The American Immigration Lawyers Association Urges Senators to Do No Harm to Immigrants

Washington, DC – As the Senate considers the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) urges senators to keep the bill focused on its goals: deficit reduction, the climate crisis, and prescription drug prices.  Senators should vote no on any amendments that would exclude or harm immigrant communities and that would function as “poison pills” killing the entire bill.

AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson stated, “AILA is urging senators to be vigilant in stopping ‘poison pill’ amendments that restrict visas for immigrant families and workers, make it harder for immigrant families to access pandemic-related and other health programs, and waste taxpayer dollars on unnecessary enforcement or detention. Those proposals are cynical and politically-motivated attacks – they do nothing for Americans struggling during the pandemic and through this period of economic recovery.  Of course, AILA stands ready to partner with any senator interested in advancing real solutions that constructively improve the immigration system to the benefit of all families and communities across the United States.” 

AILA President Jeremy McKinney added, “Reportedly, senators may offer amendments that would cause havoc, not just endangering the bill’s passage but also scapegoating refugees and other immigrants. AILA hopes senators will stand against attempts to block refugees seeking protection at the U.S. border,” he said referring to former President Trump’s Title 42 order that still prevents many people from getting humanitarian protection. “Title 42 has only made the situation at the border worse and has been widely condemned by advocates and policymakers, including officials at the Centers for Disease Control. Extending a falsely justified policy that was never based in medical science or effective at preventing the spread of COVID, would be disgraceful.”