The Globe

The newsletter of the ISBA’s Section on International & Immigration Law

ISBA Members, please login to join this section

2025 Articles

Become an Illinois Bar Foundation Champion By Jessica R. Durkin March 2025 At least twice a year at ISBA Annual and Midyear Meetings, we are pitched by colleagues and the Illinois Bar Foundation to become a “Champion.” But what is a Champion really, and what’s in it for us?
Chair’s Column By H. Vincent Draa, III May 2025 A note from the chair.
Chair’s Column By H. Vincent Draa March 2025 A note from the chair regarding recent section council activity.
Chair’s Column By H. Vincent Draa January 2025 A note from the chair regarding recent section council activity and a brief look at what's to come in 2025. 
Challenging and Setting Aside International Commercial Arbitral Awards By H. Vincent Draa March 2025 The arbitration process usually culminates in a final award, which a party has a limited right to challenge. However, the value of such challenges is a point of contention. Opponents of judicial review contend that it weakens the quick resolution sought in arbitration. Proponents, on the other hand, argue that the absence of review, combined with the considerable authority of arbitrators, introduces potential risks. Despite this ongoing debate, courts typically adopt a narrow approach when reviewing arbitral awards, acknowledging the limited bases upon which challenges can be made.
The Draft Arbitration and Conciliation Amendment Bill, 2024: A Step Towards Reforming India’s Arbitration Framework? By Manish Dembla March 2025 The Draft Arbitration and Conciliation Bill, 2024, aims to significantly transform India’s arbitration landscape. This comprehensive draft seeks to align and modernize India’s arbitration practices with those of the world and meet domestic challenges. This article examines some of the key provisions of the draft bill.
Foreign Direct Investment in Poland’s Aerospace Sector: Legal Frameworks and Strategic Policy Implications By Jarrick Honn August 2025 A look at the importance of Foreign Direct Investment in Poland's aerospace sector, including details on Polish law, policy strategy, and legal implications. 
Hypothetically It Will Not Be Necessary To Learn Chinese To Be in China By Ralph E. Guderian October 2025 In China the basic language of course is Chinese. Then why are there are around 400 million estimated Chinese people being taught and learning English in China, larger than the entire population of the U.S.? A look at China's history and the current status of American-Chinese relations. 
India: Delhi High Court Ruling Reshapes Sports Governance and Raises Animal Welfare Concerns By H. Vincent Draa March 2025 In an important decision with implications for both sports law and animal welfare, the Delhi High Court's judgment in Rajasthan Equestrian Association v. Union of India & Ors. has overturned a controversial exemption granted to the Equestrian Federation of India by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. This ruling scrutinizes the government's discretionary power to relax national sports governance standards and, crucially, addresses the legal status of equine “athletes” within the context of sports regulation.
Initiating Arbitral Proceedings in International Commercial Disputes By H. Vincent Draa January 2025 International commercial arbitration is a means of resolving business disputes among two or more transnational parties by one or more arbitrators outside of a formal court system. It is a voluntary process, conducted according to the parameters determined by the agreement of the parties. Given all its advantages over traditional litigation, it is not much of an exaggeration to call international commercial arbitration the “only game in town.”
Is Free Speech for Everyone in America? By Junaid Afeef May 2025 It sounds like a rhetorical question; of course, it is. Right? For decades, flag burning, hate group marches, vile protests at servicemembers’ funerals, and more were deemed protected under the First Amendment. The idea was to ensure all political speech remains uncensored; to do so, we must tolerate polarizing, offensive, or even hateful speech. Although noncitizens enjoy First Amendment protections, the government's plenary authority over immigration allows it to penalize them in ways that effectively chills free speech.
ISBA 2025 Solo and Small Firm Conference Photos October 2025 The Illinois State Bar Association hosted the 2025 Solo and Small Firm Conference: The Innovative Lawyer: Smart Strategies for Small Firms in the Age of AI on September 25–26 at the Embassy Suites in Naperville, IL.
LAWPAC Needs You! March 2025 The Illinois Lawyers’ Political Action Committee (LAWPAC) needs your help to fulfill its mission to support the legislative goals of the ISBA and Illinois’ legal community.
Pending Illinois Legislation on Foreign Ownership of Property By Angela Peters August 2025 A summary of pending legislation that may impact the legal framework of foreign land ownership in Illinois. 
Protect Your Profits: Build a Tariff Roadmap By Angela Peters August 2025 Register today for Protect Your Profits: Build a Tariff Roadmap to learn more about how to assess your tariff exposure, including tariff mitigation strategies. 
Recent False Claims Act Cases Show Trump Administration’s Continued Focus on International Customs and Trade Fraud By Jay Schleppenbach August 2025 From President Trump's imposition of tariffs on automobiles and their component parts to the broad reciprocal tariffs announced on Liberation Day and discussions of tariffs on foreign-made films, it is safe to say the landscape of international trade has continually shifted. 
Recent Updates on H-1B Visa Applications and Their Impact on the Upcoming Lottery By Likitha Reddy January 2025 The recent changes and updates to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services guidelines will impact both applicants and employers significantly. This article explores these developments and their implications for the upcoming H-1B lottery season.
SEVIS Termination Crisis: 2025 By Likitha Reddy Peesari May 2025 In early 2025, thousands of international students in the U.S. lost their F-1 status due to the abrupt termination of their SEVIS records, often triggered by minor infractions, administrative errors, or vague national security concerns. These terminations caused severe legal, academic, and emotional distress for students. Legal challenges, led by organizations like the ACLU, have resulted in court-ordered reinstatements of SEVIS records for many students. The crisis highlights systemic flaws in the immigration process and has broader implications for U.S. higher education, including declining international enrollment and calls for immigration reform.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and Its Application to Illinois Family Law and Guardianships By Phil Schlichting October 2025 Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (“SIJS”) is a form of immigration relief that is available to foreign born children that have been abused, neglected, abandoned or similarly mistreated by one or both parents. Approved SIJS petitioners are able to adjust status in the United States when their priority date becomes current. 
Street Gangs in Relation to Claims for Asylum: Part II By Ralph E. Guderian January 2025 Part II on street gangs seeking asylum, including the 18th Street Gang, Barrio 18, Latin Kings, MS-13, and more. 
Summary of ABA House of Delegates Actions Relating to International and Immigration Law By Cindy G. Buys October 2025 Read more about the various actions that were taken by the ABA House of Delegates at the Annual Meeting, Aug. 11-12, 2025, that relate to international and immigration law.
Summary of President Trump’s Early Executive Orders on Immigration By Cindy G. Buys March 2025 On his first day in office, January 20, 2025, President Trump issued a flurry of Executive Orders (EOs) including at least five EOs affecting immigration. This article briefly summarizes some key parts of these EOs relating to immigration, the status of litigation challenging these EOs, and some possible future issues.
A Thumbnail Sketch of the Indian Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 By H. Vincent Draa, FCI Arb, CFE May 2025 India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA) marks a significant shift in data privacy regulation. On January 3, 2025, the government released draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 to clarify and operationalize the Act, emphasizing informed consent, data security, and individual rights. The Rules aim to enhance personal data protection in India, with potential changes expected after public consultation.