2023

AILA Joins Sign-on Letter Requesting Further Transparency into the FERM Program

9/19/2023
AILA joined 45 other organizations in requesting DHS to provide additional transparency into the impact and operation of the Family Expediated Removal Management (FERM) program.
AILA Doc. No. 23092204

AILA and the Council Send Letter to Congress with Recommendations on FY2024 Appropriations and Continuing Resolution

9/22/2023
AILA and the American Immigration Council sent a letter to congressional leadership with joint recommendations on FY2024 appropriations and continuing resolution urging Congress to recognize the indispensable role that immigrants play in nearly every part of American society and its economy.
AILA Doc. No. 23092201

AILA Sends Letter to USCIS on Safe Address and Section 1367 Protections Policy Alert

9/8/2023
AILA’s VAWA/U/T National Committee sent a letter to USCIS in response to the agency’s request for feedback regarding the policy changes to the USCIS Policy Manual (1 USCIS-PM A.7) and provided feedback for further consideration and seeks its response to certain areas of remaining concern.
AILA Doc. No. 23091304

AILA Provides Feedback to USCIS on the FY2024 H-1B Electronic Registration System

8/21/2023
AILA’s H-1B working group provides feedback on the FY2024 H-1B Electronic Registration System on topics such as duplicate registrations, training materials, MyUSCIS accounts, Form G-28 employer issues, duplicative data entry, and staff/associate attorney options, among others.
AILA Doc. No. 23083103

ICYMI: AILA Provides Recommendations on USCIS Processing Times

8/4/2023
AILA provided recommendations to USCIS to enhance how processing times for benefits requests are displayed online and proposed alternative thresholds for placing service requests as well as other measures that would facilitate reporting of more consistent and relevant processing time information.
AILA Doc. No. 23080803

AILA Joins Letter Urging President Biden Halt Use and Defense of Asylum Ban Policy

8/2/2023
AILA joined a letter with 202 organizations in the wake of the U.S. district court decision in the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant case regarding the “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways” rule to urge the White House to withdraw its appeal and stay motion and accept the court’s decision as final.
AILA Doc. No. 23080404

AILA Sends Letter to DHS and DOS Urging EB-4 Administrative Action

7/31/2023
AILA sent a letter to DOS and DHS urging immediate administrative action to remedy the harms experienced by religious workers, diplomats, SIJS youth, and other EB-4 applicants when the DOS changed its interpretation of how it allocates EB-4 immigrant visas.
AILA Doc. No. 23080100

AILA Sends Letter Highlighting Concerns Regarding Conducting Credible Fear Interviews in CBP Custody

6/30/2023
On June 30, 2023, AILA sent a letter to the Biden Administration expressing concerns regarding the process of conducting CFIs in CBP custody.
AILA Doc. No. 23063002

AILA and Partners Send Letter to DOL on Updating Schedule A Group I

6/28/2023
AILA and partners sent a letter urging DOL to utilize its legal authority to pursue a data-driven approach to updating Schedule A Group I to reflect the labor needs of today’s economy and offered any assistance needed in research or resources.
AILA Doc. No. 23062916

AILA Provides Analysis of the Dignity Act (H.R. 3599)

6/8/2023
While AILA does not endorse the bill, AILA recognizes the importance of bipartisan efforts like H.R. 3599 and the need for Congress to act immediately to reform immigration laws. This analysis provides a summary of both beneficial and harmful provisions proposed in the bill.
AILA Doc. No. 23060803

AILA and Partners Send Letter to DHS on the H-1B Registration and Lottery Process

6/1/2023
AILA and partners requested USCIS take immediate steps to address the procedural deficiencies that were highlighted in the FY2024 H-1B visa registration and lottery process.
AILA Doc. No. 23060709

AILA Sends Supplemental Letter to DHS on the H-1B Modernization Rule

6/2/2023
AILA sent a supplement letter to DHS regarding the FY2025 H-1B registration period highlighting that USCIS should immediately issue regulations that would base lottery selections on the number of unique beneficiaries rather than unique registrations.
AILA Doc. No. 23060708

AILA’s Asylum & Refugee Committee Sends Follow-Up Letter to USCIS Requesting Guidance on the Doyle Memo

5/9/2023
The AILA Asylum & Refugee Committee submitted a follow-up letter to USCIS regarding the Doyle Memo-related guidance initially requested in May 2022.
AILA Doc. No. 23051106

AILA Signs onto Letter to House Opposing H.R. 2

5/8/2023
AILA and other organizations sent a vote recommendation opposing H.R. 2, Secure the Border Act of 2023, stating that the “the bill would dismantle the asylum system and cause immeasurable harm to immigrant communities.”
AILA Doc. No. 23050900

AILA Statement Submitted to the House on the Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023

4/18/2023
AILA submitted a statement to the record in advance of a House Judiciary Committee Markup of the Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023.
AILA Doc. No. 23041801

AILA Issues Recommendations for FY2024 Federal Budget

3/17/2023
AILA sent a letter to Congress with recommendations for the FY2024 federal budget. The letter highlights the need to adequately fund USCIS, humanely and efficiently prepare for migration encounters, reduce detention funding, and provide funding for fair immigration courts and legal representation.
AILA Doc. No. 23031701

AILA Sends Letter to USCIS on Collaboration on Technology Improvements and Data Standardization

2/23/2023
AILA sent a letter to USCIS on advancing collaboration between AILA and USCIS in the areas of technology improvements and data standardization, including initiatives related to MyUSCIS and recommendations for future collaboration.
AILA Doc. No. 23031531

AILA Sends Letter to White House Opposing Family Detention

3/13/2023
AILA sent a letter to President Biden expressing concern that his administration is considering reinstating family detention. AILA lays out alternative to solutions to addressing the need to process large numbers of individuals and urging the Administration to not reinstate family detention.
AILA Doc. No. 23031400

AILA and Partners Send Letter Urging End to the Asylum EAD Clock

3/8/2023
AILA and partner organizations urge USCIS and EOIR to eliminate the “asylum clock” for EADs, calling on the agencies to engage in rulemaking and remove the language from 8 CFR § 208.7(a)(2) that established the need to account for applicant-caused delays through an asylum clock.
AILA Doc. No. 23030801

AILA and Partners Send Letter to DHS on TPS for Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees

2/6/2023
AILA and partners sent a letter urging DHS to extend temporary protection and work authorization for Ukrainians paroled into the United States at ports of entry and to consider recommendations to address challenges faced by Ukrainian humanitarian parolees and the providers who serve them.
AILA Doc. No. 23022409

AILA and Partners Advocate for Changes in Biometrics for U and T Visa Applicants Abroad

2/14/2023
AILA’s VAWA, T, and U committee and partners advocate for the USCIS immediate implementation of biometrics policies that will allow for continued adjudication of U and T petitions for applicants abroad.
AILA Doc. No. 23021704

AILA Statement for House Oversight Committee Hearing on the Southern Border

2/6/2023
AILA submitted a statement for the House Oversight Committee’s February 7, 2023, hearing on the southern border. AILA urges Congress and the Biden Administration to take immediate action to build a fair, humane, and orderly asylum process and to improve the entire immigration system.
AILA Doc. No. 23020699

AILA Statement to the House Judiciary Committee on the Southern Border

2/1/2023
In advance of a February 1, 2023, hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on the border, AILA submitted this statement advising on how to meaningfully manage the southern border through an all-government approach.
AILA Doc. No. 23013131

AILA and Partners Send Letter Urging Human Rights, Humanitarian Protection, and Access to Asylum to Be Center of Upcoming North American Leaders’ Summit

1/9/2023
AILA and partners sent a letter to U.S., Canadian, and Mexican Administrations urging them to center human rights, humanitarian protection, and access to asylum for individuals fleeing persecution in discussions regarding regional migration at the upcoming North American Leaders’ Summit.
AILA Doc. No. 23012503

AILA and Partners Send Letter to USCIS on Stakeholder Engagement with IPO

1/18/2023
AILA and partners sent a letter to USCIS requesting that IPO resume regular engagement with critical stakeholders regarding the implementation of the RIA. The past engagements have helped avoid the need to litigate issues that could be easily discussed prior to a policy announcement.
AILA Doc. No. 23012000

AILA and Partners Send Letter to President Biden on Deportations to Haiti

1/12/2023
AILA and partners sent a letter to President Biden urging the U.S. to stop all deportations to Haiti due to the deadly conditions in Haiti, particularly impacting those individuals who are ineligible for TPS, including those with past criminal convictions or criminal charges.
AILA Doc. No. 23011905

AILA’s Asylum & Refugee National Committee Requests a Meeting on I-730 Adjudications

1/18/2023
The AILA Asylum & Refugee National Committee sent a letter to USCIS requesting a meeting on I-730 adjudications to discuss issues and recommendations and to provide questions.
AILA Doc. No. 23011901

AILA Sends Letter to President Biden Regarding the Proposed New Transit Ban

1/17/2023
AILA sent a letter to President Biden expressing concerns in response to an announcement that the Administration would issue a notice of proposed rulemaking that would include a transit ban.
AILA Doc. No. 23011800