org
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Creating an independent immigration court is a critical first step to protecting due process, restoring integrity, and ensuring decisions worthy of the public’s trust.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
By any measure, the Trump Administration is failing the American people and undermining the national interest in every area of immigration. #SOTU
aila.org
Think Immigration: The Reality of Trump’s Immigration Policies by the Numbers
AILA ED Ben Johnson offers some key facts and figures about the harm caused by the Trump Administration’s immigration policies, writing that while “President Donald Trump is expected to use the 2026 S...
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Congress should recognize what the American people already have: this approach is failing. It is Congress’s responsibility — and constitutional obligation — to reassert oversight, restore guardrails, and ensure that immigration policy reflects both the rule of law and our national interests.
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
AILA @aila.org · 19/02/2026
NEW: AILA is launching A Better Way on Immigration, a series of policy briefs evaluating the first year of the Trump Administration’s policies, showing the impact on Americans and presenting a forward-looking vision for immigration policy. bit.ly/4tItZOW
aila.org
Think Immigration: Trump’s Chaotic Policies Show America Needs a Better Way Forward
AILA Directors of Government Relations Greg Chen and Shev Dalal-Dheini introduce AILA’s A Better Way on Immigration policy brief series about the Trump Administration’s destructive changes to the immi...
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
At #SOTU, Trump will claim mass deportation is working. It’s not. He’s detaining mostly non-criminal immigrants & more are dying in custody. He’s damaging local economies & collapsing tourism. And he’s doing much of this illegally by detaining people without a hearing before a judge.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
People are suffering inside Dilley. A baby denied medication after respiratory failure. A mother in pain, possibly with cancer, unable to get consistent care. More than half detained are kids. Dilley has been shut down before & must be shut down again.
thebulwark.com
The Kids Aren’t Alright in Dilley
A baby who needs medicine. A toddler whose detained mom may have breast cancer. A suicide attempt.
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Polls show the public is alarmed and want ICE & CBP reined in. Congress must demand real guardrails before funding DHS: require warrants for street arrests; ban racial profiling; no enforcement at churches & schools, and consequences when agencies break the law.
aila.org
Take Action: Tell Congress to Reform ICE and CBP — Vote NO on Funding Them
The American Immigration Lawyers Association urges Congress to oppose funding for ICE and CBP without real reforms and to reject immigration enforcement that is causing harm and making communities les...
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Ben Johnson @ailaexecdir.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
If the government can send agents into an immigrant family’s home without a judicial warrant, it can send them into yours. That’s the whole point of the 4th Amendment: a neutral judge stands between us and the door. Treating that safeguard as optional is frightening.
nbcnews.com
ICE says its officers can forcibly enter homes during immigration operations without judicial warrants: 2025 memo
The policy was revealed in a May 12 memo whistleblowers shared with a U.S. senator.
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
AILA @aila.org · 11/02/2026
AILA Senior Counsel of Practice and Ethics Charity Anastasio details the recent surge in immigration scams and the coordinated and sophisticated schemes threatening legitimate providers’ reputations in a new #ThinkImmigration blog post. bit.ly/46ME0Rk
aila.org
Think Immigration: Immigration Scam Surge Threatens Clients and Legal Providers
Charity Anastasio, AILA Senior Counsel, Practice and Ethics, details the recent surge in immigration scams and the coordinated and sophisticated schemes threatening legitimate providers’ reputations.
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