Home > Advocacy and Media > AILA Correspondence > 2019

2019

AILA Issues Vote Recommendation on H.R. 5038

12/11/2019
AILA urged Congress to vote YES on Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Dan Newhouse's (R-WA) Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019, which would create a new temporary, renewable worker visa program requiring agricultural employers to implement the “E-Verify” program to ensure workers are authorized.
AILA Doc. No. 19121290

AILA Sends Letter to USCIS Requesting a Delay in Mandatory Effective Date of New I-924A

12/3/2019
AILA sent a letter to USCIS requesting that USCIS delay the December 6, 2019, mandatory effective date of new Form I-924A and continue to accept the December 23, 2016, edition of Form I-924A through December 31, 2019.
AILA Doc. No. 19120332

AILA and the Council Send Follow-Up Letter Regarding Complaint Highlighting Due Process Violations at the El Paso Immigration Court

12/2/2019
AILA and the Council sent a letter to DOJ’s EOIR, OIG, and OPR asking for an update about any changes EOIR has made regarding standing orders and about any investigations, disciplinary measures, or systematic changes at the El Paso SPC Court that may have occurred as a result of the prior complaint.
AILA Doc. No. 20072332

AILA Joins Coalition Letter Urging Congressional Support for RELIEF Act

11/25/2019
AILA joined the Arab American Institute and other partners in a November 25, 2019, letter to Congress urging support for the RELIEF Act.
AILA Doc. No. 19112604

AILA Statement for House Subcommittee Hearing on Remain in Mexico

11/19/2019
AILA submitted a statement to the House Border Subcommittee for the 11/19/19 hearing on “Examining the Human Rights and Legal Implications of DHS’ ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy.”
AILA Doc. No. 19111931

AILA Joins Organizations and Academics to Call for End to Remain in Mexico Program

11/18/2019
On 11/18/19, AILA joined numerous immigration, human rights, and civil rights organizations and academics in asking Congress to end the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” program, as it places asylum seekers in great danger, violates U.S. law, due process, and international legal obligations.
AILA Doc. No. 19111890

Sign-On Letter to USCIS Requesting 60-Day Comment Period for Proposed Fee Schedule

11/12/2019
On 11/12/19, AILA and other organizations signed onto a letter requesting USCIS to ensure a 60-day comment period on the proposal to adjust certain immigration and naturalization benefit fees and the associated regulatory changes.
AILA Doc. No. 19111332

AILA Sends Letter to Congress Demanding Public Access to Tent Courts

11/12/2019
On 11/12/19, AILA called on Congress to require DHS to allow public access to the tent courts and to visit the tent courts at Laredo and Brownsville in order to observe the tent court proceedings firsthand.
AILA Doc. No. 19111233

AILA Statement for House Hearing on “The Administration's Decision to Deport Critically Ill Children and Their Families”

10/30/2019
AILA submitted a statement to the House Oversight Committee highlighting USCIS’s role in building the Trump administration’s “invisible wall” and urging USCIS to adjudicate deferred action requests in a fair and efficient manner.
AILA Doc. No. 19103002

AILA Urges USCIS To Modify Overbroad I-765 Requirement Affecting Asylum Seekers

10/22/2019
On 10/22/19, AILA’s Asylum & Refugee Liaison Committee sent a letter to USCIS expressing concern regarding USCIS’s overbroad requirement that asylum applicants seeking employment authorization under the (c)(8) category furnish the agency with all criminal and arrest records.
AILA Doc. No. 19102331

Organizations Urge Congress to Conduct Significant Oversight of Remain in Mexico and Use of Tent Courts by DHS and DOJ

10/7/2019
AILA joined NIJC, Women’s Refugee Commission, and Amnesty International USA in urging Congress to conduct significant oversight of Remain in Mexico and of the use of tent courts by DHS and DOJ.
AILA Doc. No. 19100734

AILA and Partner Organizations Urge DHS to Delay Implementation of Public Charge Rule

10/3/2019
On 10/3/19, AILA, CLINIC, ILRC, NILC, CLASP, and Boundless sent a letter to DHS, urging the delay of the 10/15/19 implementation of the public charge rule due to the absence of revised forms and public engagement relating to that rule.
AILA Doc. No. 19100333

USCIS Provides Response Regarding H-1B Registration Tool

9/30/2019
USCIS provided a response to a sign-on letter that AILA and 14 organizations sent to the agency on 8/16/19, indicating that USCIS intends to implement the registration process for the FY2021 cap season, subject to continued testing of the system.
AILA Doc. No. 19100304

AILA Sends Letter to USCIS Deputy Director Mark Koumans Requesting a Meeting

9/12/2019
On 9/12/19, AILA sent a letter to Deputy Director of USCIS Mark Koumans to request a meeting. USCIS declined the meeting, indicating that he is unable to meet at this time.
AILA Doc. No. 19092637

AILA Sends Letter to USCIS Acting Director Kenneth Cuccinelli Requesting a Meeting

9/12/2019
On 9/12/19, AILA sent a letter to Acting Director of USCIS Kenneth Cuccinelli to request a meeting. In response, USCIS declined the meeting request, indicating that Acting Director Kenneth Cuccinelli is unable to meet at this time.
AILA Doc. No. 19092631

AILA Sends Letter Requesting Information and Access to Port Courts

9/26/2019
AILA sent a letter to various government agencies requesting information and access to tent court facilities to observe immigration court hearings.
AILA Doc. No. 19092600

Sign-On Letter to Members of Congress on FY2020 DHS Spending Bill

9/12/2019
On 9/12/19, AILA and other organizations signed on to a letter urging cuts to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s budget for detention, enforcement, and border militarization and to terminate DHS’s authority to transfer and reprogram funds.
AILA Doc. No. 19091300

AILA Statement for House Hearing on Medical Deferred Action for Critically Ill Children

9/11/2019
AILA submitted a statement to the House Oversight Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties for the September 11, 2019, hearing on the administration’s apparent revocation of medical deferred action for critically ill children.
AILA Doc. No. 19091131

Over 150 Organizations Call for USCIS to Fully Restore Deferred Action Adjudications

9/4/2019
On September 4, 2019, over 150 organizations, including AILA, sent a letter to USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli calling for the agency to fully restore its acceptance and adjudication of deferred action requests.
AILA Doc. No. 19090433

Sign-On Letter to the U.S. Government on the Presidential Determination on Refugee Resettlement

8/19/2019
On 8/19/19, AILA and others signed on to a letter urging the U.S. government to set a minimum Presidential Determination of 95,000 refugee admissions for FY2020, and to continue its commitment to the U.S. Resettlement Program.
AILA Doc. No. 19082201

Sign-On Letter to USCIS on H-1B Electronic Registration Tool

8/16/2019
On 8/16/19, AILA joined others in sending a letter to USCIS urging it to confirm whether it intends to mandate use of the electronic registration system for the FY2021 H-1B cap filing season and requesting USCIS to solicit stakeholder feedback on the electronic tool prior to its implementation.
AILA Doc. No. 19081617

Sign-On Letter to Senate Judiciary Committee on the Secure and Protect Act of 2019

7/31/2019
On 7/31/19, AILA and other organizations signed on to a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee urging the Committee to vote no to the harmful measures of S. 1494, the Secure and Protect Act of 2019.
AILA Doc. No. 19080134

Sign-On Letter to DHS, USCIS, and DOD Requesting the Continuation of Military Parole in Place

7/30/2019
On 7/30/19, 27 organizations joined AILA to send a letter to Acting DHS Secretary McAleenan, Acting USCIS Director Cuccinelli, and DOD Secretary Esper requesting that the administration continue parole in place (PIP) for military families.
AILA Doc. No. 19073110

Legal Associations Call for Independent Immigration Court System

7/11/2019
On 7/11/19, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, the National Association of Immigration Judges, and the Federal Bar Association sent a letter to Congress calling for an immigration court system independent of the DOJ.
AILA Doc. No. 19070802

Sign-On Letter to House Judiciary Committee on Permanent Protection for Dreamers, TPS, and DED

5/21/2019
On 5/21/19, AILA and 400 organizations signed on in support of a letter to the House Judiciary Committee urging Congress to ensure passage of permanent protections for Dreamers, as well as TPS and DED holders, without further delays.
AILA Doc. No. 19060702

Sign-on Letter to Senate and House Judiciary Committees on Closure of the USCIS International Operations Division

3/29/2019
On 3/29/19, AILA and other organizations signed onto a letter to Senate and House Judiciary Committee members urging the use of oversight authority to prohibit the closure of the USCIS International Operations Division.
AILA Doc. No. 19060700

AILA Issues Vote Recommendation on H.R. 6

6/4/2019
AILA urges members of Congress to vote YES on Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard’s (D-CA) American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6), which would offer Dreamers and TPS/DED recipients protection from deportation and allow contribution to economic growth.
AILA Doc. No. 19060431

AILA and ASISTA Send Letter to USCIS Requesting an Extension of Grace Period for New Edition of Form I-918

5/29/2019
On 5/29/19, AILA and ASISTA sent a letter to USCIS expressing concern that the two-month grace period spanning the current and future editions of Form I-918 is insufficient and urging an extension of that period. On 7/5/19, USCIS responded to this letter.
AILA Doc. No. 19052943

AILA Issues Statement to House Judiciary Committee on Markup of H.R. 2820 and H.R. 2821

5/22/2019
AILA submitted a statement urging the House Judiciary Committee to pass H.R. 2820, Dream Act of 2019, and H.R. 2821, American Promise Act of 2019. These bills would provide Dreamers and TPS recipients with permanent legal status and a path to citizenship.
AILA Doc. No. 19052237

Sign-On Letter to Senate and House Judiciary Committees on Reforming and Reauthorizing the EB-5 Visa Program

5/17/2019
On 5/17/19, AILA joined other EB-5 stakeholder groups in sending a letter to Senate and House Judiciary Committee members in support of reforming and reauthorizing the EB-5 Regional Center Program, which is set to expire on 9/30/19.
AILA Doc. No. 19052033

Sign-On Letter to DHS and DOS Requesting Venezuela Be Designated for TPS

3/13/2019
On 3/13/19, AILA and over 200 other organizations signed on in support of a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State requesting that Venezuela be designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to the extraordinary and temporary conditions in the country.
AILA Doc. No. 19031337

AILA Issues Statement for House Judiciary Hearing on Protecting Dreamers and TPS Recipients

3/6/2019
AILA submitted a statement to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration for the March 6, 2019, hearing on “Protecting Dreamers and TPS Recipients.”
AILA Doc. No. 19030603

Sign-On Letter Urges DHS and DOL to Urgently Provide H-2B Cap Relief

2/22/2019
On 2/22/19, the H-2B Workforce Coalition, of which AILA is a member, sent a letter to DHS Secretary Nielsen and DOL Secretary Acosta requesting that their agencies make available the full number of H-2B visas authorized by the FY2019 Consolidated Appropriations Act.
AILA Doc. No. 19022533

AILA Sends Response Letter to EOIR on Discipline Policy Memo

2/15/2019
On 2/15/19, AILA sent a letter to EOIR Director McHenry to express concern with the continued imbalance in the treatment of counsel appearing before EOIR components perpetuated by the 12/18/18 memo, “Internal Reporting of Suspected Ineffective Assistance of Counsel and Professional Misconduct.”
AILA Doc. No. 19021549

AILA Issues Statement on the Border Security Spending Deal

2/14/2019
On 2/14/19, AILA issued a statement expressing concern about the enormous increases the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 provides for border security enforcement. Citing, among other things, that the bill would increase funding for immigration detention by at least 12 percent.
AILA Doc. No. 19012960

AILA and Advocates Send Letter Urging Secretary Nielsen to End the Migrant Protection Protocols Policy

2/6/2019
On 2/6/19, the American Immigration Council, AILA, and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. sent a letter to DHS documenting harm that families served by the Dilley Pro Bono Project faced on the other side of the southern border and demands a reversal of the Migrant Protection Protocols.
AILA Doc. No. 19020631

AILA Sends Oversight Letter to House Judiciary Committee

1/24/2019
On 1/24/19, AILA sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee urging the committee to conduct hearings to hold USCIS accountable to its mission, halt the administration’s interference with immigration judges’ independence, and stop the violations of due process happening at the border.
AILA Doc. No. 19012533

AILA and Other Advocates Reject the “End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act”

1/23/2019
On 1/23/19, AILA and a wide coalition of advocacy partners sent a letter to Majority Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer urging them to reopen the federal government without “poison pill policy proposals.”
AILA Doc. No. 19012336