Reinstating Staff for Department of Justice Recognition and Accreditation Program

We write on behalf of more than 330 legal service providers, faith-based institutions, and community organizations throughout the country to urge the Department of Justice (DOJ) to immediately reinstate qualified staff to the Recognition and Accreditation (R&A) program, located in the Executive Office for Immigration Review's (EOIR). The R&A program is a vital, low-cost mechanism that has served the American immigration system for nearly 70 years — providing affordable legal assistance to immigrants, combating fraud, and reducing the burden on immigration courts. Its effective operation depends on trained federal staff, and the recent removal of all program personnel with decision-making authority threatens to bring it to a complete halt.