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.

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AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

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.

10/28/24 AILA Doc. No. 24103001. T & U Status, VAWA
Congressional Updates, Correspondence

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.

10/23/24 AILA Doc. No. 24103162. Business Immigration, H-2B Temporary Worker
Agency Memos & Announcements, Correspondence

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.

10/10/24 AILA Doc. No. 24101507. T & U Status
AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

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.

9/17/24 AILA Doc. No. 24091800. Business Immigration, EB-5 Investors
AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

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.

9/11/24 AILA Doc. No. 24091362. Business Immigration, EB-5 Investors
AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

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.

Practice Resources, AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

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.

8/29/24 AILA Doc. No. 24091001. T & U Status
AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

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 Public Statements, Correspondence

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.

8/7/24 AILA Doc. No. 24080764.
AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

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.

7/22/24 AILA Doc. No. 24072204. Removal & Relief
Correspondence

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.

7/22/24 AILA Doc. No. 24072507. Removal & Relief
Congressional Updates, Correspondence

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.

Correspondence

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 Public Statements, Correspondence

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.

5/21/24 AILA Doc. No. 24060609. Asylum
AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

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.

5/16/24 AILA Doc. No. 24053003. T & U Status
AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

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.

5/15/24 AILA Doc. No. 24051504. VAWA
Congressional Updates, Correspondence

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.

5/15/24 AILA Doc. No. 24062438. Detention & Bond, Removal & Relief
AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

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.

5/7/24 AILA Doc. No. 24051043. Asylum
AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

AILA Signs Letter Urging Congress to Fund Legal Representation and Due Process Protections

AILA and over 100 immigrant rights groups have signed a letter urging congressional appropriators to allocate funds in the FY2025 appropriations funding bill to address the critical gaps in legal representation and due process protections for noncitizens in removal proceedings.

4/22/24 AILA Doc. No. 24051408. Removal & Relief
AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

Request for USCIS to Accept Prior Edition of I-918 Forms Through March 31, 2025

AILA joined other immigration groups in sending a letter to USCIS requesting that the agency accept the prior edition of I-918 forms through March 31, 2025.

4/18/24 AILA Doc. No. 24042301. T & U Status
Correspondence

AILA Receives Response from USCIS Regarding Letter on Biometrics for U and T Visa Applicants Abroad

Response from USCIS regarding AILA and partners' letter advocating for the agency to immediately implement biometrics policies that would allow for continued adjudication of U and T petitions for applicants abroad.

4/12/24 AILA Doc. No. 24043000. T & U Status, VAWA
AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

AILA Sends Letter on Social Security Process for Asylees

AILA's Asylum and Refugee National Committee sent suggestions to the Social Security Administration for improvements to the Social Security Number application process for asylum seekers and asylees.

4/3/24 AILA Doc. No. 24040574. Asylum
AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

AILA Sends Letter to Congress with Recommendations on FY2025 Appropriations

AILA sent a letter to Congressional leadership recommending that they prioritize adequate funding for the immigration system in the FY2025 appropriations necessary for establishing a more efficient system.

AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

AILA Joins Sign-on Letter Urging Extension and Redesignation of TPS for Haiti

AILA joined the Haitian Bridge Alliance and 480 other organizations in a letter to the White House, DHS, and DOS requesting an extension and redesignation of the Republic of Haiti for TPS and a moratorium on deportations to the Republic of Haiti.

AILA Public Statements, Correspondence

AILA Sends Letter to White House with Recommendations for Executive Action and Regulations

AILA sent a letter to the White House with ten recommendations it could take immediately via executive action and regulations on immigration.