Advocacy Page - Make Your Opinions Heard!
Q: I've heard a lot about proposed changes to U.S. immigration law, and I'm concerned about what this might mean. What can I do to impact the course of immigration law?
A: There are several ways to get involved and make your feelings known, and we encourage you to participate in as many as you can.
The most immediate impact most people can make is by writing to the government officials who represent them. Letters to legislative branch officials such as local, state and federal representatives and senators as well as to executive branch officials such as mayors, governors and the President do have an impact. While the individual official may not read each letter, their staff members do. They will normally give the official an account of the opinions being expressed and the overall balance of public opinion. Writing to an official about an issue is therefore like registering your own vote on that issue.
There is an easy way to determine the names and contact information for your own representatives at the federal level. Enter your zip code below and click "Go" to get a report of those who represent the area where you live:
Q: Is there a way to contact my representative officials which lets me combine my voice with those of other individuals or businesses with the same views? A: Occasionally, the American Immigration Lawyers' Association (or "AILA") - the preeminent bar association for immigration lawyers - will set forth a "sign-on letter." Sign-on letters are carefully drafted letters intended to address a range of concerns among a well-defined group. To name a few examples, such a group may consist of:
Q: Other than contacting my representatives directly, what else can I do to have an impact?
A: Another great way to have an impact is to become involved in the electoral process: vote, donate to the campaigns of officials with strong pro-immigration positions, or perhaps even run for office. Using your right to vote to improve our system of immigration laws requires some research (and of course, U.S. citizenship - claiming the right to vote when not a citizen can exclude you from almost any future immigration benefit). After determining the names of your representatives above, look to their web sites to research their positions on various immigration issues (and any other issues of interest to you). Also look to local news sources, such as your local newspaper, to determine the positions of those currently in office and those running against them. Then - if you are eligible to vote - vote your conscience! If you are able, providing financial support to the election campaigns of candidates with whom you agree on immigration issues is another way of making a difference. When sending a donation, be sure to include a note explaining that you are doing so because you support that candidate's stance on specific immigration issues - this is another terrific opportunity to let public officials know how their constituents really feel. Finally, if you are eligible and can afford the time and money involved, run for elective office yourself. There is no more direct way to make your opinions count.
Contact us here to arrange a consultation, to inquire about retaining us to handle your immigration matter, or simply to suggest topics you would like to see covered on our site.
The above is presented for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship with our firm. The information provided should not be used as guidance in pursuing an immigration matter absent consultation with a qualified immigration attorney.
Q: Is there a way to contact my representative officials which lets me combine my voice with those of other individuals or businesses with the same views? A: Occasionally, the American Immigration Lawyers' Association (or "AILA") - the preeminent bar association for immigration lawyers - will set forth a "sign-on letter." Sign-on letters are carefully drafted letters intended to address a range of concerns among a well-defined group. To name a few examples, such a group may consist of:
- Employers who require foreign national labor for the survival of their businesses, or
- Foreign nationals who are going through the permanent residence process and impacted by priority date retrogresion (long wait times for immigrant visas), or
- Foreign nationals who are here without valid status because they were brought to the U.S. as children by their parents.
Word File |
Purpose of Letter |
Request reform of the H-1B system to permit greater H-1B availability an end to the long periods of time during which U.S. employers and willing & qualified foreign nationals are "shut out" by caps on H-1B availability. |
|
| Released May 23, 2007 by the New York Chapter of AILA to request reform of the proposed Senate Comprehenive Immigration Reform bill, which addresses some of the major problems facing the U.S. immigration system but falls very short with regard to others. This is a substantial letter dealing with many different aspects of the law - send it as-is to your Senators or use only the portions which address the issues most important to you, your business or your organization. | |
| Request reform of the H-1B system to permit greater H-1B availability an end to the long periods of time during which U.S. employers and willing & qualified foreign nationals are "shut out" by caps on H-1B availability. | |
| Request legislative relief from H-1B Cap, Immigrant Visa Retrogression for Permanent Residence (which is causing significant delays in processing), and express concern over loss of U.S. competitive advantage in terms of growth, productivity, and innovation. |
Q: Other than contacting my representatives directly, what else can I do to have an impact?
A: Another great way to have an impact is to become involved in the electoral process: vote, donate to the campaigns of officials with strong pro-immigration positions, or perhaps even run for office. Using your right to vote to improve our system of immigration laws requires some research (and of course, U.S. citizenship - claiming the right to vote when not a citizen can exclude you from almost any future immigration benefit). After determining the names of your representatives above, look to their web sites to research their positions on various immigration issues (and any other issues of interest to you). Also look to local news sources, such as your local newspaper, to determine the positions of those currently in office and those running against them. Then - if you are eligible to vote - vote your conscience! If you are able, providing financial support to the election campaigns of candidates with whom you agree on immigration issues is another way of making a difference. When sending a donation, be sure to include a note explaining that you are doing so because you support that candidate's stance on specific immigration issues - this is another terrific opportunity to let public officials know how their constituents really feel. Finally, if you are eligible and can afford the time and money involved, run for elective office yourself. There is no more direct way to make your opinions count.
Contact us here to arrange a consultation, to inquire about retaining us to handle your immigration matter, or simply to suggest topics you would like to see covered on our site.
The above is presented for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship with our firm. The information provided should not be used as guidance in pursuing an immigration matter absent consultation with a qualified immigration attorney.