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 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.
AILA Statement on Strengthening and Reforming America’s Immigration Court System Hearing
On 4/18/18, AILA submitted a statement to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration urging that Congress create an independent immigration court system in the form of an Article I court and monitor EOIR practices to ensure individuals the right to a full and fair hearing.
Sign-On Letter Urging DOL and DHS To Immediately Resume Processing H-2Bs
On 4/11/18, AILA joined members of the H-2B Workforce Coalition urging the DOL and DHS Secretaries to immediately resume processing H-2B visas up to the full number of visas authorized by the FY2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act.
Sign-On Letter Urging ICE to Discontinue Policy of Detaining Pregnant Individuals
On 4/11/18, AILA joined over 275 organizations in urging ICE Deputy Director Thomas Homan to discontinue its policy of detaining pregnant individuals, who should be able to access the critical healthcare services they need, and instead release them to continue their cases outside of detention.
Sign-On Letter Requesting Transparency and Accountability for Immigration Detention
On 4/5/18, AILA joined nine organizations in a letter to Kirstjen Nielsen, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Thomas Homan, Acting Director of ICE, requesting that they bear accountability for the ongoing mismanagement of the detention system and comply with the limitations on agency spending.
AILA Urges Congress to Reject Excessive, Unjustified Spending on Immigration Enforcement in Omnibus Appropriations Bill
On 3/8/18, AILA released a statement urging Congress to reject excessive, unjustified spending for immigration enforcement in the upcoming omnibus appropriations bill. President Trump has requested large increases in immigration enforcement funding, including $1.6 billion for the border wall.
Sign-On Letter to Congress Regarding Unaccompanied Children and Asylum Seekers
On 2/14/18, AILA joined 99 other organizations in a letter urging Congress to support the Dream Act and vote against proposals that would punish asylum seekers and vulnerable immigrant children. These harmful proposals would violate due process for asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors.
Sign-On Letter Urging Congress to Pass the Dream Act and Reject the White House Proposal
On 2/13/18, AILA joined 268 other organizations in a letter calling on Congress to enact permanent protections for Dreamers and reject the White House’s immigration proposal. The letter states that “protecting Dreamers cannot come at the cost of harming other immigrants or immigrant communities.”
Coalition for the American Dream Opposes H.R. 4760
On 2/8/18, the Coalition for the American Dream, of which AILA is a member, sent a letter to Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress declaring opposition to H.R. 4760: Securing America’s Future Act of 2018, which does not provide a permanent workable legislative solution for Dreamers.
Sign-On Letter Urging House and Senate Leadership to Include H-2B Cap Relief in Future Spending Measures
On 2/2/18, AILA joined members of the H-2B Workforce Coalition urging House and Senate Leadership to include H-2B cap relief in any spending measures for the remainder of FY2018 or any other appropriate legislation.
Sign-On Letter Urging the Appropriations Committees to Include H-2B Cap Relief
On 2/2/18, AILA joined members of the H-2B Workforce Coalition urging the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to include H-2B cap relief in any spending measure for the remainder of FY2018 or any other appropriate legislation.
Sign-On Letter to USCIS Requesting to Maintain the H-4 Rule
On 1/17/18, eleven organizations including CompeteAmerica, which AILA is a member of, requested that USCIS continue to authorize employment for certain H-4 dependent spouses. The letter cites the instrumental role of these workers in STEM fields and their positive impact on the U.S. economy.
Sign-On Letter to Secretary Nielsen Opposing Family Separation Proposal
On 1/16/18, AILA joined 129 other organizations in a letter to Kirstjen Nielsen, Secretary of Homeland Security, opposing a recent proposal from the Trump administration to separate immigrant children from their parents when they are apprehended at the border.
Sign-On Letter Requesting Investigation of Georgia Immigration Detention Centers
On 11/21/17, AILA joined immigrants’ rights, human rights, and civil rights organizations in a letter requesting that the Georgia congressional delegation investigate the conditions at the Stewart and Irwin County immigration detention centers in Georgia.
AILA Statement to House Judiciary Committee on EOIR Oversight
On 10/31/17, AILA joined NGOs and submitted a statement to the House Judiciary Committee, Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee for a hearing on 11/1/17 titled “Overview of the Executive Office for Immigration Review.”
AILA Issues Vote Recommendation on H.R. 3548
AILA urges members of Congress to vote NO on Representative Michael McCaul’s (R-TX) Border Security for America Act of 2017 (H.R. 3548), which would among other things, authorize a southern border wall, increase the number of Border Patrol agents, and identify visa overstays.
AILA Statement to Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on End of DACA
AILA submitted a statement to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for a hearing on “Oversight of the Administration’s Decision to End Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.” AILA urges members of Congress to call for an immediate vote on the Dream Act, extend the DACA renewal deadline, and more.
Statement to House Foreign Affairs Committee on DOS Reorganization
On 9/26/17, AILA joined 16 other organizations in a statement to the House Foreign Affairs Committee regarding the proposed DOS reorganization. The groups oppose the reorganization, and state that PRM and DOS are interdependent and indivisible from each other.
AILA Issues Vote Recommendation on H.R. 3697
AILA urges members of Congress to vote NO on Representative Barbara Comstock’s (R-VA) Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act, which would amend the INA’s grounds of inadmissibility and deportability for those associated with criminal gangs, as well as amend the INA’s definition of a gang member.
Sign-On Letter Opposing Senate Amendment 463
AILA joined 39 other organizations in a letter to Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) of the Senate Armed Services Committee to oppose the Flake Amendment (S.A. 463) to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2018.
Sign-On Letter Calling on Senate LHHS Appropriations Committee to Protect UAC Funding
On 8/14/17, AILA joined 112 organizations in urging the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services to protect the existing funding for the authorized Unaccompanied Alien Child (UAC) Program for FY2018.
Sign-On Letter Calling on DHS Secretary to Stop Raids on UAC’s and Their Sponsors
On 8/10/17, AILA joined 376 organizations in urging Acting DHS Secretary Duke to cease the ICE raids on unaccompanied children and their sponsors. The letter cites the negative effects raids have on communities, including reduced engagement with local law enforcement.
AILA Statement Opposing Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act of 2017
On 7/25/17, AILA submitted a statement opposing H.R. 391, Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act of 2017, which would dramatically alter U.S. asylum and humanitarian protection law. The bill is scheduled for markup before the House Judiciary Committee on 7/26/17.
Sign-On Letter Calling on Congress to Oppose ICE’s Funding Request
On 7/18/17, AILA joined nearly 200 other organizations in urging members of Congress to oppose ICE’s 6/30/17 request for a reprogramming of funds to cover detention costs for the remainder of FY2017.
AILA Statement Opposing the House DHS Appropriations Bill for FY2018
On 7/14/17, AILA issues a statement opposing the FY2018 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, which was released by the House Appropriations Committee on 7/11/17.