From June 17 to 20, 2026, thousands of immigration attorneys, law professors, paralegals, and students gathered at the Marriott Marquis and the adjacent Manchester Grand Hyatt on the San Diego waterfront for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Annual Conference and Webcast — known this year as AC26. It is the largest annual event in U.S. immigration law, and AILA framed the moment plainly: immigration law and policy are at a pivotal juncture.
For clients and families navigating the system, a lawyers' conference can feel remote. But the topics that draw thousands of practitioners are a useful barometer of where the pressure points are right now. Here is what stood out.
A program built around a changing landscape
AC26 offered more than 90 CLE-eligible sessions — part of more than 120 sessions overall — across four days and six tracks. Newer attorneys could follow a Fundamentals Track, while experienced practitioners chose among specialized tracks spanning family immigration, business immigration, humanitarian issues, removal defense, and litigation. The heavy emphasis on removal defense and litigation — including sessions on trial skills, habeas corpus, and third-country removals — reflects an enforcement environment that many practitioners are preparing for in earnest.
Business and employment immigration stayed front and center
Sessions addressed practical tools for H-1B cases and the PERM labor-certification process — the everyday machinery behind work visas and many employment-based green cards. For applicants, the takeaway is less about any single announcement and more about a consistent message across the profession: documentation quality and preparation matter more than ever.
AI arrived as a practice tool
Programming taught attorneys how to bring AI tools into their work safely and ethically — for case management, efficiency, and client service. The profession is adapting to new technology while stressing ethics, accuracy, and client confidentiality.
Government updates, community, and well-being
The program also included government agency updates, law-practice-management and technology sessions, and wellness sessions. AILA closed the week with a gathering at the San Diego Zoo. The mix underscored a theme AILA returned to repeatedly: resilience and community in a demanding period for the field.
What it means for you
A conference does not change the law. But the themes at AC26 — heightened enforcement, intense focus on documentation, and a profession sharpening its skills — line up with what applicants are already experiencing: more requests for evidence, closer scrutiny, and less room for incomplete filings. The practical lesson is the same one good lawyers repeated all week: prepare thoroughly, document carefully, and get advice early.
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Jinwen Liu
Managing Attorney
Jinwen Liu is the Managing Attorney at Yingzhong Law Offices, specializing in employment-based and investment immigration.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws and policies change frequently, and every case is different. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified immigration attorney. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Attorney Advertising.
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