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 Raise Concerns About Access to Asylum for Anyone with a Prior Removal Order
On 11/9/15, AILA joined 63 organizations in urging the Department of Homeland Security to undertake rulemaking that would allow all asylum seekers, including individuals with prior removal orders, to apply for asylum, in addition to withholding removal.
AILA Calls for a Workable Effective Date in Any New EB-5 Legislation
AILA urges Congress to not apply any new EB-5 laws retroactively to the over 13,000 pending petitions by citing a number of harmful consequences and demonstrating the length of time typically involved from EB-5 project conception to USCIS adjudication.
Sign-on Letter to ICE on Processing Immigrants Set for Early Release from BOP
On 10/29/15, AILA joined a number of immigration and human rights organizations urging ICE to provide due process to the estimated 1870-2000 immigrants that are scheduled for early release from the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) starting 10/30/15.
Letter to Texas Officials on Licensing Detention Centers in Dilley and Karnes
On 10/27/15, the CARA Pro Bono Project sent a letter to Texas officials urging the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to deny licenses to ICE for its two family detention centers in Dilley and Karnes, Texas.
AILA Opposes S. 2146, Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act
AILA’s statement urging senators to vote against the procedural vote on S. 2146, Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act, scheduled for 10/20/15. The bill would withhold funds from state and local law enforcement agencies that have policies that help build trust within their community.
Sign-on Letter Urging Senators to Vote No on S. 2146
On 10/19/15, AILA joined immigrant, civil rights and labor organizations in asking Senate leaders to oppose Senator Vitter’s (R-LA) Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act, S. 2146, along with any similar legislation that may come to the Senate floor.
Sanctuary Cities Bill Will Put Critical Law Enforcement and Community Funding at Risk
AILA, the National Immigration Law Center, and the Center for American Progress created a list of key states at risk of losing significant funding for three programs designed to build stronger and safer communities under Senator Vitter’s (R-LA) Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act.
Sign-on Letter to Texas Officials on Licensing Dilley and Karnes
On 10/13/15, AILA joined immigration, human rights, and refugee organizations, as well as medical and childcare experts, in urging Texas officials to deny child care licenses to the private prisons operating family detention centers in Dilley and Karnes, Texas.
Sign-on Letter to Secretary Kerry, Secretary Johnson, and Director Muñoz on the October 2015 Visa Bulletin
On 10/04/15, AILA joined a number of immigration advocacy organizations and business coalitions on expressing disappointment to the Department of State’s revision to the October 2015 Visa Bulletin, and urged the administration to reinstate the original dates published.
AILA Urges Lawmakers to Increase Resettlement of Refugees Worldwide
AILA’s statement submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Immigration and the National Interest Subcommittee for a hearing on 10/1/15 titled “Oversight of the Administration’s FY 2016 Refugee Resettlement Program: Fiscal and Security Implications.”
Sign-on Letter to the President on Syrian Refugees Crisis
On 9/18/15, AILA joined national and local refugee, human rights and faith based organization in urging President Obama to go beyond his commitment to aid Syrian and other Middle Eastern refugees.
AILA Opposes Vitter/Grassley Substitute of S. 1814 the “Stop Sanctuary Cities Act”
AILA statement submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee, urging opposition to the new version of S. 1814 which does not ameliorate the fundamental issues in the original bill, but instead, reiterates most of the same and creates a mandatory minimum sentencing structure for illegal reentry cases.
AILA Expresses Support for Reauthorization of Three Immigration Programs
A 9/11/15 letter from AILA to congressional leadership expressing strong support for the extension of the EB-5 Regional Center program, the Conrad 30 J Waiver program and the Special Immigrant Non-Minister Religious Worker program before they sunset on 9/30/15.
S. 1814 Puts Law Enforcement and Community Funding at Risk and Hurts Public Safety
The National Immigration Law Center, AILA, and the Center for American Progress list key states that are at risk of losing funding to three programs designed to build stronger and safer communities under Grassley-Vitter’s bill (S. 1814).
Sign-on Letter Opposing Substitution Amendment to S. 1814
On 9/1/15, AILA joined immigration, community and human rights advocacy organizations in a sign-on letter to the Senate urging members to oppose Senator Grassley and Senator Vitter’s substitute amendment to S. 1814, Stop Sanctuary Cities Act.
Sign-on Letter to White House on Transfer of Detained Transgender Women
On 8/24/15 AILA joined LGBTQ rights, civil rights, and immigrant rights organizations in a letter to President Barack Obama regarding the recent news that transgender women may soon be transferred to the Adelanto Detention Facility in Southern California.
Sign-on Letter to Attorney General Opposing Criminal Prosecution of Asylum Seekers
On 7/28/15 AILA joined civil rights and human rights groups in asking Attorney General Lynch to end illegal entry and re-entry criminal convictions for individuals seeking asylum in the U.S.
Letter to ICE Director Saldaña Regarding Recent Release Practices at Dilley and Karnes
A 7/27/15 letter from CARA Pro Bono Project to ICE Director Saldaña regarding the coercion and confusion surrounding recent releases from Dilley and Karnes, and the lack of information provided to families before they leave the facility and recent ICE actions undermining the right to counsel.
Vote No on H.R. 3009 - Undermines Law Enforcement and Erodes Public Safety
AILA, the Center for American Progress, and the National Immigration Law Center recommends members of Congress oppose the “Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act” (H.R. 3009), a reactionary bill that will not advance its stated goal of protecting American communities.
Sign-on Letter to Vote No on “Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act” (H.R. 3009)
On 7/22/15 AILA joined advocacy groups to ask House representatives to oppose H.R. 3009 that seeks to withhold federal funding from local law enforcement agencies that limit inquiries into immigration status.
AILA Cautions Lawmakers To Protect All Communities in Senate Statement
AILA’s statement submitted to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary hearing titled “Oversight of the Administration’s Misdirected Immigration Enforcement Policies: Examining the Impact on Public Safety and Honoring the Victims.”
AILA Cautions Lawmakers To Protect All Communities in House Statement
AILA’s statement submitted to the House Committee on the Judiciary hearing titled “Sanctuary Cities: A Threat to Public Safety”
Sign-on Letter to Congress Opposing Legislation that Undermines Community Safety
On 7/20/15, AILA joined immigration, community, faith, and human rights advocacy organizations in a sign-on letter to Congress opposing any legislation that would withhold funding from so-called “sanctuary cities” and mandate cooperation of state and local law enforcement with immigration agencies.
Sign-on Letter to Stop Streamline Prosecution of Asylum-Seekers
On 7/10/15, AILA joined refugee, faith, and human rights organizations in a sign-on letter to DHS Secretary Johnson and Attorney General Lynch to end prosecution for illegal entry and reentry of individuals seeking asylum in the U.S.
AILA: Our Nation Should Not Scale Back Protections for Vulnerable Children
AILA’s statement submitted to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for a hearing on 7/7/15 titled “The 2014 Humanitarian Crisis at Our Border: A Review of the Government's Response to Unaccompanied Minors One Year Later.”