American Immigration Lawyers Association's DOMA Letter to Napolitano, Co-Signed By 81 Organizations

The respected, non-partisan American Immigration Lawyers Association has been a powerful ally in the fight for justice for gay and lesbian binational couples. AILA, with its 36 regional chapters, its persuasive think tank, the American Immigration Council, and its cutting-edge impact litigation unit, the Legal Action Center, dwarfs all other immigration reform advocates with the scope of its brain trust and vast resources. AILA's membership consists of 11,000 lawyers and law professors that are dedicated to the practice and teaching of immigration law. Years ago, AILA attorneys formed a Gay and Lesbian Interest Group and and LGBT Working Group within the organization. So it comes as no surprise, that AILA continues to marshal its expertise to address the issue of same-sex binational couples at this crucial time. Earlier this month, AILA led a broad coalition of immigration reform and social justice organizations in the call for the Executive Branch to protect spouses of lesbian and gay U.S. citizens and permanent residents. After the President changed his position on DOMA, AILA circulated letters to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, Juan Osuna, Acting Director of the Immigration Courts, and Thomas Hussey Director of the Office of Immigration Litigation at the Department of Justice.