AILA Correspondence with the Government
Read letters that AILA has sent to government officials about pressing immigration -related issues, as well as coalition letters to government officials that AILA has signed.
Browse the AILA Correspondence collection
AILA and Council Submit FOIA Requests Seeking Information on Trump Administration Suspension of Green Card Applications
AILA and the American Immigration Council filed requests under FOIA with DHS and USCIS requesting communications and records relating to USCIS suspending the processing of green card applications by asylees and refugees and the additional vetting measures the agencies will now implement.
H-2B Letter to DHS and DOL
On Friday, March 14th, The H-2B Workforce Coalition sent a letter to DHS Secretary Noem and DOL Secretary Chavez-DeRemer reiterating the importance of the supplemental H-2B visas for seasonal employers. The letter received support from national, regional, and state organizations, including AILA.
Concerns and Recommendations on USCIS Interviews for VAWA Self-Petitioners
This letter expresses concerns about USCIS's new pilot program requiring interviews of VAWA Self-Petitioners, highlighting potential risks to survivors and offering recommendations for improved procedures.
USCIS Responds to AILA's Request Related to EB-5 Technical and Customer Service Issues
USCIS issued a response to AILA's letter regarding technical and customer service issues related to the EB-5 process, including USCIS case status tool, processing times, FOrm I-526E receipt errors and delays, delays on transfers to the NVC, and more.
AILA and ASISTA Raise Discrepancies in I-290B Filing Location Instructions
AILA and ASISTA sent a letter to USCIS regarding discrepancies in I-290B filing location instructions and practitioner reports of recent filing rejections by the Vermont Service Center (VSC). The letter outlines the discrepancies as well as examples of rejections and also provides recommendations.
AILA and ASISTA Letter to USCIS Regarding Missing Correspondence Related to Certain Protected Persons
AILA and ASISTA sent a letter to USCIS to raise a trend of missing correspondence related to certain protected persons, both from and to USCIS. The letter raises issues related to VAWA, U and T applicants. The letter also provides recommendations to address these issues.
USCIS Response to AILA Letter Regarding EB-5 Unreserved Visas
USCIS responded to AILA's 9/17/24 letter regarding EB-5 visas for FY2024. After DOS announced the exhaustion of available visas in the EB-5 unreserved category, USCIS dedicated resources to optimize the processing of eligible EB-5 I-485 forms in the reserved categories.
Senators Urge DHS and DOL to Release Additional H-2B Visas
Senators urge DHS and DOL to release additional H-2B visas for FY2025, citing severe seasonal labor shortages impacting industries like tourism and seafood. They request swift action to support workforce needs and local economies amid rising demand.
Senators Sent Follow-Up Letter to President Biden Regarding Lebanese Nationals
Senators sent a letter to President Biden reiterating their request for the designation of TPS for Lebanon and also urging the swift issuance of DHS implementation guidance for DED for Lebanon.
USCIS Responds to Request for Grace Period for Form I-914
USCIS responded to a letter from AILA and other advocates requesting that USCIS retroactively reinstate the 04/01/24 edition of Form I-914 and provide a grace period during which both editions can be submitted. After receipt of your letter, USCIS updated its website to reflect a 30-day grace period.
AILA Sends Urgent Request to USCIS Regarding Pending I-485s for Approved EB-5 Beneficiaries
AILA, with the support of the EB-5 Investor Committee, has submitted an urgent request to USCIS for the adjudication of pending and approvable Forms I-485 for approved EB-5 Form I-526E beneficiaries in the reserved immigrant visa categories by September 30, 2024.
AILA Requests EB-5 Processing Improvements
AILA sent a letter to USCIS identifying ongoing technical and customer service issues related to the EB-5 process and requesting technology updates, better coordination between the Immigrant Investor Program Office and other USCIS offices, and other administrative fixes to the EB-5 program.
AILA Requests Clarification on Bona Fide Terminations for E-3 and H-1B1 Employees
AILA sent a letter to the CIS Ombudsman requesting a formal process for employers to notify USCIS of terminating E-3 and H-1B1 workers, where no USCIS petition was filed. Currently, the lack of guidance risks penalties, and AILA seeks clarification to resolve this issue for employers.
AILA and Partners Request USCIS to Accept Prior Editions of Form I-914
AILA and partners sent a letter to USCIS requesting that it accept prior editions of Form I-914 through at least 10/28/24 given that the new edition was issued with no notice or grace period. On 8/30/24, USCIS indicated it would accept the prior edition through 9/30/24.
AILA Sends Recommendations for Executive Action and Regulations on Immigration
AILA sent a letter to the White House with recommendations for executive action and regulations on immigration to ensure that the positive policy changes made during the Biden Administration are codified or otherwise made permanent.
AILA and Other Organizations Urge DHS to Take Immediate Action on Pending EADs
AILA and 204 other organizations urge DHS and USCIS to take immediate action to issue work authorization to as many immigrants as possible before the end of this Administration and outline several immediate solutions to address the issue.
AILA Sends Letter to Ensure Consistency and Fairness in Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Cases
AILA sent a letter to DOJ and DHS urging reform to the legal standard governing ineffective assistance of counsel claims in immigration matters.
Former Immigration Judges Strongly Support the Strengthening Immigration Procedure's Act of 2024
The Round Table of Former Immigration Judges applauded Senator Murphy for introducing the Strengthening Immigration Procedures Act of 2024, which would bring the standard needed to prove ineffective assistance of counsel in immigration cases into alignment with every other area of law.
Senators Sent Letter to DHS and DOS Urging TPS for Lebanese Nationals
Senators sent a letter to DHS and DOS urging the designation of Lebanon for TPS for Lebanese nationals present in the United States due to escalating armed conflict in the region. AILA endorsed the letter.
AILA Sends Recommendations to Biden Administration on TPS for Haiti
AILA sent a letter to the Biden Administration urging protection for Haitian nationals impacted by the instability and violence in Haiti, recommending among other immigration actions, that TPS for Haitians be extended and redesignated. The current designation is set to expire on August 4.
AILA Joins Letter Urging USCIS to Provide a Minimum of 60-Day Comment Period on NPRM on Mandatory Bars in Fear Screening
AILA joins other advocacy organizations in requesting a minimum of 60 days for public comment after DHS proposed a new rule governing fear screenings by asylum officers and establishing an atypical, abbreviated thirty-day comment period.
AILA and Partners Request USCIS to Accept Prior Edition of I-914 Forms Through March 31, 2025
AILA, the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and Freedom Network USA sent a letter urging USCIS to accept the prior edition of the I-914 form through March 31, 2025, after it indicated that starting June 3 it would only accept the April 1, edition.
AILA Submitted a Statement to the House Judiciary Committee on H.R. 7909
AILA submitted a statement for the record in opposition to the proposed H.R. 7909, the “Violence Against Women By Illegal Aliens Act.” H.R. 7909 will do nothing to protect people from experiencing domestic violence (DV) and will cause actual harm to DV survivors.
Senators Send Letter Urging Appropriators to Include Funding for Case Management Alternative to Detention
Senators, led by Senator Merkley, sent a letter to the subcommittee on Homeland Security Senate Committee on Appropriations requesting the committee's FY2025 proposal include $100 million for the Case Management Pilot Program (CMPP). AILA supported this request.
AILA Writes to USCIS Requesting Data and Statistics
AILA's Asylum and Refugee National Committee wrote a letter to USCIS with suggested data and statistics for publication on its website.