2023 Spring Conference Schedule

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CONFERENCE AGENDA

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Thursday, March 30th
5:30pm — 8:00pm All Registration
6:00pm — 7:00pm All Ethics (1 hour)
A discussion on Ethics in the Practice of Immigration Law - Join us for cocktails as we hear from three former Chapter Chairs who will give us a roadmap for handling ethical questions that get raised during the practice of immigration law. They will discuss real-life conundrums, and everyday situations that raise ethical questions (as if our lives aren’t challenging enough!)

Speakers:
Michelle Saenz-Rodriguez, Dallas, TX
Jacqueline L. Watson, Austin, TX
Irene Mugambi, Dallas, TX
7:00pm — 8:00pm All Welcome Party!
Friday, March 31st
7:00am – 8:30am All Registration
7:30am – 8:30am All Breakfast
8:00am All Conference Opening
8:15am – 9:05am Business “Bright Lights” by Gary Clark Jr.: Hot Topics from the Agencies & Legislative Agenda
Topics include:
  • Fee Increases: Discouraging paper filing but w/out having e systems set for atty submission?
  • DOL backlogs and new 9089
  • USCIS processing trends
  • CBP Public Charge

Speakers:
Alexis Axelrad, New York, NY
Matthew Stump, Oklahoma City, OK
Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, AILA National
  Family “Love without End, Amen” by George Straight: USCIS and DOS hot topics
Topics include:
  • Efiling updates
  • Delays, and what’s being done about them
  • Consular backlogs
  • InfoPass - what works, what doesn’t

Speakers:
Marisol Perez, San Antonio, TX
Kelli Stump, Oklahoma City, OK
Jeremy McKinney – AILA National President
9:10am – 10:00am Business "Always on my Mind” by Willie Nelson: H-1Bs
Topics include:
  • Cap case processing reminders
  • SOC code updates and reminders for extensions
  • H-1B transfer best practices
  • AC21 reminders

Speakers:
Matt Dillinger, Austin, TX
Maka Hutson, Dallas, TX
Sujata Ajmera, Austin, TX
  Family “La Grange” by ZZ Top: Adjustment of Status and Consular Processing - Tips and Trends
Topics include:
  • New Trends in Adjustment Filings
  • Public charge and the new application
  • Increased “refusal” in cases
  • Updates on the concept of non-reviewability
  • Obtaining review through LegalNet
  • Processes to move case along (Ombudsman inquiry; Congressional Liaison Assistance)
  • Updated guidance on adjusting after travel on TPS travel authorization document

Speakers:
Teresa Coles Davila, San Antonio, TX
Roy Petty, Dallas, TX
J.J. Slater, Houston, TX
10:05am – 10:55am Business “Right on the Money” by Alan Jackson: Wage issues and processing updates
Topics include:
  • Wage Requirements for LCA-dependent NIV cases
  • Alternative Wage Surveys
  • Prevailing Wage Updates and Processing Tips
  • Audits of Wages and Best Practices
  • Wage Transparency Laws and PERM recruitment
  • PW and PERM Processing Updates

Speakers:
Stephen Parker, Dallas, TX
Heather Frayre, El Paso, TX
Elizabeth Cleveland Wakefield, Houston, TX
  Family “You're Gonna Miss Me” by 13th Floor Elevators: Updates in Family Based Immigration
Topics include:
  • I601A delays and strategies
  • 204(l) and humanitarian reinstatement

Speakers:
Lakshmi Nayar, Dallas, TX
Garry Davis, Dallas, TX
Jennifer Walker Gates, Austin, TX
Heather Kryzak, Albuquerque, NM
10:55am All Break
11:10am – 12:45pm All Business Lunch
1:00pm – 1:50pm Business “Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)” by Janis Joplin: Consular L-1, E-1s, E-2s, and Related
Topics include:
  • Consular updates for E-2 processing
  • L-1 Blanket Renewals without appointments
  • L2S Designation Issues
  • Consular Strategies & Expedite Requests

Speakers:
Leigh N. Ganchan, Houston, TX
Ramon Curiel, San Antonio, TX
Benjamin Hamilton, Dallas, TX
  Family “Everyday People” by Sly and the Family Stone: Naturalization - Tips and Trends
Topics include:
  • Updated Guidance on N-648
  • New Testing process coming through

Speakers:
Maria McIntyre, Dallas, TX
Annie Schwartz, Houston, TX
Rebecca Kitson, Albuquerque, NM
1:55pm – 2:45pm Business “Attitude Adjustment” by Hank Williams Jr.: Employment Based AOS
Topics include:
  • Ability to Pay Issues/new I-485
  • Basis Transfer vs. New I-485
  • AC21 and Portability

Speakers:
Guillermo Ortiz, Dallas, TX
Angelica Grado-Wright, Houston, TX
Olsi Vrapi, Albuquerque, NM
  Family “(Hey Baby) Que Paso” by Texas Tornados (Freddy Fender): T and U visa
Topics include:
  • Consular processing and extending status for adjustment
  • Derivatives abroad and options for grandchildren
  • BFD program
  • How to handle EAD delays - what extensions apply?
  • Trends

Speakers:
Stacie Jonas, TRLA, Austin, TX
Cristina Cigarroa, American Gateways, Austin, TX
Hannah Zimmermann, RAICES, Rural Services, Austin, TX
2:50pm – 3:40pm Business “The Way We Get By” by Spoon: Making the most of non traditional scenarios with the traditional employer
Topics include:
  • DACA
  • TPS
  • I-9 reverification for those with automatic extension
  • Asylees wanting EB sponsorship
  • Consular Processing for employees outside the US
  • Family-based support

Speakers:
Dustin J. O’Quinn, Houston, TX
Lisa Sotelo, Dallas, TX
David Ware, Vancouver, CDA
  Family "Break My Soul" by Beyonce: Border Issues
Topics include:
  • Current policies
  • Title 42 exceptions

Speakers:
Jodi Goodwin, McAllen, TX
Marysol Castro, El Paso, TX
Laura Peña, ProBar, Brownsville, TX
3:40pm All Break
3:55pm – 4:45pm Business "Crossing the Border" by Kris Kristofferson: Northern and Southern
Topics include:
  • Border NIV Updates
  • TN POE/Visa processing
  • Blanket Ls Northern Border
  • 212(d)3 waivers

Speakers:
Beatriz Ballerini, Houston, TX
Evelyn Ackbah, Calgary, CDA
Tim Golden, Toronto, CDA
Julieta Grinffiel, Dallas, TX
  Family "That'll Be The Day" by Buddy Holly: Parole programs
Topics include:
  • Ukraine and Afghanistan Updates
  • Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua parole program
  • Status of reinstatement of Cuban Family Reunification Parole program

Speakers:
Olsa Cano, Houston, TX
Magali Candler, Houston, TX
Lindsay Gray, VECINA, Austin, TX
4:50pm – 5:40pm Business "Pride and Joy" by Stevie Ray Vaughn: EB1As, EB1Bs, NIWs and Os
Topics include:
  • Current adjudication standards and trends
  • Does O-1 equate to EB1A?
  • Strategies for unusual cases
  • Requirements for supporting staff
  • Adjudication Trends/RFEs

Speakers:
Cecilia Lai, Dallas, TX
Matthew Thompson, Houston, TX
Alec Kempster, Chicago, IL
  Family “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” by Selena: The Brave new world of Asylum
Topics include:
  • Filing- I-589 online
  • EAD clock
  • Recent Trends in asylum law

Speakers:
Edna Yang, American Gateways, Austin, TX
Cori Hash, Austin, TX
Ruby Powers, Houston, TX
6:00pm – 8:00pm All Boat Party Happy Hour on Ladybird Lake (board the boat at the docks behind the hotel)
Saturday, April 1st
8:00am – 9:00am All Breakfast
8:30am – 9:30am Litigation “Black Moon Rising” by Black Pumas: Current practice issues in Immigration Court
Topics include:
  • ICE Liaison Update
  • WebEX Hearings: Scheduling and challenges
  • Advocating without being present
  • Motion practice - best practices for joint motions, update on prosecutorial discretion

Speakers:
Rocio Martinez, Fort Worth, TX
George Rodriguez, Dallas, TX
Guillermo Hernandez, San Antonio, TX
9:30am – 10:30am Litigation "Across the Borderline” by Flaco Jimenez: Panel with Immigration Clinic Professors
Topics include:
  • Mentoring new practitioners
  • Preparing students for future immigration practice
  • Challenges clinics face

Speakers:
Erica Schommer, St. Mary’s, San Antonio, TX
Aimee Maldonado, South Texas College of Law, Houston, TX
Natalie Nanasi, SMU, Dallas, TX
10:30am – 11:30am Litigation “Pancho and Lefty” by Townes Van Zandt: BIA precedent and crimmigration updates

Speakers:
Stephen O’Connor, Austin, TX
Kathryn Karam, Houston, TX
Ross Miller, Houston, TX
Robert Hoffman, Houston, TX
11:30am – 12:30pm Litigation “La Que Manda” by Gina Chavez: Federal Court Litigation Update
Topics include:
  • Patel v. Garland; Herrera-Alcala v. Garland; Niz-Chavez v. Garland and Pereira v. Sessions (updates)
  • DACA–Updates on 5th circuit litigation, pending legislation and who qualifies to apply now, issues involving AP and adjustment

Speakers:
Lance Curtright, San Antonio, TX
Javier Maldonado, San Antonio, TX
Nina Perales, San Antonio, TX
Amanda Waterhouse, Houston, TX
12:30pm   End of Conference

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