Immigration Impact Awards 2026

Date: Friday, June 19, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm PT – Reception; 7:45 pm PT – Program
Location: Manchester Grand Hyatt

Be part of the celebration at the 2026 Immigration Impact Awards Reception! Join the American Immigration Council as we honor the leaders building a stronger, more united America. Together, we’ll recognize champions for immigrants’ rights, celebrate alongside AILA leaders, and hear from the next generation of advocates. This vibrant evening is all about inspiration and connection, honoring our immigrant history while championing the future we’re building together. Enjoy a dynamic program, connect with changemakers, and support the Council’s mission. Your ticket includes access to the full program and reception, delicious appetizers, a drink ticket, and a cash bar. Don’t miss your chance to be part of something powerful—secure your spot today!

The American Immigration Council is thrilled to the Immigration Impact Awards & Benefit on Friday, June 19th at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego. Together, we’ll recognize champions for immigrants’ rights, celebrate alongside AILA leaders, and hear from the next generation of advocates. This vibrant evening is all about inspiration and connection, honoring our immigrant history while championing the future we’re building together. As we continue to fight back against rising discrimination and anti-immigrant policy, this evening is an opportunity to honor AILA and the Council’s partnership and double down on our commitment to building a strong, more united America.

Honorees

Iris Gomez

For more than three decades, Iris Gomez has helped shape the immigrant rights landscape in Massachusetts and nationwide. A nationally recognized expert in immigration and public benefits law, she has combined rigorous legal advocacy with visionary movement building—strengthening both policy and the infrastructure that sustains immigrant justice work. Iris championed the creation of the Greater Boston Immigrant Defense Fund, which awarded over $1.1 million to expand legal representation and community education and build strong partnerships between legal services and community-based organizations on behalf of immigrants at risk of deportation. She played a leading role in Massachusetts’ response to the federal public charge rule, mobilizing more than 4,600 public comments to protect immigrant families’ access to essential programs, and she’s litigated cases restoring fairness to unjust immigration laws and expanding immigrant access to college. A former Chair of the National Immigration Law Center’s Board of Directors and a longtime mentor to attorneys and advocates across the field, Iris has built enduring networks that continue to power this work forward. An immigrant from Cartagena, Colombia, and the award-winning author of Try to Remember and the forthcoming novel A Girl with the Sea in Her Eyes, Iris brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her leadership.

AILA Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter

In the face of an unprecedented surge in ICE enforcement in Minneapolis, members of the AILA Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter have stepped forward as a coordinated legal first-response network. Chapter members have shared strategy, intelligence, and litigation approaches in real time — working to accelerate habeas relief, preserve jurisdiction, and mitigate harm to their clients. Minnesota-based facilitators have established networks to share information, templates, and norms in the face of rapid apprehensions, same-day transfers, and unreliable location data, reflecting discipline, adaptability, and extraordinary leadership. At a moment when swift, coordinated action can mean the difference between access to counsel and disappearance into detention, the AILA Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter has modeled what collective defense looks like in practice.

Jeremy Ebobisse

The Council is thrilled to honor Jeremy Ebobisse, a striker for Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) and a dedicated advocate, philanthropist and investor. Born in Paris and raised in Washington, DC, he studied Economics at Duke University before committing to a professional soccer career, always staying rooted in his broader mission to drive societal change. He co-founded Black Players for Change and serves as its Vice President, leading efforts to advance racial equity through policy reform, community programming, and coalition building. His leadership extends across several aligned organizations where he continues to champion inclusion and opportunity for marginalized communities. When immigration enforcement action spiked in Los Angeles, Jeremy spoke boldly about community, solidarity, and courage. A committed supporter of women’s sports, Jeremy recently invested in the Portland Thorns and remains active in growing the game globally. While constantly expanding his impact through education and advocacy, he still finds time to explore and enjoy life in Los Angeles.

Are You a Member of the AILA Community?

AILA members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets and tables for the Immigration Impact Awards when they register for the AILA Annual Conference. If you made a purchase during that process, you do not need to purchase on this page.

Thank you to our Heritage and Bridge-level sponsors!

• Paul Zulkie
• WR Immigration
• Weaver Schlenger
• Winston Strawn
• Jackson Lewis
• Fried Frank
• Cyrus D. Mehta & Partners PLLC