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2022

AILA Sends Questions and Comments in Advance of USCIS EB-5 Public Engagement

4/28/2022
AILA and AILA’s EB-5 Investor Committee sent a letter to USCIS with questions and comments in advance of the USCIS EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 Listening Session. They also proposed an engagement between AILA, EB-5 trade associations, industry groups, and the IPO in the coming weeks.
AILA Doc. No. 22051251

AILA Leads Letter to Administration With Recommendations to Protect Asylum Seekers Whose Information Was Leaked

12/22/2022
AILA led a group of legal service providers and coalition partners on sending a letter to ICE, EOIR, and RAIO on additional mitigation efforts to protect detained asylum seekers whose information was leaked in violation of privacy protections.
AILA Doc. No. 22122789

AILA Signs onto Letter to USCIS Urging Policies to Alleviate TPS Processing Backlogs

12/19/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter urging USCIS to create policies to urgently alleviate the processing backlog for TPS applicants. The letter also provides recommendations on the implementation of these policies to limit harm to applicants as the agency continues to improve the backlogs.
AILA Doc. No. 22122733

AILA and Partners Responds to USCIS Collection on I-589 Form

11/21/2022
AILA and partners submit comments in response to the collection activities on the extension without change of Form I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal, and urge USCIS to make changes rather than renewing the form without any chances.
AILA Doc. No. 22122397

AILA Signs onto Letter Expressing Disappointment on the Explicit Exclusion of Many Immigrants on Criminal Policy Reforms

11/4/2022
AILA and partners urged President Biden to extend pardon of federal convictions for marijuana possession to all immigrants, regardless of immigration status, and to take necessary steps to ensure that immigrants do not suffer negative immigration consequences from marijuana convictions.
AILA Doc. No. 22122731

AILA and Partners Urge Review of Country Conditions and Designation of TPS for Pakistan

11/14/2022
AILA and partners urged the Administration to immediately designate TPS and special student relief for Pakistan and provide protection for Pakistani immigrants living in the United States who would face unsafe and life-threatening conditions if returned.
AILA Doc. No. 22122236

AILA and Partners Send Letter Urging 18-Month Extension and Redesignation of Yemen for TPS

12/13/2022
AILA and partners urge the Administration to extend for 18 months and redesignate TPS for Yemen, to publish a timely Federal Register notice, and to launch a public information campaign to notify the impacted community of the decision and any actions they must take by January 2, 2023.
AILA Doc. No. 22122235

AILA and Partners Send Letter to DHS and USCIS about Form I-765 Processing

12/12/2022
AILA, the American Immigration Council, and ASAP were joined by a coalition of organizations in urging DHS Secretary Mayorkas and USCIS Director Jaddou to address the inefficiencies and inequities in the processing of Form I-765, Applications for Employment Authorization.
AILA Doc. No. 22121651

AILA Sends Letter to USCIS with Recommendations on Digital Signature Policy

11/14/2022
AILA submitted recommendations to USCIS to expand its acceptance of digital and electronic signatures that meet standard security and verification protocols to all form types, not just those that may be filed electronically.
AILA Doc. No. 22113002

AILA Sends Letter to DOS on E-Visa Adjudications and Processing Delays Worldwide

11/18/2022
AILA sent a letter to DOS suggesting procedural and policy changes for consideration that may alleviate some of the E-visa case backlogs and provide efficiencies to E-visa processing moving forward.
AILA Doc. No. 22112300

AILA and Partners Send Letter to DHS on Prosecutorial Discretion for Labor Disputes

11/17/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter to Secretary Mayorkas urging DHS to release guidance on prosecutorial discretion for individuals involved in labor disputes.
AILA Doc. No. 22112205

AILA and Partners Send Letter to White House Urging Closure of ICE Detention Sites

11/21/2022
AILA and 113 partners sent a letter to the White House urging support for the closure of ICE detention sites, the prevention of the development of future detention sites or expansion of existing ones, and the reduction of funding for immigration detention.
AILA Doc. No. 22112103

AILA and Partners Send Letter to USCIS, EOIR, and OPLA on Biometrics Appointments

11/17/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter to USCIS, EOIR, and OPLA addressing the unnecessary hurdles non-detained people in removal proceedings face in securing a biometrics appointment prior to their merits hearing.
AILA Doc. No. 22111703

AILA Provides Feedback on the H-1B Electronic Registration System

10/28/2022
AILA, the USCIS Case Assistance Committee, and the USCIS HQ/Benefits Committee provide feedback and suggestions for USCIS to further enhance the H-1B Electronic Registration System. AILA has requested a meeting with USCIS to discuss our recommendations.
AILA Doc. No. 22111431

AILA Requests Urgent Guidance on Filing of Form I-956/I-956G in Connection with "Retired Regional Centers"

11/9/2022
AILA sent a letter to USCIS requesting policy guidance related to legal requirements of previously approved regional centers electing to wind-down pursuant to the settlement agreement issued in the Behring Regional Center LLC, et al. v. Mayorkas litigation. USCIS issued a response to AILA.
AILA Doc. No. 22111004

AILA and Partners Send Letter to Congress Urging Creation of Permanent Protections for Dreamers

10/20/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter urging congressional leaders to swiftly pass legislative protections for Dreamers.
AILA Doc. No. 22102407

AILA Sends Letter to DC Council Expressing Grave Concerns About Migrant Services and Supports Act of 2022

10/19/2022
AILA sent a letter requesting the Council of the District of Columbia to shift course and not pass any bill that creates a separate residency requirement for migrants or excludes migrants residing in D.C. from accessing homeless services.
AILA Doc. No. 22102401

AILA and Partners Send Letter to Biden Administration on TPS for Pakistan

10/17/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter urging the Biden Administration to support a senate request that DHS grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to individuals from Pakistan and ask DHS-SEVP to grant Special Student Relief (SSR) to F-1 students from Pakistan.
AILA Doc. No. 22102131

AILA and Partners Send Letter to the OMB on FY2024 Priorities for Immigrants

10/3/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with priority recommendations for immigrant communities and requested bolder steps be taken toward a more humane approach to immigration policy in the proposed FY2024 White House budget.
AILA Doc. No. 22100605

AILA and Partners Send Letter to the Administration on TPS for Ethiopia

9/30/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter to the Administration requesting the designation of the country for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months and Special Student Relief (SSR) and a cease of deportations while TPS and SSR are being implemented for those unable to safely return.
AILA Doc. No. 22100502

AILA Joins Legal Service & Mental Health Providers in Letter to Administration Expressing Grave Concerns over the “Dedicated Docket”

10/5/2022
AILA joined legal service providers, mental health providers, and advocacy organizations in sending a letter to the Administration detailing the due process and fairness concerns with the Dedicated Docket, along with recommendations on how to address these concerns.
AILA Doc. No. 22100500

AILA and Partners Sends Letter to Biden on Central American Minors (CAM) Refugee and Parole Program

9/21/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter to President Biden requesting improvements to the CAM Program so that it can deliver on its promise as a pathway to safety and family reunification and continue to take steps to ensure robust asylum processing at the border for children fleeing violence.
AILA Doc. No. 22092607

AILA and Partners Sends Letter Urging Extension and Redesignation of TPS for Burma

9/14/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter urging President Biden to extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma, expand the protections, provide a 180-day registration period for beneficiaries, and provide educational resources and public engagement for the impacted community.
AILA Doc. No. 22091914

AILA and Partners Send Letter to Secretary Mayorkas on Unlawful Trashing of Turbans and Religious Freedom Violations

8/22/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter urging Secretary Mayorkas to take immediate action regarding CBP’s confiscation and disposal of migrants’ personal belongings, including religious articles of faith, and CBP’s denial of meals to migrants that comply with their religious beliefs.
AILA Doc. No. 22082201

AILA and Partners Send Letter on the Asylum Processing Rule

8/12/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter to DHS, USCIS, and DOJ with recommendations on the Asylum Processing Rule implementation process and a request for a dedicated meeting to discuss this letter and recommendations with the relevant agencies and officials as soon as possible.
AILA Doc. No. 22081506

AILA and Partners Call on Biden Administration to End MPP Following Supreme Court Decision

7/20/2022
In light of the SCOTUS ruling in Biden v. Texas, immigrant and refugee rights organizations and service providers sent a letter urging the Administration to take immediate action to wind down the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) and redress the harm suffered by those subjected to it.
AILA Doc. No. 22072004

AILA Joins Groups in Urging DHS to Ensure SCOTUS Dobbs Decision Has No Impact on Immigration Enforcement

7/19/2022
Immigration, criminal justice, and civil rights organizations urged DHS to immediately issue guidance to prevent the Supreme Court’s rights-stripping decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization from being used against noncitizens seeking reproductive health care in the U.S.
AILA Doc. No. 22071902

Civil Society Organizations Urge Congress to Not Codify Title 42 Border Expulsions in Spending Bills

7/15/2022
AILA joined civil society organizations in urging House leaders to not include amendments that would legislatively codify and indefinitely prolong Title 42 border expulsions in any FY2023 spending bills that receive a vote on the House floor.
AILA Doc. No. 22071500

AILA Requests Clarification from USCIS on Implementation of Temporary Injunction Issued in Behring v. Mayorkas

6/28/2022
On 7/28/22, USCIS responded to AILA’s request for clarification on the revised USCIS policies required to implement the preliminary injunction issued on 6/24/22 in Behring Regional Center LLC v. Mayorkas, a lawsuit challenging USCIS’s implementation of EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022.
AILA Doc. No. 22062999

AILA and Partners Send Letter to Share Expectations for the Summit of the Americas

6/6/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter sharing expectations for the Summit of the Americas and urging the Biden administration to sustain consultation with a wide range of civil society organizations in the U.S., particularly those led by directly impacted refugees and migrants, and in the region.
AILA Doc. No. 22061007

AILA and Partners Send Letter on Immediate Actions to Take on Title 42

6/8/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter to the Administration urging immediate action to preserve asylum and refugee law at the U.S. borders to the fullest extent, consistent with current court decisions concerning the use of Title 42.
AILA Doc. No. 22060903

AILA and Partners Send Sign-on Letter to DHS Expressing Concern Over Age-Out Issue

6/6/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter to DHS urging the administration to establish more robust aging out policies, to take steps to preserve the ability of children to remain in the U.S. and work while waiting in the green card backlog, and to provide a long-term resolution to this problem.
AILA Doc. No. 22060701

AILA and Partners Send Letter to DOJ on Access to EOIR Records of Proceedings and Digital Audio Recordings

5/20/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter petitioning DOJ to ensure timely and comprehensive access to EOIR records of proceedings and digital audio recordings and requesting a response within 45 days of the letter to schedule a meeting to discuss the issues.
AILA Doc. No. 22052403

AILA and Partners Send Letter to DHS on I-9 Flexibilities

5/10/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter to DHS requesting guidance for employers on how much time they have to inspect documents in person and update I-9s and how to verify “newly remote” employees. The letter also provides input on remote document inspection.
AILA Doc. No. 22051902

AILA Asylum & Refugee Committee Requests Guidance from DHS on Asylum Applications Processing after the Doyle Memo

5/18/2022
The AILA Asylum & Refugee Committee sent a letter to DHS requesting guidance on how the agency will process affirmative asylum applications where the noncitizen had their immigration court removal case terminated under the Doyle memo.
AILA Doc. No. 22051901

AILA Requests USCIS Rescind the Adopted AAO Decision of Matter of Z-R-Z-C-

5/12/2022
AILA has submitted a request to the AAO that it rescind the adopted decision of Matter of Z-R-Z-C-. Special thanks to AILA members Hudaidah Bhimdi, Cheryl David and Kelli Fennel for their efforts in drafting and reviewing this request.
AILA Doc. No. 22051201

AILA and Partners Send Letter to Congress on Defund Hate’s NGO Cuts for FY2023

4/21/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter to Congress urging significant cuts to ICE and CBP funding in the FY2023 Spending Bill and consideration for the dignity and well-being of all people.
AILA Doc. No. 22042202

AILA and Partners Urge President Biden to End Title 42 Border Expulsions

4/21/2022
On 4/21/22, leaders of immigrant, civil rights, humanitarian, labor, and human rights organizations sent a letter to President Biden urging him to end border expulsions under Title 42 and to oppose congressional attempts to keep the border expulsion policy in place via legislation.
AILA Doc. No. 22042251

AILA Sends Letter to DOS on Implementation of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022

3/24/2022
AILA requested emergency action from DOS to amend the April 2022 Visa Bulletin to comply with the provisions of the EB-5 RIA, which was recently signed into law, and for the NVC and posts to begin processing cases in accordance with the provisions of the new law that have taken immediate effect.
AILA Doc. No. 22032501

AILA Sends Letter to USCIS on EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022

3/16/2022
AILA sent a letter to USCIS requesting public engagement as soon as possible on the implementation of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 that was recently enacted.
AILA Doc. No. 22031707

AILA and Partners Send Letter Urging President Biden to End Title 42 Policy

3/10/2022
AILA and partners called on President Biden to immediately end the Title 42 policy, stop defending this illegal and inhumane policy in court, restore meaningful access to asylum at U.S. borders, and welcome with dignity the families and individuals seeking protection in the United States.
AILA Doc. No. 22031401

AILA and Partners Send Letter to Biden on New 18-Month Designations of TPS or DED and SSR for Ukraine

2/25/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter to Biden requesting an immediate 18-month designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) and Special Student Relief (SSR) for Ukraine.
AILA Doc. No. 22030204

AILA and Partners Send Letter Urging DOJ and DHS to Rescind the Pandemic-Related Ban on Asylum

2/28/2022
AILA and partners sent a letter urging to DOJ/DHS to rescind the Security Bars and Processing rule, which would ban asylum seekers who have transited through or come from a country with a communicable disease or who exhibit symptoms consistent with such disease.
AILA Doc. No. 22030203

AILA and more than 100 Partners Recommend Priorities for Spending on Immigration in FY2022 Appropriations Bill

2/24/2022
On February 24, AILA and more than 100 organizations sent a letter to leaders in Congress setting forth priorities for spending on immigration matters for the FY2022 appropriations bill.
AILA Doc. No. 22022570

AILA Sends Letter to Immigration Investor Program Office (IPO) Requesting Reestablishment of Stakeholder Engagement

2/9/2022
On 2/9/22, the AILA EB-5 Committee sent a letter to Alissa Emmel, Chief of the Immigrant Investor Program Office (IPO) to request the resumption of stakeholder engagements between the IPO and EB-5 stakeholders, including AILA, EB-5 trade associations, and industry groups.
AILA Doc. No. 22020908

AILA Leads Partners in Calling for Review of DHS’s Reopening of Private Prisons

2/9/2022
AILA led partners in calling for an investigation of DOJ and DHS’s implementation of the President’s executive order banning private prisons and reiterating our support for the ban being extended to immigration detention.
AILA Doc. No. 22020851

AILA, the American Immigration Council, and 147 Partners Send Letter to Biden on Funding for Legal Representation Programs

2/1/2022
AILA, the American Immigration Council, and 147 partners sent a letter to Biden and Congress requesting an increase in funding to expand legal representation for people in removal proceedings.
AILA Doc. No. 22020104