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 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.
AILA Sends Letter to CBP Regarding Its Response to COVID-19
AILA sent a letter to CBP concerning the impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency on CBP activities throughout ports of entry and CBP holding facilities.
AILA Sends Letter to DHS Requesting Guidance Concerning Form I-9 Compliance and COVID-19
AILA sent a letter to DHS on the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic and public health emergency on U.S. businesses. AILA requests DHS immediately issue guidance providing flexibility in the Form I-9 verification, E-Verify and compliance process in order to mitigate the spread of the virus.
AILA Sends Letter to DOJ, EOIR, and ICE Regarding Urgent COVID-19 Measures
On 3/16/20, AILA sent a letter to DOJ, EOIR, and ICE with urgent measures that should be taken in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
AILA Sends Letter to USCIS Requesting Guidance on Its Response to COVID-19
AILA sent a letter to USCIS expressing deep concerns regarding the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on USCIS operations and to respectfully request that the agency take immediate steps to mitigate its spread.
Immigration Judges, Prosecutors, and Attorneys Call for the Nationwide Closure of All Immigration Courts
The National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ), the ICE Professionals Union, and AILA call for the emergency closure of the nation’s Immigration Courts in adherence with current public health protocols regarding the COVID-19 virus and recognizing the urgency of this public health crisis.
AILA Sends Letter to ICE Regarding ICE Facilities and COVID-19
On 3/12/20, AILA sent a letter to ICE requesting that ICE immediately implement procedures for the prevention and management of COVID-19 at all ICE facilities, including all detention centers and ICE locations where individuals must report for ICE supervision.
Letter to DHS Requesting MPP Be Stopped Immediately in Accordance with U.S. Law
One hundred and fifty three organizations, including AILA, sent a letter to DHS urging it to uphold U.S. asylum law and to allow asylum seekers currently subject to the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) into the United States so they may seek refuge and protection from within the country.