Key Government Takeaways From The 2025 AILA Conference

Each year, the AILA National Conference provides an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from government officials on immigration policies, operational updates, and agency priorities. Among the most anticipated sessions are the Government Open Forums — though this year, they looked a little different.

Unlike previous years, where agencies had dedicated booths and multiple current officials in attendance, most 2025 forums were staffed by AILA liaisons and former agency employees. The exception was the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Department of Labor(DOL) Open Forums, which included current representatives and offered some noteworthy insights. Below are the key takeaways from those two sessions.