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 and Partners Urge New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham to Stop ICE Detention Facility Transfers
AILA and partners sent a letter urging New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham to prevent transfers and book-ins to ICE contract immigration detention centers in New Mexico, particularly the Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
AILA and Partners Send Letter Requesting Asylum Rule Comment Period Extension
AILA and 501 partner organizations sent a letter to various immigration agencies requesting a minimum of 60 days for public comment on a joint Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would dismantle asylum eligibility for traumatized and vulnerable individuals.
AILA and Partners Urge DHS to End Destructive Policies That Threaten the Safety of Immigrant Children
On 6/16/20, AILA and partners sent a letter asking DHS to cease expulsions of unaccompanied children and asylum seekers at the southern border, stop deportation of unaccompanied children living within the U.S. interior without required court proceedings, and to release detained families together.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to EOIR on Premature Decision to Resume the Non-Detained Docket
AILA, the Council, CLINIC, HRF, NIJC, and NIPNLG sent a letter to EOIR recommending that the overwhelming majority of non-detained hearings be postponed for the duration of the national public health emergency. Additional recommendations include a moratorium on the issuance of in absentia orders.
AILA Sends Letter to ICE About Check-In Procedures and Filing Stays of Removal
On June 4, 2020, AILA sent a letter urging ICE to continue with rescheduling appointments and implementing other alternative measures, such as telephone check-ins, for persons who are under OSUP and/or the ISAP, as well as to continue accepting mailed stays of removal at field offices.
AILA Sends Letter to USCIS with Recommendations Concerning the Reopening of USCIS Offices During the COVID-19 Global Pandemic
AILA sent a letter to USCIS providing recommendations for the agency as it begins to reopen local USCIS field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers, and with recommendations for filing accommodations and flexibilities the agency can adopt to assist stakeholders and agency staff.
AILA and the American Immigration Council Send Letter to Congressional Appropriators Regarding USCIS Emergency Funding Request
On May 29, 2020, AILA and the American Immigration Council sent a letter urging Congress to appropriate temporary funding to USCIS only if it includes safeguards related to transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to DHS and CDC on Indefinite Suspension of Protections for Asylum Seekers and Unaccompanied Children
AILA and partners sent a letter to DHS and CDC objecting to the administration's use of the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext to implement indefinite, illegal, and life-threatening restrictions on humanitarian protections for asylum seekers and unaccompanied children at the southern U.S. border.
AILA and Partners Send Letter Demonstrating that Nonimmigrants Are Vital to Our COVID-19 Recovery
AILA joined 323 U.S. employers and business-related groups in sending a letter to President Trump and immigration-related agencies highlighting the importance of highly skilled nonimmigrant professionals to America’s economic recovery.
AILA and Partners Send Letter Urging DHS and ICE to Expedite Releases of Individuals in Immigration Custody
On May 4, 2020, AILA and partners sent a letter to DHS and ICE requesting a coordinated and timely plan to expedite releases for individuals in immigration custody due to detainees and employees testing positive for the coronavirus.
AILA and Partners Request Agencies to Extend TPS Re-Registration Period for Yemen and Somalia Due to COVID-19
On 4/22/20, AILA and 68 other organizations sent a letter to DHS and USCIS requesting the agencies to automatically extend work authorization and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for at least 180 days to all current Yemen and Somalia TPS holders due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to DOS and DHS Requesting Relief for Foreign-Born Workers and Their Employers
On April 17, 2020, AILA and partners sent a letter to DOS and DHS requesting relief for foreign-born workers and their families and employers affected by USCIS closures and visa processing limitations in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to DHS and CDC Expressing Concern Over Expulsion of Unaccompanied Children
On 4/16/20, AILA and partners sent a letter to DHS and CDC expressing concerns over DHS’s expulsions of unaccompanied children at the U.S. southern border, stating that these actions run counter to laws ensuring the right to seek asylum and place arriving children at risk for human trafficking.
AILA and Partners Send Letter Urging Government Agencies to Address Access to Counsel Concerns in MPP Hearings
On April 15, 2020, AILA and partners sent a letter to CBP, DHS, EOIR, ICE, and USCIS urging the agencies to address access to counsel issues faced by asylum seekers subject to the Migrant Protection Protocols.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to New Mexico Governor Urging Releases from ICE Detention Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
On April 14, 2020, AILA, the American Immigration Council, and the Santa Fe Dreamers Project sent a letter to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham urging her to take steps to reduce the number of individuals in ICE custody in the state of New Mexico amid the coronavirus outbreak.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to New Jersey Governor Urging Releases from ICE Detention Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
On April 14, 2020, AILA, the American Immigration Council, and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) sent a letter to Governor Phil Murphy urging him to take steps to reduce the number of individuals in ICE custody in the state of New Jersey amid the coronavirus outbreak.
AILA Sends Letter to CBP Requesting It Grant Subsequent Periods of Satisfactory Departure During the COVID-19 Outbreak
AILA sent a letter to CBP requesting that it grant subsequent periods of satisfactory departure for Visa Waiver Program entrants unable to depart the United States due to COVID-19 related issues.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to Colorado Governor Urging Releases from ICE Detention Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
On April 13, 2020, AILA, the American Immigration Council, and the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) sent a letter to Governor Jared Polis urging him to take steps to reduce the number of individuals in ICE custody in the state of Colorado amid the coronavirus outbreak.
AILA and IMGT Send Letter to DOS Recommending Actions to Facilitate the Services of International Medical Graduates During the COVID-19 Outbreak
AILA and the International Medical Graduate Taskforce (IMGT) have sent a letter to the DOS Waiver Review Division providing recommendations for DOS actions that would allow international medical graduates to provide, or continue providing, much needed services during the COVID-19 outbreak.
More than 70 Organizations Call on DOJ to Immediately Close All Immigration Courts During the COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 26, 2020, more than 70 organizations joined AILA, the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ), and the ICE Professionals Union, to call on the Department of Justice to immediately close all immigration courts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AILA and Partners Send Letter to EOIR and ICE on Legal Access in Immigration Detention and Immigration Courts During COVID-19 Pandemic
AILA, the Council, and more than 100 other organizations sent a letter urging EOIR and ICE to immediately authorize robust and automatic use of remote options for immigration court appearances and attorney-client meetings.
AILA Requests Additional Accommodations from USCIS to Facilitate Filings During National Emergency
AILA sent a letter to USCIS following up on earlier letters dated 3/16 and 3/20 to request additional reasonable accommodations to enable petitioners, applicants, and representatives, who are now required to work from home or shelter in place, to continue filing benefit requests with USCIS.
AILA Sends Letter to USCIS Demanding Immediate Suspension of All Deadlines
AILA sent a letter to USCIS demanding suspension of all deadlines by 3/27/20 and implementation of other measures outlined in AILA’s previous letters, including extension of statutory or regulatory deadlines and extension of nonimmigrant status until 90 days after the end of the national emergency.
AILA Sends Letter to USCIS Regarding California’s “Stay at Home” Order
On 3/20/20, AILA sent a letter to USCIS Acting Director Kenneth Cuccinelli to seek immediate information related to the impact of COVID-19 and the California “stay at home” order on California Service Center (CSC) Operations.
Advocates Call on Congress to Establish an Article I Immigration Court System
AILA and advocates sent a letter to the House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, supporting the recommendation of the ABA, immigration judges, and immigration lawyers, among others, to establish an Article I Immigration Court system that is independent of DOJ.