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 Statement to Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on the High-Skilled Immigration System
AILA submitted the following statement to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and National Interest for a 2/25/16 hearing “The Impact of High-Skilled Immigration on U.S. Workers.”
AILA Statement to Senate Judiciary on Protecting Children, Families, and Other Border Arrivals
AILA submitted a statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee for the 2/23/16 hearing “The Unaccompanied Children Crisis: Does the Administration Have a Plan to Stop the Border Surge and Adequately Monitor the Children?”
Sign-on Letter Requesting DHS Secretary Johnson to Waive Discriminatory Prohibitions Under Visa Waiver Program Act
On 2/22/16, AILA joined civil rights, immigrant rights, and human rights organizations in urging Department of Homeland Security Secretary Johnson to use his waiver authority to ensure individuals are not barred from the Visa Waiver Program on the basis of their national origin or family heritage.
Sign-on Letter to DHS on Enhancing Due Process for Refugees
On 2/18/16, AILA joined immigrants’ rights, civil rights, human rights, faith-based, and legal service providers in urging Department of Homeland Security to enhance due process for Central American refugees and stop the raids.
AILA Statement to House Judiciary on Protecting Children, Families, and Other Border Arrivals
AILA submitted a statement to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security for the 2/4/16 hearing “Another Surge of Illegal Immigrants Along the Southwest Border: Is This the Obama Administration's New Normal?”
AILA Statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee on the EB-5 Regional Center Program
AILA submitted a statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee for the 2/2/16 hearing “The Failures and Future of the EB-5 Regional Center Program: Can it be Fixed?” expressing strong support of the EB-5 Regional Center program.
Sign-on Letter to the Senate Supporting S. 2449, the “Equal Protection in Travel Act of 2016”
On 2/1/16, AILA joined over 60 organizations urging U.S. senators to support for the Equal Protection in Travel Act of 2016 (S. 2449), bipartisan legislation to address recent amendments to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that discriminate against certain dual nationals.
Sign-on Letter Supporting H.R. 4380, the “Equal Protection in Travel Act of 2016”
On 2/1/16, AILA joined over 60 organizations urging U.S. representatives to support for the Equal Protection in Travel Act of 2016 (H.R. 4380), bipartisan legislation to address recent amendments to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that discriminate against certain dual nationals.
Sign-on Letter to President Obama Requesting TPS for El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras
On 1/25/16, AILA joined over 270 civil rights, labor rights, immigrant, human rights, and humanitarian organizations, who sent a letter to President Obama asking his administration grant Temporary Protection Status (TPS) to immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
AILA Vote Recommendations on H.R. 4038
AILA urges members of Congress to vote NO on Representative McCaul’s American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015 (H.R. 4038), which would halt the refugee resettlement program for Iraqis and Syrians.
Sign-on Letter Urging Senators to Oppose Legislation that Would Stop the Resettlement for Refugees
On 1/15/16, AILA joined humanitarian aid organizations, faith, labor, civil, and human rights groups in expressing support for the U.S. refugee resettlement program and opposition to H.R. 4038 and any other proposals to stop, pause, or restrict funding for Syrian and other refugees.
AILA’s Recommendation To Ensure Vulnerable Central Americans Are Treated Fairly and Humanely and Are Protected from Deportation
AILA urges the president and DHS to halt the raids and deportations of vulnerable Central Americans and recommends that procedures be established that ensure these families receive fair and humane treatment and can meaningfully seek humanitarian protection under U.S. law.
AILA and the Council Letter to DHS Secretary Johnson on Raids Targeting Central American Families
On 1/6/16, AILA and the Council requested a meeting with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson to discuss the agency’s current aggressive tactics to apprehend and deport Central American families.
Sign-on Letter to the President Opposing DHS Reported Plans to Conduct Nationwide Raids
On 12/31/15, over 150 organizations joined AILA in expressing opposition to the DHS reported plans to conduct nationwide raids to round up and deport Central American children and their parents. The letter urges the President to offer greater protection to Central American families fleeing violence.
Letter to USCIS and ICE Concerning Due Process Violations at Detention Facilities
Joint letter from AILA, the American Immigration Council, CLINIC, RAICES, and Human Rights First to USCIS and ICE concerning glaring due process violations which have led to the deportation of families with valid claims for asylum or other protection under U.S. law.
Sign-on Letter Urging CBP to Implement the Body-Worn Cameras Program
On 12/18/15, AILA joined civil rights, criminal justice, faith-based, and immigration groups in urging CBP Commissioner Kerlikowske to mandate the broad use of body-worn cameras.
Sign-on Letter Expressing Concerns with Visa Waiver Program Bills As Part of the Omnibus Spending Bill
On 12/10/15, AILA joined 76 organizations in opposing any proposal that would scapegoat against nationals of Iraq, Syria, Iran, or Sudan who are citizens of VWP countries; and exempt citizens of VWP countries who traveled to Iraq, Syria, Iran, or Sudan for professional/educational purposes.
Sign-On Letter to USCIS on Special Immigrant Juveniles
On 12/7/15, AILA and other stakeholders submitted recommendations to USCIS on SIJ adjudications. Topics included consent function, identification requirements for biometrics appointments, RFEs and NOIDs, interviews, 180-day adjudications, training, filing practices, and communication with the NBC.
Sign-On Letter Expressing Concern on Visa Waiver Program Legislation
On 12/4/15, AILA along with various immigrant, human, and civil rights organizations urged House Representatives to remove provisions that target people who visit or are from Syria or Iraq from any Visa Waiver Program legislation, including the omnibus appropriations bill.
Sign-On Letter Urging Legislators to Oppose Policy Riders That Harm the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program
On 12/1/15, AILA joined faith, labor, refugee, and humanitarian aid organizations, as well as civil and human rights groups, in urging members of Congress to support the U.S. refugee resettlement program and oppose any policy riders that would stop, pause, or defund resettlement of Syrian refugees.
Sign-on Letter to Congress Opposing Immigration Policy Riders
On 11/20/15, AILA joined 44 organizations in urging Congress to pass an appropriation bill for FY2016 free of immigration policy riders.
AILA Urges Senators to Oppose Suspending or Restricting Refugee Programs
AILA’s statement submitted to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for a hearing on 11/19/15 titled “The Impact of ISIS on the Homeland and Refugee Resettlement.”
AILA Urges House Members to Oppose Suspending or Restricting Refugee Programs
AILA’s statement submitted to the House Judiciary Committee for a hearing on 11/19/15 titled “The Syrian Refugee Crisis and its Impact on the Security of the U.S. Refugee Admission Program.”
Sign-On Letter to Members of Congress in Support of Protecting Refugees
On 11/17/15, AILA joined humanitarian aid organizations, faith, labor, and civil and human rights groups in expressing support for the U.S. refugee resettlement program and opposing any proposals to suspend or restrict funding for Syrian and other refugees.
Sign-on Letter to Director Saldaña on Implementing PEP
On 11/12/15, AILA joined immigration, labor, and civil rights organizations in requesting a meeting with ICE Director Saldaña on the implementation of the Priority Enforcement Program.