Accomplishments

National Day of Action in Washington D.C.

Cathy advocated for immigrants at the US Capitol with over 280 of her colleagues from the American Immigration Lawyers Association at its annual National Day of Action, 2024. Cathy and the Illinois team from AILA met with the staffs of Senator Richard J Durbin, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Congressman Darin Lahood, and Congressman Brad Schneider, among others.

AILA 2025 Denver Convention

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) hosts a convention every year to bring lawyers from all over the U.S together for a chance to share ideas in a field where laws are constantly changing. This year, Cathy had the opportunity to host her own panel, about Consular Practice issues related to Immigrant Visas. along with two fellow AILA members, Fazila Vaid, and Melissa Chavin They shared their latest experiences maneuvering through the National Visa Center and consular posts. Cathy spoke about provisional waivers which are a favorite of hers. Alongside her presentation, she also published her article, Consular Practice for Family Practitioners: Maneuvering Through the NVC and DOS (see attached).

Cathy offered her experience and expertise in Consular Processing cases, of which are handled at her office frequently. Here are a couple pictures from our panel including a little shot of the people who waited in line to ask questions even though it was after 5 pm on a Friday night and all the Happy Hours had already begun. Cathy was also appreciative to have received the E. Michael Berger Scholarship!

District 214 Recognition

Cathy has been a proud host to her community’s high school district. For almost a decade, Cathy has hosted many interns and now high school apprenticeships at her office. We provide these young bright-minded high school students real life experience with immigration law. Recently Cathy was invited to a luncheon where she was awarded with an appreciation award for partnership with School District 214, which is one of the largest school districts in the State of Illinois.

The District posted, “Thank you to Attorney Cathy Higgins-Mora for your partnership with District 214’s Center for Career Discovery. Cathy has supported internships and launched the District’s first legal assistant apprenticeship program, providing students with invaluable hands-on experience in the legal field. Your dedication is making a lasting impact!”

Cathy’s Publications

This year, Cathy published her AILA article, Consular Practice for Family Practitioners: Maneuvering Through the NVC and DOS (see attached). She is also currently working on the manuscript for Immigration Law: Chapter 12 – Permanent Residence Under the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, manuscript alongside various colleagues, for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE). The IICLE dedicates themselves on gathering volunteering lawyers from Illinois to help write manuscripts such as the one Cathy is working on, to publish comprehensive handbooks for Illinois Attorneys.