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
Recommendations on Protecting Individuals Impacted by the Middle East Conflict
AILA urged the Administration to take immediate comprehensive action to ensure the safety and security of all people impacted by the conflict in the Middle East and must take affirmative steps to ensure that individuals are not forced to return to danger in the middle of the conflict.
AILA Sends Letter to USCIS Requesting Clarification for Pre-RIA Regional Centers
AILA sent a letter to USCIS requesting urgent clarification on the October 2023 policy guidance specifically relating to pre-RIA regional center terminations. The need for clarification is urgent given that the Form I-956G filing deadline and payment of the Annual Integrity Fee are due in December.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to Congress on Stronger Whistleblower Protections for Government Contractors
AILA and partners requests stronger protection for whistleblowers who expose fraud, waste of funds, or abuse of authority in federal spending by addressing existing loopholes, providing effective safeguards, and ensuring that those who protect the public can also defend themselves.
AILA Joins Sign-on Letter Urging Expansion of Automatic Extension of Work Authorization
AILA joined other organizations in urging DHS to take immediate action to expand the automatic extension of work authorization for immigrants with pending work permit renewal applications.
AILA and the Council Send Letter to Congress with Recommendations on FY2024 Appropriations and Continuing Resolution
AILA and the American Immigration Council sent a letter to congressional leadership with joint recommendations on FY2024 appropriations and continuing resolution urging Congress to recognize the indispensable role that immigrants play in nearly every part of American society and its economy.
AILA Joins Sign-on Letter Requesting Further Transparency into the FERM Program
AILA joined 45 other organizations in requesting DHS to provide additional transparency into the impact and operation of the Family Expediated Removal Management (FERM) program.
AILA Requests Clarification on Processing Times for Form I-526E Petitions
AILA sent a letter to the Immigrant Investor Program Office of USCIS requesting clarification on the processing times for Form I-526E, Petitions for Rural/TEA projects after reports of expedited processing for certain Form I-526E petitions.
Calls for Examples and Questions
Read and respond to AILA’s requests for case examples, questions, and other information to inform agency liaison engagement and help us uncover problematic trends. The information gathered is used in AILA’s liaison and advocacy efforts.
AILA Sends Letter to USCIS on Safe Address and Section 1367 Protections Policy Alert
AILA’s VAWA/U/T National Committee sent a letter to USCIS in response to the agency’s request for feedback regarding the policy changes to the USCIS Policy Manual (1 USCIS-PM A.7) and provided feedback for further consideration and seeks its response to certain areas of remaining concern.
AILA Provides Feedback to USCIS on the FY2024 H-1B Electronic Registration System
AILA’s H-1B working group provides feedback on the FY2024 H-1B Electronic Registration System on topics such as duplicate registrations, training materials, MyUSCIS accounts, Form G-28 employer issues, duplicative data entry, and staff/associate attorney options, among others.
ICYMI: AILA Provides Recommendations on USCIS Processing Times
AILA provided recommendations to USCIS to enhance how processing times for benefits requests are displayed online and proposed alternative thresholds for placing service requests as well as other measures that would facilitate reporting of more consistent and relevant processing time information.
AILA Joins Letter Urging President Biden Halt Use and Defense of Asylum Ban Policy
AILA joined a letter with 202 organizations in the wake of the U.S. district court decision in the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant case regarding the “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways” rule to urge the White House to withdraw its appeal and stay motion and accept the court’s decision as final.
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.
USCIS Responds to AILA Letter on Premature Approval of Physician NIWs
USCIS responded to AILA's letter raising the issue of the premature approval of several I-485s for physicians subject to the PNIW requirements. In response, USCIS issued a reminder, identified all known premature approvals, and issued specific guidance on the next steps.