Navigating the 2026 Immigration Landscape (10/14/26)

Navigating the 2026 Immigration Landscape: SIJS, Travel Bans, Enforcement & Temporary Protections

TOPICS AND SPEAKERS:
1:00-2:00 p.m. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS (SIJS)
This presentation offers a practical, comprehensive overview of Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), with particular emphasis on obtaining predicate orders in Illinois. The presenters will discuss the use of guardianship, allocation of parental responsibilities, and dissolution proceedings to establish eligibility for SIJS and will address key considerations when preparing and litigating these matters in Illinois state court.

The presentation will also cover the immigration process following the predicate order, including preparation and filing of Form I-360, strategies for navigating removal proceedings, adjustment of status, and the current impact of the EB-4 visa backlog on SIJS beneficiaries.

Throughout the program, the presenters will highlight practical strategies, common challenges, and important considerations for attorneys representing SIJS-eligible youth in both Illinois state court and immigration court.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Ortiz, Senior Attorney, Aparicio Immigration Law 
Vivian Millan, Attorney, Aparicio Immigration Law

2:00-3:00 p.m. NAVIGATING 2026 EXECUTIVE TRAVEL BANS, Airport Enforcement & Regulatory Overhauls in Immigration Practice
This presentation will equip immigration practitioners with critical updates and procedural strategies to navigate current travel restrictions, airport enforcement, federal court injunctions, and strict regulatory changes taking effect in Fall 2026.

Travel Bans, 75-Country Visa Policy & Public Charge Developments
75-Country Visa Suspension and Expanded Public Charge Standards.

Consular Processing (CP) Timelines & Travel Considerations
Managing international travel planning and realistic timeline management for consular adjudications.

Strategic Forum Selection: Adjustment of Status (AOS) vs. Consular Processing (CP)
Risk management framework for evaluating client travel histories and Procedural considerations regarding INA § 212(a)(9)(B).

Airport Travel Risks & Transit Hub Enforcement Protocols
Analysis of ICE and CBP Air and Marine Operations and Key protocols for advising non-status clients on the heightened risks of domestic and international travel.
Operational & Travel Impact of the September 15 F-1/J-1 Fixed Admission Rule
Critical compliance requirements replacing "Duration of Status" (D/S) and Increased risks for international travel and re-entry.

SPEAKERS:
Nana Otutula-Amoah, Associate, Zulkie Partners 
Pamela Rangel, Associate, Zulkie Partners

3:00-3:10 p.m. Break

3:10-4:10 p.m. DACA AND BEYOND: Counseling Clients with Temporary Protections in a Changing Enforcement Landscape
This presentation will examine the rapidly evolving legal landscape affecting DACA recipients and other noncitizens who may have employment authorization, pending immigration applications, deferred action, parole, or other forms of temporary protection but who do not necessarily possess lawful immigration status.

The presentation will emphasize the need to distinguish among several concepts that are
frequently conflated in practice: lawful immigration status, authorized periods of stay, unlawful presence, employment authorization, deferred action, parole, removability, arrest authority, detention authority, and eligibility for permanent immigration relief.

The goal is to provide practitioners with an updated and practical counseling framework that they can immediately apply when advising DACA recipients, asylum applicants, and other clients navigating temporary immigration protections in the current enforcement environment.

SPEAKER:
Enrique Espinoza, Staff Attorney, Chicago-Kent College of Law Immigration Clinic

Moderators:
Elena Diaz, Instituto del Progreso Latino
Chair, CBA Immigration and Naturalization Committee
Maria Cabrales, Fragomen 
Dev Parikh, Attorney-at-law
Co-Vice-Chairs, CBA Immigration and Naturalization Committee

To confirm you are ready to participate in an on demand webcast, please take the browser test here: http://eventcenter.commpartner...

Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live.