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    Immigration Reform

    Letters & Testimony

    The ABA frequently corresponds with Members of Congress, the Executive Branch and other governmental bodies and testifies before Congress on matters of importance to the administration of justice and the legal profession.

    118th Congress

    6/24/2024
    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Executive Office for Immigration Review
    ABA Letter on Transfers of Detained Individuals

    5/9/2024
    Senate Judiciary Committee
    ABA Testimony on Immigrant Youth and the Dream Act 

    3/6/2024
    Secretary Mayorkas and Director Tanden
    ABA Letter on Bipartisan Border Negotiations

    1/16/2024
    Secretary Mayorkas and Attorney General Garland
    ABA Letter on Detention Bond Reform

    12/1/2023
    United States Senate
    ABA Letter on Bipartisan Border Negotiations

    10/11/2023
    Department of Homeland Security
    ABA Letter on CFI in CBP Custody and Access to Justice

    07/20/2023
    Senate Leadership and Senate Committee on Armed Services
    ABA Urges the Senate to ensure that S. 2327, the Afghan Adjustment Act, is included in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act

    06/26/2023
    DHS
    ABA Letter Re: CLP Rule Reccomendations

    06/07/2023
    Representatives Gomez, Espaillat, and Lofgren
    ABA Letter Supporting the Reintroduction of the Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act

    06/07/2023
    Senator Cortez Masto
    ABA Letter Supporting the Reintroduction of the Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act

    05/31/2023
    DHS
    ABA Comments on DHS Draft Indigenous Languages Plan

    05/12/2023
    Senate Committee on Appropriations and Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
    ABA Letter Supporting Expansion of Funding for the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s Legal Orientation Programs

    03/28/2023
    DHS and DOJ
    ABA Submits Comments in Opposition to Proposed Rule on Circumvention of Lawful Pathways

    03/13/2023
    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
    ABA Comments on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Schedule and Changes to Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements

    117th Congress

    12/15/2022
    Senate Leadership and Senate Appropriations Committee
    ABA Letter Supporting the Afghan Adjustment Act

    9/26/2022
    Executive Office of Immigration Review
    ABA Letter to the EOIR in Support of Proposed Revisions to the Notice of Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (Form EOIR-26)

    6/16/2022
    San Diego County Board of Supervisors
    ABA Letter in Support of Increased Funding for the Immigrant Legal Defense Program
     

    4/5/2022
    House Judiciary Committee and House Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship
    ABA Letter in Support of Establishing an Independent Article I Immigration Court System

    3/30/2022
    DHS, HHS, CDC, and the White House
    ABA Letter Urging HHS and DHS to Rescind the Application of Title 42 to Block Asylum Seekers from Applying for Protection at the U.S. Border

    1/20/2022
    House Judiciary Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee
    ABA Testimony from the Hearing on Establishing an Independent Article I Immigration Court

    11/24/2021
    House and Senate Appropriations Committees
    ABA Letter Urging Support for Funding for Legal Counsel for Individuals in Immigration Proceedings

    11/17/2021
    Attorney General Merrick Garland
    ABA Letter Urging Reversal of the Decision in Matter of Thomas & Matter of Thompson, 27 I. & N. Dec. 674 (A.G. 2019)

    10/19/2021
    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Executive Office for Immigration Review
    ABA Comments on Proposed Rule RIN 1615-AC67; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2021-0012

    9/9/2021
    Acting Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review
    ABA Letter Regarding the Establishment of a Dedicated Docket for Certain Families in Removal Proceedings

    8/30/2021
    Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 
    ABA Letter Offering Recommendations to Help Improve the Effectiveness of the ICE Online Detainee Locator System

    5/20/2021
    Executive Office for Immigration Review
    Comments on EOIR Operating Policies and Procedures Memoranda and Policy Memoranda

    5/19/2021
    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 
    ABA Comments on How U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Can Reduce Barriers within its Regulations and Policies

    5/13/2021
    Department of Homeland Security
    ABA Letter Urging DHS to Incorporate the ABA’s Recommendations for Improving  Immigration Systems in their Department-wide Review of Immigration Enforcement Policies and Practices

    4/8/2021
    Department of Homeland Security
    ABA Letter Regarding Deferred Action for Children with Approved Petitions for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status

    3/8/2021
    Office of Refugee Resettlement
    ABA Letter Expressing Concern About Proposed Changes to Forms Used to Collect Information about Unaccompanied Immigration Children

    2/12/2021
    Vera Institute of Justice, Center on Immigration and Justice
    ABA Letter Expressing Concerns Regarding Several Provisions Included in the Draft Performance Work Statement for the “Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) Legal Services” Program

    2/10/2021
    DHS and EOIR
    ABA Letter Expressing Concern Regarding ICE's Current Practice of Filing Notices to Appear for Unaccompanied Children Within Two Weeks or Less of their Arrival in the U.S.

    1/8/2021
    President-Elect Biden
    ABA Urges President-elect Biden to Support Recommendations for Improving Our Legal System

    116th Congress

    12/28/2020
    Executive Office for Immigration Review
    ABA Comments to EOIR in Response to Docket No. 198-0410, Good Cause for a Continuance in Immigration Proceedings, 85 Fed. Reg. 75925

    11/30/2020
    Executive Office for Immigration Review and Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
    ABA Comments Regarding Revised Information Collections for Professional Conduct for Practitioners - Rules and Procedures, and Representation and Appearances

    10/8/2020
    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
    ABA Letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Urging Reconsideration of the Implementation of a "Blank Space" Policy

    8/10/2020
    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 
    ABA Comments in Opposition to the Proposed Rule on Security Bars and Processing 

    7/15/2020
    Executive Office of Immigration ReviewABA Comments in Opposition to to the Proposed Rules on Procedures for Asylum and

    Withholding of Removal, Credible Fear and Reasonable Fear Review

    6/6/2020
    U.S. Department of Homeland Security 
    ABA Letter Regarding DHS's Removal Proceedings for Unaccompanied Children

    4/17/2020
    Executive Office of Immigration Review and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    ABA Letter Urging the Suspension of All In-Person Immigration Court Proceedings

    4/1/2020
    Executive Office for Immigration Review
    ABA Letter to EOIR Encouraging Temporary Suspension of Immigration Court Hearings and Appearances for Unaccompanied Children

    3/30/2020
    Executive Office for Immigration Review
    ABA Letter Regarding Increased Fees for Certain Adjudication Services in Proposed EOIR Rule

    3/25/2020
    Executive Office for Immigration Review and Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    ABA Letter Urging EOIR and ICE to Protect Individuals Working In and Appearing Before Immigration Courts

    3/11/2020
    Office of Management and Budget
    ABA Comments on Proposed Rule to Require Social Media Disclosure on Immigration and Foreign Travel Forms

    12/19/2019
    Department of Homeland Security 
    ABA Letter on the Interim Final Rule and Request for Comment on Implementing Bilateral and Multilateral Asylum Cooperative Agreements

    11/19/19
    House Subcommitte on Border Security, Facilitation, & Operations
    ABA testifies at the hearing titled "Examining the Human Rights and Legal Implications of DHS' 'Remain in Mexico' Policy." 

    11/15/2019
    Department of Homeland Security 
    ABA Comments on Proposed Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification Amendments

    10/25/2019
    Executive Office for Immigration Review
    ABA Comments in Response to EOIR's Interim Rule, Fed. Reg. 44537

    9/23/2019
    Department of Homeland Security
    ABA Letter Opposing the Expansion of Expedited Removal

    9/4/2019
    U.S. House and Senate Judiciary Committees
    ABA Letter on the Implementation of the Waiver Provision in the Travel Ban

    7/11/2019
    Members of Congress
    ABA Letter Urging the Establishment of an Independent Immigration Court

    6/17/2019
    Senate Judiciary Committee
    ABA Letter in Opposition to S. 1494, the Secure and Protect Act of 2019

    6/17/2019
    Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees
    ABA Letter in Support of Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services

    6/4/2019
    Members of the U.S. House of Representatives
    ABA Letter in Support of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act 

    4/23/2019
    Attorney General William P. Barr
    ABA Letter Opposing Increased Detention for Asylum Seekers

    2/27/19
    Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
    ABA Letter on Fairfax County Universal Representation Pilot Program

    2/6/19
    Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker
    ABA Letter on Zero-Tolerance Policy

    115th Congress

    11/26/18
    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    ABA Comment Letter on Draft 2018 Revisions to the National Detention Standards

    11/6/18
    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    ABA Comment Letter on Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement

    6/12/18
    Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security
    ABA Letter on Family Separation at the Southern Border

    5/1/18
    Montgomery County, Maryland County Council
    ABA Letter in Support of Funding for Legal Representation of Detainees

    5/1/18
    Prince George's County, Maryland County Council
    ABA Letter in Support of Funding for Legal Representation of Detainees

    4/18/18
    Senate Judiciary Committee
    ABA testifies on "Strengthening and Reforming America's Immigration Court System"

    11/1/17
    House and Senate
    ABA Letter in Support of Congressional Action on DACA

    6/14/17
    House Judiciary Committee
    ABA Opposes H. 495, the "Protection of Children Act of 2017"

    114th Congress

    7/6/16
    Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Harry Reid
    ABA Opposes S. 2193, the "Stop Illegal Reentry Act"

    6/17/16
    Sen. Mazie Hirono
    ABA Supports S. Res. 373, recognizing the historical significance of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II

    3/18/16
    Secretary of Homeland Security, The Honorable Jeh Johnson
    ABA Objects to Extensive Use of Electronic Ankle Monitors as a Condition of Release from Detention for Immigrants Arriving with Children

    12/11/15
    House and Senate Leaders
    ABA Opposes Proposals to Delay or Halt Admission of Syrian and Iraqi Refugees

    11/30/15
    Department of Justice 
    ABA Comments on Proposed Rule for Recognition of Organizations and Accreditation of Non-Attorney Representatives  

    7/30/15
    House and Senate Judiciary Committees 
    ABA Opposes Proposed Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Illegal Reentry in S. 1762/H.R. 3011 and S. 1812

    7/24/15
    Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security and Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
    ABA Urges Reassessment of DHS Policy Banning Counsel from Overseas Refugee Interviews

    3/26/15
    Secretary of Homeland Security, The Honorable Jeh Johnson
    ABA Letter Expressing Concern about Expansion of Immigration Detention

    1/30/15
    U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
    ABA Testimony to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for a Briefing on “The State of Civil Rights in Immigration Detention”