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
Advocates Express Concerns and Request Written Response to Unanswered Questions After Laredo Tent Court Tour
On 2/21/20, AILA and other advocates sent a letter following up on a 1/24/20 trip to the Laredo tent court. In this letter, the organizations expressed concerns regarding the implementation of the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) and requested written confirmation of DHS’ policy for the program.
Advocates Call on Congress to Establish an Independent Immigration Court
On 2/18/20, 54 immigration, civil rights, faith-based, government accountability, and labor organizations, including AILA, call on Congress to establish an immigration court system that is independent of DOJ so that it can guarantee due process and a fair hearing for immigrants.
AILA Urges House Judiciary Committee to Pass the NO BAN Act and the Access to Counsel Act of 2020
AILA submitted a statement urging the House Judiciary Committee to pass H.R. 2214, NO BAN Act, and H.R. 5581, Access to Counsel Act of 2020. These bills will limit executive authority to restrict the entry of persons into the U.S. and grant access to counsel if a person is detained an hour or more.
AILA Sends Letter to USCIS Raising Questions and Concerns About the H-1B Registration Tool
On January 17, 2020, AILA sent a letter to USCIS sharing questions and concerns raised by AILA members and coalition partners on how the H-1B registration tool will work.
AILA Sends Letter to USCIS Requesting a Change to the USCIS Policy Manual
On January 14, 2020, AILA sent a letter to USCIS requesting a change to the USCIS Policy Manual: Volume 7, Part A, Ch. 8, Section D, entitled “Portability Provisions” that suggests that all physicians with approved NIW petitions are subject to the two-year home residence requirement of INA §212(e).
Sign-on Letter Requesting an Extension of the 30-Day Comment Period for Proposed Rule Regarding Asylum Eligibility
On 1/2/20, AILA and other organizations signed onto a letter requesting USCIS extend the comment period from 30 days to 60 days for the recent rulemaking issued with regards to asylum eligibility.
AILA Issues Vote Recommendation on H.R. 5038
AILA urged Congress to vote YES on Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Dan Newhouse's (R-WA) Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019, which would create a new temporary, renewable worker visa program requiring agricultural employers to implement the “E-Verify” program to ensure workers are authorized.
AILA Sends Letter to USCIS Requesting a Delay in Mandatory Effective Date of New I-924A
AILA sent a letter to USCIS requesting that USCIS delay the December 6, 2019, mandatory effective date of new Form I-924A and continue to accept the December 23, 2016, edition of Form I-924A through December 31, 2019.
AILA and the Council Send Follow-Up Letter Regarding Complaint Highlighting Due Process Violations at the El Paso Immigration Court
AILA and the Council sent a letter to DOJ’s EOIR, OIG, and OPR asking for an update about any changes EOIR has made regarding standing orders and about any investigations, disciplinary measures, or systematic changes at the El Paso SPC Court that may have occurred as a result of the prior complaint.
AILA Joins Coalition Letter Urging Congressional Support for RELIEF Act
AILA joined the Arab American Institute and other partners in a November 25, 2019, letter to Congress urging support for the RELIEF Act.
AILA Statement for House Subcommittee Hearing on Remain in Mexico
AILA submitted a statement to the House Border Subcommittee for the 11/19/19 hearing on “Examining the Human Rights and Legal Implications of DHS’ ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy.”
AILA Joins Organizations and Academics to Call for End to Remain in Mexico Program
On 11/18/19, AILA joined numerous immigration, human rights, and civil rights organizations and academics in asking Congress to end the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” program, as it places asylum seekers in great danger, violates U.S. law, due process, and international legal obligations.
AILA Sends Letter to Congress Demanding Public Access to Tent Courts
On 11/12/19, AILA called on Congress to require DHS to allow public access to the tent courts and to visit the tent courts at Laredo and Brownsville in order to observe the tent court proceedings firsthand.
Sign-On Letter to USCIS Requesting 60-Day Comment Period for Proposed Fee Schedule
On 11/12/19, AILA and other organizations signed onto a letter requesting USCIS to ensure a 60-day comment period on the proposal to adjust certain immigration and naturalization benefit fees and the associated regulatory changes.
AILA Statement for House Hearing on “The Administration's Decision to Deport Critically Ill Children and Their Families”
AILA submitted a statement to the House Oversight Committee highlighting USCIS’s role in building the Trump administration’s “invisible wall” and urging USCIS to adjudicate deferred action requests in a fair and efficient manner.
AILA Urges USCIS To Modify Overbroad I-765 Requirement Affecting Asylum Seekers
On 10/22/19, AILA’s Asylum & Refugee Liaison Committee sent a letter to USCIS expressing concern regarding USCIS’s overbroad requirement that asylum applicants seeking employment authorization under the (c)(8) category furnish the agency with all criminal and arrest records.
Organizations Urge Congress to Conduct Significant Oversight of Remain in Mexico and Use of Tent Courts by DHS and DOJ
AILA joined NIJC, Women’s Refugee Commission, and Amnesty International USA in urging Congress to conduct significant oversight of Remain in Mexico and of the use of tent courts by DHS and DOJ.
AILA and Partner Organizations Urge DHS to Delay Implementation of Public Charge Rule
On 10/3/19, AILA, CLINIC, ILRC, NILC, CLASP, and Boundless sent a letter to DHS, urging the delay of the 10/15/19 implementation of the public charge rule due to the absence of revised forms and public engagement relating to that rule.
AILA Sends Letter Requesting Information and Access to Port Courts
AILA sent a letter to various government agencies requesting information and access to tent court facilities to observe immigration court hearings.
AILA Sends Letter to USCIS Acting Director Kenneth Cuccinelli Requesting a Meeting
On 9/12/19, AILA sent a letter to Acting Director of USCIS Kenneth Cuccinelli to request a meeting. In response, USCIS declined the meeting request, indicating that Acting Director Kenneth Cuccinelli is unable to meet at this time.
AILA Sends Letter to USCIS Deputy Director Mark Koumans Requesting a Meeting
On 9/12/19, AILA sent a letter to Deputy Director of USCIS Mark Koumans to request a meeting. USCIS declined the meeting, indicating that he is unable to meet at this time.
Sign-On Letter to Members of Congress on FY2020 DHS Spending Bill
On 9/12/19, AILA and other organizations signed on to a letter urging cuts to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s budget for detention, enforcement, and border militarization and to terminate DHS’s authority to transfer and reprogram funds.
AILA Statement for House Hearing on Medical Deferred Action for Critically Ill Children
AILA submitted a statement to the House Oversight Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties for the September 11, 2019, hearing on the administration’s apparent revocation of medical deferred action for critically ill children.
Over 150 Organizations Call for USCIS to Fully Restore Deferred Action Adjudications
On September 4, 2019, over 150 organizations, including AILA, sent a letter to USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli calling for the agency to fully restore its acceptance and adjudication of deferred action requests.
Sign-On Letter to the U.S. Government on the Presidential Determination on Refugee Resettlement
On 8/19/19, AILA and others signed on to a letter urging the U.S. government to set a minimum Presidential Determination of 95,000 refugee admissions for FY2020, and to continue its commitment to the U.S. Resettlement Program.