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 Opposing Proposal to Unravel Affirmative Asylum Process
Letter from 58 organizations to USCIS opposing a proposal submitted by the CIS Ombudsman that would limit the filing of asylum applications with USCIS to persons in nonimmigrant status, charge a fee for asylum applications, and shift authority for credible fear assessments to ICE.
AILA Letter Strongly Supporting Brownback – Lieberman Amendment
Letter to Senators urging their support of the Brownback – Lieberman Amendment, the Secure and Safe Detention and Asylum Act. The amendment would provide important and needed protections for asylum seekers and help to ensure an effective and humane system of immigration detention.
Letter to Senators on National Expansion of the Basic Pilot Program
Letter from AILA and other concerned organizations urging that any new employment verification system be workable and fair for both employers and employees.
Sign-On Letter to Senate Opposing Provisions in Chairman’s Mark That Would Harm Asylum Seekers
Letter signed by 84 organizations and 117 individuals and delivered to the Senate on 3/6/06, opposing provisions in the Chairman’s Mark that would harm “vulnerable populations, including asylum-seekers, children, trafficking victims, and others seeking protection in the United States.”
Letter to President Bush Regarding Cuban Refugees
Sign-on letter to President Bush by refugee and human rights organizations, including AILA, decrying treatment of Cubans reaching Florida Keys and other U.S. land who are repatriated without being granted “credible fear” interviews.
Letter from AILA to Attorney General Gonzales Regarding Due Process in Removal Proceedings
Letter from AILA President Deborah Notkin to Attorney General Gonzales outlining AILA concerns about due process in removal proceedings and BIA Affirmance Without Order review, and commending the AG for his new program to review the conduct of removal proceedings and BIA review proceedings.
AILA Strongly Opposes the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act (H.R. 4437)
A letter from Executive Director Jeanne Butterfield to the House of Representatives stating AILA’s opposition to the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act (H.R. 4437), introduced by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI).
AILA Opposes Increased Fees on L-1 Visas
A letter from AILA President Deborah Notkin asking Chairman Sensenbrenner and members of the House Judiciary Committee to oppose H.R. 3648, which would impose an additional fee of $1,500 on the L visa.
AILA Supports the “Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2005”
A letter addressed to Senators Gregg and Mikulski and Representatives Gilchrest and Delahunt supporting their bipartisan legislation, Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2005, which praises them for recognizing the inefficiencies of the current and already exhausted H-2B visa cap.
Sign-on Letter Opposing Representative Sensenbrenner's Amendment to the REAL ID Act"
A letter from AILA and over forty diverse organizations to Members of Congress asking that they vote against the REAL ID Act (H.R.418) introduced by Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI).
Sign-On Letter to the Conference Committee Opposing Anti-Refugee Provisions in H.R. 10
A letter from AILA and other interested organizations to Members of Congress asking that they reject the anti-refugee provisions of the House-passed 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act (H.R. 10).
Sign-On Letter to Members of Congress Regarding H.R. 10
A letter from AILA and other interested organizations to Members of Congress asking that they reject the divisive immigration provisions of the House-passed 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act (H.R. 10).
Sign-On Letter to House Members of the Conference Committee on S. 2845 and H.R. 10
A letter from AILA and other interested organizations to House members of the conference committee on S. 2845 and H.R. 10 urging them not to add any extraneous provisions from H.R. 10 to the Intelligence Reorganization legislation passed by the Senate.
Sign-On Letter to Senate Members of the Conference Committee on S. 2845 and H.R. 10
A letter from AILA and other interested organizations to Senate members of the conference committee on S. 2845 and H.R. 10 urging them not to add any extraneous provisions from H.R. 10 to the Intelligence Reorganization legislation passed by the Senate.
AILA’s Letter to the Senate on the 9/11 Commission Legislation
As Congress considers legislation to implement the recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (the 9/11 Commission), the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) urges the Senate to carefully debate the important issues included in this measure.
Sign-on Letter Urging Continuation of Visa Revalidation Program
A sign-on letter, spearheaded by AILA and signed by 38 companies and organizations, urging the continuation of the visa revalidation program and offers suggestions on ways to resolve the problem of meeting the State Department's obligation to collect biometrics for the visas.
Sign-On Letter Advocating Reforms for Children Seeking Asylum
A letter from AILA and other organizations calling on DHS, ORR, and EOIR to take all steps necessary to ensure the well-being of vulnerable children who seek refuge in the U.S. and highlighting the story of Edgar Chocoy, a child asylum-seeker who was murdered after his deportation from the U.S.
Sign-On Letter to House Sponsors in Support of the Civil Liberties Restoration Act of 2004 (CLRA)
A letter from AILA and other interested organizations to Representatives Berman and Delahunt expressing support for the Civil Liberties Restoration Act of 2004 (CLRA).
Sign-On Letter to Senate Sponsors in Support of the Civil Liberties Restoration Act of 2004 (CLRA)
A letter from AILA and other interested organizations to Senators Leahy, Kennedy, Corzine, Feingold and Durbin expressing support for the Civil Liberties Restoration Act of 2004 (CLRA).
AILA/AILF Letter to EOIR on National Video Immigration Court
AILA, AILF and other organizations express to EOIR their concerns about the upcoming national video immigration court.
AILA’s Letter to Senators and Representatives to Urge Support for the SOLVE Act
This letter, distributed at the SOLVE press conference on May 4, 2004, urges member of Congress to support the SOLVE Act.
Organizations Support the Safe, Orderly Legal Visas Enhancement (SOLVE) Act of 2004
Immigration organizations, labor unions, religious organizations write to Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Representatives Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) to applaud their leadership in introducing the Safe, Orderly Legal Visas Enhancement (SOLVE) Act of 2004.
Organizations Support Suspension of Aspect of Special Registration
In a 12/18/03 letter to Secretary Tom Ridge and Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson, a wide cross-section of advocates expressed support for the recent suspension of certain aspects of the Special Registration Program. The organizations also urged that the program be terminated in its entirety.
Organizations Express Concerns Over Possible Changes to the ITIN Program
In a 10/22/03 letter to the IRS Commissioner and other officials, a wide cross-section of organizations, agencies and advocates expressed concern over the significant changes currently being contemplated by the IRS to the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) program.
Sign-On Letter Urges BCIS Not to Contract Out the Immigration Officer Function
A letter from AILA and other interested organizations to Tom Ridge and Eduardo Aguirre, Jr., urging them not to contract out the BCIS Immigration Officer Function.