Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet led Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Representatives Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), and Jason Crow (D-Colo.) to state their strong support for the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Recognition and Accreditation (R&A) Program within the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and demand that the DOJ immediately restore full staffing and operational capacity to this critical program following recent paralyzing disruptions and staffing cuts.
The R&A program is a vital resource for non-profit organizations that provide affordable, quality legal assistance to immigrants in need in Colorado and across the country. Without this program, immigrants and their families are forced to attempt to navigate these incredibly complicated and arduous legal proceedings alone.
“The R&A Program serves as a crucial bridge in our immigration system. By credentialing non-attorney staff and volunteers at eligible non-profits, the program expands access for immigrants to qualified counsel while easing severe court backlogs. Recent figures indicate that 71% of people facing deportation in Colorado immigration courts lack access to legal counsel. Unfortunately, recent administrative reassignments have depleted the program’s adjudicative staff, leaving the office without the necessary personnel authorized to approve or deny applications. This delays both new applications and routine renewals, stalling non-profits nationwide that meet every legal requirement,” wrote the lawmakers.
“The R&A Program delivers a low cost, high impact framework that supports the efficient administration of justice while protecting vulnerable communities. We urge you to take immediate action to restore its full operational capacity,” concluded the lawmakers.
Bennet has consistently fought against the Trump administration’s inhumane immigration policies. In August 2026, Bennet and Hickenlooper joined U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and six of their Senate colleagues to demand answers from the Trump administration about recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in airports.
Bennet and his staff have joined Crow and his congressional office in conducting consistent oversight visits to the Aurora, Colorado detention facility throughout the current Trump administration. Bennet also joined U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.) to introduce the Protect American Values Act, legislation that would prevent federal funds from being used to implement, administer, enforce, or otherwise carry out the Trump administration’s finalized “public charge” rule.
In July 2026, Bennet joined U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and 37 of their Senate colleagues in calling for stronger accountability measures for ICE officers. In May 2026, Bennet and Neguse introduced three bills aimed at reforming the Department of Homeland Security, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection: the Keeping Immigrants and Destinations Safe Act; the Training, Responsibility, Uniforms, and Standards for Transparency Act; and the Oversight, Protection, and Enforcement Notification Act.
This letter is supported by key partners, including Compañeros: Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center in Durango, Hope Has No Borders in Denver, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC), and Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN).
The text of the letter is available HERE and below.
Dear Attorney General Blanche and Acting Director Owen:
We write to express our strong support for the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Recognition and Accreditation (R&A) Program within the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and to express serious concerns about recent disruptions and staffing cuts that have paralyzed this vital program. We urge you to immediately restore full staffing and operational capacity. Across Colorado, non-profit organizations depend on the R&A program to enable them to deliver affordable, quality legal assistance to low-income and vulnerable immigrants who would otherwise be forced to navigate complex legal proceedings alone.
The R&A Program serves as a crucial bridge in our immigration system. By credentialing non-attorney staff and volunteers at eligible non-profits, the program expands access for immigrants to qualified counsel while easing severe court backlogs. Recent figures indicate that 71% of people facing deportation in Colorado immigration courts lack access to legal counsel . Unfortunately, recent administrative reassignments have depleted the program’s adjudicative staff, leaving the office without the necessary personnel authorized to approve or deny applications. This delays both new applications and routine renewals, stalling non-profits nationwide that meet every legal requirement.
In Colorado, this operational disruption directly affects organizations serving both rural communities and urban centers. Key non-profit partners, including Compañeros: Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center in Durango, Catholic Charities of Southern Colorado in Pueblo, Hope Immigration Inc. in Colorado Springs, Iglesia de Jesucristo Pentecostal UPCI in Colorado Springs, and statewide coalitions like the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) rely on R&A credentials to maintain their legal service capacity. Without timely renewals and accreditation approvals, these trusted institutions risk losing their legal authority to represent local residents, leaving communities without reliable counsel.
To restore the operational integrity of the R&A Program and support community providers across Colorado, we request that the DOJ take the following immediate steps:
- Immediately reassign or train senior adjudicators who possess explicit authority to approve and process Forms EOIR 31 (organizational recognition) and EOIR 31A (individual accreditation).
- Clear the current application backlog and reinstate the 90-day processing standard to provide predictability for non-profit providers.
- Reestablish transparent communication between EOIR leadership, recognized organizations, and community partners in Colorado and across the nation.
The R&A Program delivers a low cost, high impact framework that supports the efficient administration of justice while protecting vulnerable communities. We urge you to take immediate action to restore its full operational capacity.
We look forward to hearing from you on this important matter.
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