The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) may be indifferent to Republicans but they do have some beef as far as the White House is concerned as well.
And heading into their scheduled group conference next week, some members have reportedly demanded that White House Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Munoz be disinvited as a keynote speaker at the event. A copy of that letter can be found here.
Despite the calls, AILA Executive Director Crystal Williams maintains that Munoz will be kept as keynote speaker for the annual conference which takes place on June 17, 2015.
Munoz has been hit for consistently defending the Obama administration's policies on deportation. She is however also seen as instrumental behind Obama's executive actions on immigration – something which would defer deportations and extend work permits for undocumented immigrants.
Regardless, Munoz is viewed as a reason for the shocking numbers tied up with human rights violations, particularly against children fleeing to Central America. And with that said, such is seen as the main reason as to why AILA is seeking her to be struck of as keynote speaker.
Despite all this issues, Williams made it known that despite the clouding issues with regards to Munoz being the keynote speaker, she and the group will behave as professionals at the event. She made it clear that keynote speakers were not selected based on popularity but according to the positions and responsibilities that they hold in government.
However, she did add that they will also challenge her to explain the actions of the administration, especially when it comes to the policy which has been closely associated to suffer severe and prolonged physical and mental harm in detention centers in Artesia, New Mexico; Leesport, Pennsylvania; Karnes City, Texas; and Dilley, Texas.
"So, no, we will not be disinviting Ms. Muñoz," Williams wrote in a letter which was signed by 17 other attorneys.
"We will have her come and speak to our conference. We will behave professionally, but we will also challenge her to account for the administration's actions. Our mission as an organization requires no less."
