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 Sends Letter to DHS and DOS Urging EB-4 Administrative Action
AILA sent a letter to DOS and DHS urging immediate administrative action to remedy the harms experienced by religious workers, diplomats, SIJS youth, and other EB-4 applicants when the DOS changed its interpretation of how it allocates EB-4 immigrant visas.
AILA Statement for House Oversight Committee Hearing on the Southern Border
AILA submitted a statement for the House Oversight Committee’s February 7, 2023, hearing on the southern border. AILA urges Congress and the Biden Administration to take immediate action to build a fair, humane, and orderly asylum process and to improve the entire immigration system.
AILA Statement to the House Judiciary Committee on the Southern Border
In advance of a February 1, 2023, hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on the border, AILA submitted this statement advising on how to meaningfully manage the southern border through an all-government approach.
AILA’s Asylum & Refugee National Committee Requests a Meeting on I-730 Adjudications
The AILA Asylum & Refugee National Committee sent a letter to USCIS requesting a meeting on I-730 adjudications to discuss issues and recommendations and to provide questions.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to USCIS on Stakeholder Engagement with IPO
AILA and partners sent a letter to USCIS requesting that IPO resume regular engagement with critical stakeholders regarding the implementation of the RIA. The past engagements have helped avoid the need to litigate issues that could be easily discussed prior to a policy announcement.
AILA Sends Letter to President Biden Regarding the Proposed New Transit Ban
AILA sent a letter to President Biden expressing concerns in response to an announcement that the Administration would issue a notice of proposed rulemaking that would include a transit ban.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to President Biden on Deportations to Haiti
AILA and partners sent a letter to President Biden urging the U.S. to stop all deportations to Haiti due to the deadly conditions in Haiti, particularly impacting those individuals who are ineligible for TPS, including those with past criminal convictions or criminal charges.
AILA and Partners Send Letter Urging Human Rights, Humanitarian Protection, and Access to Asylum to Be Center of Upcoming North American Leaders’ Summ
AILA and partners sent a letter to U.S., Canadian, and Mexican Administrations urging them to center human rights, humanitarian protection, and access to asylum for individuals fleeing persecution in discussions regarding regional migration at the upcoming North American Leaders’ Summit.
AILA Leads Letter to Administration With Recommendations to Protect Asylum Seekers Whose Information Was Leaked
AILA led a group of legal service providers and coalition partners on sending a letter to ICE, EOIR, and RAIO on additional mitigation efforts to protect detained asylum seekers whose information was leaked in violation of privacy protections.
AILA Signs onto Letter to USCIS Urging Policies to Alleviate TPS Processing Backlogs
AILA and partners sent a letter urging USCIS to create policies to urgently alleviate the processing backlog for TPS applicants. The letter also provides recommendations on the implementation of these policies to limit harm to applicants as the agency continues to improve the backlogs.
AILA and Partners Send Letter Urging 18-Month Extension and Redesignation of Yemen for TPS
AILA and partners urge the Administration to extend for 18 months and redesignate TPS for Yemen, to publish a timely Federal Register notice, and to launch a public information campaign to notify the impacted community of the decision and any actions they must take by January 2, 2023.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to DHS and USCIS about Form I-765 Processing
AILA, the American Immigration Council, and ASAP were joined by a coalition of organizations in urging DHS Secretary Mayorkas and USCIS Director Jaddou to address the inefficiencies and inequities in the processing of Form I-765, Applications for Employment Authorization.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to White House Urging Closure of ICE Detention Sites
AILA and 113 partners sent a letter to the White House urging support for the closure of ICE detention sites, the prevention of the development of future detention sites or expansion of existing ones, and the reduction of funding for immigration detention.
AILA and Partners Responds to USCIS Collection on I-589 Form
AILA and partners submit comments in response to the collection activities on the extension without change of Form I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal, and urge USCIS to make changes rather than renewing the form without any chances.
AILA Sends Letter to DOS on E-Visa Adjudications and Processing Delays Worldwide
AILA sent a letter to DOS suggesting procedural and policy changes for consideration that may alleviate some of the E-visa case backlogs and provide efficiencies to E-visa processing moving forward.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to USCIS, EOIR, and OPLA on Biometrics Appointments
AILA and partners sent a letter to USCIS, EOIR, and OPLA addressing the unnecessary hurdles non-detained people in removal proceedings face in securing a biometrics appointment prior to their merits hearing.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to DHS on Prosecutorial Discretion for Labor Disputes
AILA and partners sent a letter to Secretary Mayorkas urging DHS to release guidance on prosecutorial discretion for individuals involved in labor disputes.
AILA Sends Letter to USCIS with Recommendations on Digital Signature Policy
AILA submitted recommendations to USCIS to expand its acceptance of digital and electronic signatures that meet standard security and verification protocols to all form types, not just those that may be filed electronically.
AILA and Partners Urge Review of Country Conditions and Designation of TPS for Pakistan
AILA and partners urged the Administration to immediately designate TPS and special student relief for Pakistan and provide protection for Pakistani immigrants living in the United States who would face unsafe and life-threatening conditions if returned.
AILA Requests Urgent Guidance on Filing of Form I-956/I-956G in Connection with "Retired Regional Centers"
AILA sent a letter to USCIS requesting policy guidance related to legal requirements of previously approved regional centers electing to wind-down pursuant to the settlement agreement issued in the Behring Regional Center LLC, et al. v. Mayorkas litigation. USCIS issued a response to AILA.
AILA Signs onto Letter Expressing Disappointment on the Explicit Exclusion of Many Immigrants on Criminal Policy Reforms
AILA and partners urged President Biden to extend pardon of federal convictions for marijuana possession to all immigrants, regardless of immigration status, and to take necessary steps to ensure that immigrants do not suffer negative immigration consequences from marijuana convictions.
AILA Provides Feedback on the H-1B Electronic Registration System
AILA, the USCIS Case Assistance Committee, and the USCIS HQ/Benefits Committee provide feedback and suggestions for USCIS to further enhance the H-1B Electronic Registration System. AILA has requested a meeting with USCIS to discuss our recommendations.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to Congress Urging Creation of Permanent Protections for Dreamers
AILA and partners sent a letter urging congressional leaders to swiftly pass legislative protections for Dreamers.
AILA Sends Letter to DC Council Expressing Grave Concerns About Migrant Services and Supports Act of 2022
AILA sent a letter requesting the Council of the District of Columbia to shift course and not pass any bill that creates a separate residency requirement for migrants or excludes migrants residing in D.C. from accessing homeless services.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to Biden Administration on TPS for Pakistan
AILA and partners sent a letter urging the Biden Administration to support a senate request that DHS grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to individuals from Pakistan and ask DHS-SEVP to grant Special Student Relief (SSR) to F-1 students from Pakistan.