Advocacy Opportunities

Thank you for taking time to advocate on behalf of immigrants and refugees!

Write a Public Comment

The Trump Administration has been writing regulations that threaten the health and safety of immigrants, asylum seekers, lawful permanent residents, and U.S. citizens.

Please read more about the proposed regulations below and write a public comment opposing the following regulations:

DOJ proposes to change regulations to make it easier to deport immigrants who use public benefits. This has NOT  been published in the federal register, but check back soon for more updates.

Significant changes to asylum likely to be proposed in new rule-making. Check back soon for more updates.

  • Public Charge: On October 11, 2019, DOS  published its interim final rule, “Visas: Ineligibility Based “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds.”  Read HILSC’s public charge comment. (Submitted 10/31/19).
  • HUD: The Trump administration’s Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a notice of proposed rule-making (NPRM) that would limit immigrant’s access to housing. These rule changes mean that many mixed-status households will no longer be able to receive public housing assistance. There are an estimated 76,000 people who are eligible to receive public housing and reside in a mixed-family households – 55,000 of these are children who could lose their homes. Read HILSC’s comment opposing this change.
  • Fee Waiver Form: USCIS first announced its proposal to change the fee waiver process and eligibility through the elimination of receipt of a means-tested benefit on Sept. 28, 2018. HILSC submitted a comment opposing the rule change. On April 5, USCIS announce it was advancing the proposal by sending information to the Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, for review. HILSC opposed this change and submitted a comment on 5/6/19. Read HILSC’s second comment here
  • DHS Tip Form: DHS proposed creating an online form where the general public can submit unsubstantiated reports of fraud about individual immigrants. This online form would encourage abuse by individuals seeking to harm immigrants. HILSC opposed this notice of proposed rulemaking and submitted a comment on 4/16/19. Read HILSC’s comment here.
  • Changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents:  This SNAP rule that would take food away from 755,000 people. HILSC opposed this change and submitted a comment on 4/10/19. Read HILSC’s Comment Here.
  • Public Charge: On October 10, 2018, USCIS published its proposed rule, “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds.” HILSC partners contributed to the over 250,000 comments. The government must now review each of those individual comments before implementing any regulation.  Read HILSC’s public charge comment. (Submitted 12/10/18).

Sign-On to these Advocacy Letters

Please sign this open letter written by Mayab’ Scholars, activists, and human rights defenders denouncing the governments of Guatemala, Mexico and the United States for the deaths of children and youth at the various borders. In particular, this letter expresses profound concern that all the children who have died from Guatemala, are Maya children.

Support the Humanitarian Action Plan

The Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) is a coordinated emergency management plan to increase immigrant resilience, contribute to a more efficient and effective disaster response and recovery, and improve the health and safety of all through future disasters.

Ask public officials and policy makers to incorporate HAP recommendations into emergency management policy. To learn more…