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.
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.
12/9/2024
Secretary Mayorkas and Attorney General Garland
ABA Calls for More Equitable Bond Determinations for Detained Noncitizens
11/21/2024
Secretary Mayorkas and Attorney General Garland
ABA Voices Concerns Over Proposed Changes to Notices to Appear (NTA) Filings
10/15/2024
Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Patrick Lechleitner
ABA Urges ICE to Communicate with Counsels Before or During Transfer of Detained Individuals
9/3/2024
United States Senate
ABA Letter to Senators Opposing Foundational Rule Repeal
7/8/2024
Sen. Chris Murphy
ABA Letter on Revising the Lozada Standard
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
Sen. 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
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
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
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"
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”