Laura Ferner, Attorney at Law

12/31/2025

Whew. We made it through 2025.

We saw increased fear, uncertainty, and policy pressures impacting immigrant families across the board. And yet, we also witnessed extraordinary resilience.

This is just a small snapshot of what has been happening behind the scenes. It was not easy, but our clients persevered, and our team showed up every day with skill, heart, and determination.

Thank you to every client who trusted us with your story, and to our staff who made it possible to keep moving forward.

I tried to be intentional about keeping everyone informed this year, and I will continue working to do better. In the meantime, we are still here, and we remain committed to serving our clients and our community.

10/26/2025

That’s a wrap on Midsouth Fall Conference 2025! Always great to see so many friends! And meet new ones!

07/17/2025

Sisu.

There’s no direct English translation for this Finnish word, but its essence resonates strongly with me: a deep, inner strength. Grit. Determination in the face of overwhelming odds. The quiet courage to keep going, even when there's no guarantee of success. Sisu is a concept woven into the fabric of who I am and where I come from. And lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about it.

Last month, I decided to get the word Sisu tattooed on my wrist — a daily reminder of my roots and the values that continue to guide me. As an immigration attorney, as a mother, as someone who left her home country at 20 to build a life in a place that didn’t always feel familiar — Sisu has been my compass.

But more than anything, I see Sisu in my clients. Every day.

My clients face barriers that many people can’t even begin to imagine. Language, bureaucracy, separation from loved ones, fear of deportation, long waits, and uncertainty that stretches for years. And yet — they persist. I’ve sat with people who haven’t seen their families in decades, who miss births, funerals, weddings — and who still manage to show up for their communities, care for aging parents from afar, raise children in an unfamiliar system, and keep fighting for something better.

I’ve had countless conversations over the years (especially lately) — some hopeful, some heartbreaking — about what it takes to stay, to wait, to not give up.

These day many of my Clients with green cards who are afraid to travel because they fear they may not be let back into the US. People who fear losing their status over the smallest technical mistake. And yet we all keep going and fighting for what is right.

That’s Sisu

There have been moments in this work that have made me question everything — especially in a system that often feels designed to break people and the general acceptance of the cruelty towards others.

But I’ve also witnessed small miracles. Unexpected approvals. Reunited families. Joyful tears in courtrooms and USCIS offices. Laughter after tears.

This work has made me better — not just as an attorney, but as a human. My clients have taught me to trust in resilience, to believe in the power of persistence, and to hold on to hope even when it's hard. They’ve taught me that courage doesn’t always look loud or bold — sometimes, it’s the quiet act of showing up, again and again, when the odds aren’t in your favor.

We all have moments that test us. Being an immigrant has shaped how I see the world, but I know Sisu isn’t just for those of us who’ve crossed borders. Most of us, in one way or another, have faced something that asked us to keep going when we didn’t know how.

So, here’s to the ones who do — who show up, speak up, and stay in it, even when it’s hard.

What does Sisu mean to you?

07/16/2025

✨ After many years of persistence, patience, and unwavering hope… we made it. Our client finally has his green card. 🇺🇸💚⁠ The smiles in this photo say it all. Joy, relief, pride—and the end of a long road.⁠. This journey had its share of setbacks, delays, and moments that tested all of us—but he never gave up. His determination, trust, and tenacity are exactly why we do this work. ⁠
⁠A huge shoutout to my brilliant friend and fellow immigration attorney , Rachel Bush, who stepped in and attended the USCIS interview when I had an emergency. Your support meant the world.⁠
⁠
To our client—congratulations. You stayed the course, and now we get to celebrate this moment. It’s an honor to stand beside you.⁠
⁠

07/11/2025

🚨 ALERTA DE ESTAFA – FRAUDE DE INMIGRACIÓN 🚨

Se está difundiendo una estafa preocupante dirigida a inmigrantes y sus familias.

⚠️ Si recibes una carta como la que se muestra aquí — diciendo que tu caso de inmigración (como un perdón I-601A) ha sido aprobado o que necesitas pagar una “tarifa de presentación” por Zelle — ES UNA ESTAFA.

🚫 Estas cartas pueden:
❌ Decir que tú o tu ser querido tienen una solicitud aprobada.
❌ Exigir un pago inmediato a través de Zelle u otros métodos no rastreables.
❌ Prometer la liberación de un centro de detención si se paga la tarifa.
❌ Llegar en horarios sospechosos o hacer referencia a casos que nunca presentaste.

📌 RECUERDA:
👉 USCIS o ICE nunca pedirán pagos por Zelle, Venmo u otras aplicaciones similares.
👉 Siempre verifica cualquier carta relacionada con inmigración con un(a) abogado(a) de inmigración con licencia antes de tomar acción.
👉 Si tienes dudas — no pagues, consulta primero.

Si tú o alguien que conoces recibe un documento sospechoso, contacta a un abogado de inmigración local o a una organización legal de confianza.

Por favor comparte esta publicación para proteger a nuestra comunidad.

07/11/2025

🚨 SCAM ALERT – IMMIGRATION FRAUD 🚨

We are seeing a disturbing scam making the rounds targeting immigrants and their families.

⚠️ If you receive a letter like the one shown here — claiming that your immigration case (like an I-601A waiver) has been approved or needs payment for a “filing fee” via Zelle — IT IS A SCAM.

🚫 These notices may:
❌ Claim you or your loved one has an approved immigration application.
❌ Demand quick payment via Zelle or other non-traceable methods.
❌ Promise release from detention in exchange for payment.
❌ Arrive at suspicious times or reference cases you never filed.

📌 REMEMBER:
👉 USCIS or ICE will never ask for payment over Zelle, Venmo, or similar platforms.
👉 Always verify any immigration-related letter with a licensed immigration attorney before taking action.
👉 When in doubt — don’t pay, ask first.

If you or a loved one receives a suspicious document, contact a local immigration attorney or a trusted legal aid organization.

Please share this post to protect others in our community.

06/22/2025

Just returned from the AILA Annual Conference in Denver — and I’m leaving with a full heart, a sharper mind, and a fierce sense of urgency.

There’s nothing quite like being in a room with thousands of immigration attorneys, advocates, and movement-builders. So many brilliant legal minds — exhausted, yes — but not defeated. The kind of people who carry each other through the hard fights and remind you what community really means.

What moved me most? Listening to the organizers and students from Tennessee who mobilized and killed one of the cruelest bills we’ve seen — HB 1994, which would have barred undocumented children from attending school. Let that sink in. Kids standing up to protect other kids. They are the reason we don’t give up. They are the reason we keep fighting.

Also: Bradley Whitford (yes, that Bradley Whitford) was our MC. Turns out he’s not just an incredible actor — he’s a true advocate for immigrant justice.

We celebrated too. At the Immigrants’ List luncheon, we honored the incredible work of TIRRC— a reminder that some of the most important organizing is happening right in our backyards.

If you’ve ever asked what you can do, here’s a place to start:

🟣 Donate to Immigrants’ List
🟣 Support American Immigration Council
🟣 Find and give to a local group in your community — here in Arkansas, we’re lucky to have Aire

To my fellow AILA folks — old friends and new (especially those I’ve only known through screens until now) — thank you. This community is powerful. I’m so proud to be part of it.

We’re tired. But we’re not giving up.

05/30/2025

This week has been heavy.

The Supreme Court cleared the way for TPS to be terminated for Venezuelans. ICE is arresting people inside immigration courts. And student visas are being paused — sending waves of fear and terror through families, students, and communities.

It’s a lot. But the work is heavy — and our clients’ strength reminds us why we keep showing up.
And here are a few moments from this week that kept us going:

✅ TPS approvals for clients still eligible.
✅ A successful appeal reversing a denial of permanent residency.
✅ Nunc pro tunc work visa approvals that opened long-overdue doors.

And most importantly we had a visit from a special guest that brought some much-needed joy. Isn’t she cute?

Nationally, there were bright spots too:

⚖️ A federal judge blocked the mass revocation of visas for over 6,000 international students — allowing them to remain in school and in legal status.

🛡️ Another court ruled that the deportation of a Palestinian activist likely violated the Constitution — a reminder that due process still matters.

To our clients: your resilience is why we do this.
To our team: thank you for showing up every day.
To my colleagues across the world: we may be tired, but we’re not going anywhere.

We live to fight another week.

05/22/2025

Good News Thursday ✨
Immigration law has been a lot lately — relentless policy changes, growing uncertainty, and far too many moments when it feels like our clients (and their advocates) are under constant attack. But amidst the exhaustion, there is still so muchjoy.
📍From advocating on Capitol Hill during AILA’s National Day of Action. …
🎉 to celebrating green card approvals, naturalization wins, and the sheer grit of our clients…
🎓 to seeing former team members thrive in law school and reconnecting at my alma mater’s centennial gala…
These past few months have been a reminder that even in the chaos, good things do happen. So I’m starting a new tradition: Good News Thursday — because we need to see the wins, the resilience, and the real people behind this work.
To our clients: you are the reason we do what we do. I’m so proud of all of you.
To my team and my colleagues across the globe: I’m grateful. Every day. Oh—and the last picture is just for context: my office flooded after a pipe burst (not ideal!), but we’re rolling with it and using the moment to refresh the space and upgrade the furniture.

04/03/2025

Today, I join hundreds of immigration attorneys across the country for AILA’s National Day of Action to advocate for fair and commonsense immigration reform.

In Northwest Arkansas, immigrant families are an essential part of our community. They are business owners, essential workers, parents, and taxpayers who contribute every day to the success of our local economy and the well-being of our neighborhoods.

Yet, many of these families live in fear because our immigration system is outdated and inefficient. It fails the very people who are working hard to build better lives here.

I meet with our representatives today to urge them to support policies that protect immigrant families, reduce backlogs, and create real solutions that strengthen our communities.

It’s time to fix our broken immigration system and stand up for the families who call Arkansas home.

Learn more about the solutions we are advocating for: www.aila.org/NDA

02/28/2025