Yasmin's Blog

Despite the concept of diversity being widely discussed, many Americans still live in homogeneous communities. Is it possible to create an environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect? Inclusiveness is about more than just geographical location. It is an attitude that values each individual as someone who is worthy of our attention and respect. Regardless of where we live, we can still embrace diversity by learning more about another person’s life and heart. This can be done in various ways. Volunteer Try volunteering at a local shelter or visiting a nursing home to get to know people who are different from you. Doing so will allow you to get to know them better and maybe even introduce yourself to their neighbors. Embracing diversity is also about appreciating people of various backgrounds and religions. Try Out New Hobbies We tend to build a deeper understanding of life and other cultures when we step outside our comfort zone. For instance, if you’re planning o...

AILA member Careen Shannon writes about her role as executive producer of the new Las Abogadas documentary, writing that she hopes the film is "a new way to educate people about our country’s fractured immigration system, while simultaneously sharing some stories of hope and redemption.” The post The Impact of Immigration Attorneys on the Big Screen: “LAS ABOGADAS” first appeared on Blog: Think Immigration . from Blog: Think Immigration https://ift.tt/8i9UTGR via IFTTT

In this blog post, AILA Associate Director of Volunteer Engagement Jerrica Stovall shares why AILA volunteers make such a difference for the organization and highlights the appreciation all of AILA has for the time and energy AILA member volunteers give AILA. The post Celebrating AILA’s Volunteers and Their Impact first appeared on Blog: Think Immigration . from Blog: Think Immigration https://ift.tt/eqa45nO via IFTTT

AILA member Hudaidah Bhimdi shares insights into the meaning of the month of Ramadan to her as a busy immigration attorney, and how this month of reflection and joy helps her find balance as she works to help her clients access justice. The post Finding My Balance During Ramadan first appeared on Blog: Think Immigration . from Blog: Think Immigration https://ift.tt/F8dZJh9 via IFTTT

AILA DEI Scholarship winner Brenda Quintanilla delineates the history and impact of DACA and efforts to pass the DREAM Act, urging advocates to continue pushing Congress to pass legislation, writing “America has a gambling problem and undocumented/DACAmented people are treated like poker chips.” The post DACA Recipients Stuck Picking Up Crumbs Left by the DREAM Act’s Failure first appeared on Blog: Think Immigration . from Blog: Think Immigration https://ift.tt/85TZfjH via IFTTT

AILA Asylum and Protection Committee member Randall Chamberlain highlights the harm the recent renewal of the U.S - Canada "Safe Third Country Agreement" will cause, writing "the expanded treaty will force thousands of refugees underground and...lead to many more deaths of people fleeing from persecution." The post The Safe Third Country Agreement Should Be Ended, not Expanded first appeared on Blog: Think Immigration . from Blog: Think Immigration https://ift.tt/BIzvY0k via IFTTT

AILA's Jen Whitlock recently visited an immigration detention facility and left knowing that the harm caused, despite protective standards, is unacceptable. She urges everyone to tell Congress to significantly reduce detention funding for ICE and explicitly prohibit funding for family detention. The post Protective Standards Aren’t Enough, Congress Needs to Cut Detention Funding first appeared on Blog: Think Immigration . from Blog: Think Immigration https://ift.tt/BH0xCfr via IFTTT