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
Sign-On Letter Urges DHS and DOL to Urgently Provide H-2B Cap Relief
On 2/22/19, the H-2B Workforce Coalition, of which AILA is a member, sent a letter to DHS Secretary Nielsen and DOL Secretary Acosta requesting that their agencies make available the full number of H-2B visas authorized by the FY2019 Consolidated Appropriations Act.
AILA Sends Response Letter to EOIR on Discipline Policy Memo
On 2/15/19, AILA sent a letter to EOIR Director McHenry to express concern with the continued imbalance in the treatment of counsel appearing before EOIR components perpetuated by the 12/18/18 memo, “Internal Reporting of Suspected Ineffective Assistance of Counsel and Professional Misconduct.”
AILA Issues Statement on the Border Security Spending Deal
On 2/14/19, AILA issued a statement expressing concern about the enormous increases the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 provides for border security enforcement. Citing, among other things, that the bill would increase funding for immigration detention by at least 12 percent.
AILA and Advocates Send Letter Urging Secretary Nielsen to End the Migrant Protection Protocols Policy
On 2/6/19, the American Immigration Council, AILA, and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. sent a letter to DHS documenting harm that families served by the Dilley Pro Bono Project faced on the other side of the southern border and demands a reversal of the Migrant Protection Protocols.
AILA Sends Oversight Letter to House Judiciary Committee
On 1/24/19, AILA sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee urging the committee to conduct hearings to hold USCIS accountable to its mission, halt the administration’s interference with immigration judges’ independence, and stop the violations of due process happening at the border.
AILA and Other Advocates Reject the “End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act”
On 1/23/19, AILA and a wide coalition of advocacy partners sent a letter to Majority Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer urging them to reopen the federal government without “poison pill policy proposals.”
AILA Calls on Leader Nancy Pelosi to Protect Dreamers and TPS Recipients within First 100 Days of the 116th Congress
On 11/27/18, AILA sent a letter to Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on the need to pass legislation to protect Dreamers and recipients of TPS within the first 100 days of the 116th Congress. AILA also urged opposing funds to build a border wall, increase detention beds and additional CBP agents.
Compete America Coalition Sends Letter to USCIS and OIRA on H-1B Pre-Registration Rule
On 11/21/18, the Compete America coalition, of which AILA is a member, sent a letter to USCIS and OIRA expressing concerns regarding the proposed H-1B pre-registration rule, which is currently pending review with the OMB, but has not yet been published in the Federal Register.
AILA Joins Over 200 Organizations in Urging Congress to Reject Funding Increases for Border Enforcement
On 11/13/18, AILA joined over 200 organization in urging Congress to decrease enforcement funding in FY2019 DHS Appropriations bill. Citing that increase funding will facilitate family separations, cause irreparable harm to the border region, and incentivize mass detention and deportation.
Compete America Coalition Letter to DHS on H-1B Adjudications
On 11/1/18, the Compete America coalition, of which AILA is a member, sent a letter to DHS expressing concern, stating, “The agency’s current approach to H-1B adjudications cannot be anticipated by either the statutory or regulatory text, leaving employers with a disruptive lack of clarity….”
Compete America Coalition Letter to DHS Expressing Concerns Regarding Sub-Regulatory Agency Actions
On 10/26/18, the Compete America coalition, of which AILA is a member, sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expressing concerns regarding sub-regulatory agency actions impacting employment-based immigration.
AILA and NAFSA Sent Letter to DHS on Relief for FY2019 H-1B Cap Cases
On 9/21/18, AILA and NAFSA provided a joint statement requesting relief for FY2019 H-1B cap cases, in reference to the ongoing suspension of premium processing service specifically affecting F-1 students in a cap-gap extension period.
AILA and Council Issue Statement to Senate HSGAC Committee on Flores Settlement Agreement
AILA and American Immigration Council statement submitted to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) addressing recently proposed regulations that would undermine the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement.
Sign-On Letter Opposing Legislation That Would Expand Family Detention
On 9/14/18, AILA joined national and state/local organizations to urge the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to reject any legislation that would expand the scale and length of immigrant family detention.
Sign-On Letter on Reduction of Detention and Enforcement Funds in FY2019 Continuing Resolution
On 9/5/18, AILA joined national, state, and local immigrant rights organizations on calling on congressional leadership and appropriators to reduce ICE’s funds for immigration detention and enforcement due to DHS’s overspending and poor conditions inside ICE’s jails.
AILA Letter to USCIS Requesting Emergency Correction to Form G-28
On 9/5/18, AILA sent a letter to USCIS requesting an emergency correction to the 5/23/18 edition of Form G-28 prior to its mandatory implementation on 9/17/18, or in the alternative, a delay in the mandatory effective date for the new form, until the required correction can be completed.
AILA, CLINIC, and NILC Express Concerns Over Improper Public Charge Determinations and I-601A Revocations
On 8/28/18, AILA, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., and the National Immigration Law Center sent a letter to the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, expressing concerns over consulates’ improper public charge determinations and associated revocations of approved I-601As.
Sign-On Letter Urging Senate to Conduct Oversight and Advise USCIS to Withdraw Policy Memos
On 8/14/18, AILA and nine coalition partners sent a letter to Chairman Charles Grassley and Ranking Dianne Member Feinstein of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urging Senate to conduct oversight and advise USCIS to withdraw policy memos issued on 6/28/18, 7/13/18, and 8/9/18.
Sign-On Letter Asking Attorney General Sessions to Revoke Matter of A-B-
On June 27, 2018, AILA joined approximately 465 other organizations in a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions expressing concern for the lives of immigrant survivors of domestic violence following his wrongful decision in Matter of A-B- and asking him to immediately revoke the decision.
Sign-On Letter to Appropriators to Reject Reprogramming Requests Made By DHS
On 6/27/18, AILA and 11 coalition partners urged the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to reject the transfer and/or reprogramming of funds DHS is requesting to construct new detention camps to detain children and families.
Sign-On Letter Opposing Speaker Ryan’s “Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018” (H.R. 6136)
On June 20, 2018, AILA joined approximately 350 organizations in a letter to members of Congress expressing grave concerns with Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) “Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018” (H.R. 6136), and asking them to vote against the bill.
Sign-On Letter Opposing Representative Goodlatte’s “Securing America’s Future Act” (H.R.4760)
On June 19, 2018, AILA joined approximately 226 organizations in a letter to members of Congress opposing Representative Bob Goodlatte’s (R-VA) bill, the “Securing America’s Future Act” (H.R.4760).
Sign-On Letter Urging the Appropriations Committees to Include H-2B Cap Relief in FY2019 Appropriations Bill
On 6/12/18, AILA joined members of the H-2B Workforce Coalition urging the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to include H-2B cap relief for FY2019 or any other appropriate legislation.
Sign-On Letter to Congressional Leadership on Worksite Raids
On 6/6/18, AILA joined several other human rights and immigrant rights organizations from across the U.S. in calling on congressional leadership to address the return of mass worksite raids and the increase of rogue worksite enforcement actions taken by ICE and DHS.
Sign-On Letter to Special Rapporteur González Morales on Violations of International Law at Immigration Detention Facilities
On 5/15/18, AILA joined 70 other human rights and immigrant’s rights organizations across the U.S. to address violations of international law at the Stewart Detention Center and the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia and to call for coordinated site visits and international condemnation.