AILA Responds to DHS Letter Targeting Immigration Attorneys Over "Meritless" Asylum Claims

On 9/15/26, DHS General Counsel James Percival sent AILA a letter accusing immigration attorneys of causing the asylum backlog with “meritless” asylum applications. AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson responded with a letter defending attorneys from these baseless attacks and clarifying attorneys' responsibilities toward their clients. The letter notes the numerous policies the current Administration has put in place that worsen the asylum backlog and urges the Administration to adopt commonsense policies to strengthen the asylum system rather than dismantle it.

See AILA's letter to DHS below, followed by DHS's initial letter to AILA.