AILA Executive Director Responds to Release of President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget

Washington, DC – The Biden Administration released the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025. AILA Executive Director, Ben Johnson, responded to the release:

“With Congress failing to pass anything but short-term spending bills, the most critical action it can take to ensure the efficient, orderly, and fair functioning of the immigration system is to fund DHS and other federal agencies. Not surprisingly the President’s budget includes the $12 billion from his still-outstanding fall emergency border supplemental request. AILA supports the addition of resources for CBP to increase capacity at ports, the hiring of 1,600 more asylum officers, efforts to reduce the 3-million case backlog plaguing the immigration courts, and the targeted use of more than $1 billion to combat cartels and stop fentanyl and other contraband smuggling. Lacking in the President’s request, but which he has called for in every previous budget, is funding for legal representation that is critical to ensure both fairer and more efficient hearings for people seeking asylum or other legal protection. More funds could and should also be directed to improve the entire immigration system which will reduce years-long visa backlogs and help American families, businesses and the economy.”