The Ruling Every Immigration Firm Needs to Understand

The Heppner ruling (U.S. v. Heppner, S.D.N.Y., February 2026) is the first federal court decision on how AI tools intersect with attorney-client confidentiality and work product protection. For immigration attorneys, it answers two questions every firm is now asking: what happens when our clients use public AI, and how do we keep our own AI-assisted work protected as work product?

Most immigration firms have not yet adjusted their engagement letters, client guidance, or internal AI practices to reflect what Heppner actually held. This guide breaks down the ruling in plain language — and pinpoints the specific gaps your firm has right now.