On February 14, 2008, a coalition of 40 national and local organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi expressing strong opposition to the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement Act (SAVE Act), H.R. 4088. The coalition argued that the SAVE Act would not address the complexities of the U.S. immigration system or benefit the economy. They contended that the bill’s focus on deportation would lead to increased removal of immigrant workers and the separation of American families. Additionally, they raised concerns about the proposed employment authorization verification system, citing potential issues such as erroneous firings, discrimination, and exploitation of workers due to database errors and insufficient safeguards. The letter emphasized that a deportation-centric approach had been ineffective over the past two decades and had adversely affected both immigrant and native-born workers, as well as their families. The coalition urged House leaders to reject the SAVE Act and instead pursue comprehensive immigration reform that would address the status of undocumented individuals through bipartisan efforts. The signatories included a diverse array of organizations, such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), reflecting widespread concern across civil rights, religious, and immigrant advocacy groups regarding the potential negative impacts of the SAVE Act.