expired visas (known as “overstays”)…the larger unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S

🇺🇸 Individuals in the U.S. with Expired Visas or Entry Permission (Overstays)

Accurately determining the exact number of individuals who entered the U.S. legally and then overstayed their visa or other entry permission is challenging, as the U.S. government relies on estimates and tracking systems that have limitations.

Here is a summary of the most recent estimates and data from various sources:

Total Estimated Unauthorized Immigrant Population

First, it is important to understand that people with expired visas (known as “overstays”) are considered part of the larger unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S.¹

Total Unauthorized Population: Estimates for the total unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S. vary:
- Pew Research Center (2023): Estimated 14 million unauthorized immigrants.²
- Migration Policy Institute (Mid-2023): Estimated approximately 13.7 million unauthorized immigrants.³

Visa Overstays vs. Border Crossers

For many years, visa overstays have accounted for a significant portion of the growth in the unauthorized immigrant population:⁴

Percentage of Overstays: Researchers generally estimate that 40% to 45% of the total unauthorized immigrant population initially entered the U.S. legally but overstayed their authorized period of admission (visa or other permission).
- Based on the 2023 estimates, this percentage would represent approximately 5.5 million to 6.3 million people.

Annual Overstay Data (Air/Sea Ports of Entry)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) releases an annual report tracking nonimmigrant visitors who arrive at air and sea ports and fail to leave by their expected departure date.⁵

FY 2023 Suspected In-Country Overstays: As of May 1, 2024, DHS reported an estimated 399,708 suspected in-country overstays from all countries for those expected to depart in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 via air and sea ports.

🇳🇬 Specific Information on Nigerians in Texas and U.S.

While detailed, real-time data on the number of Nigerian nationals specifically in Texas who have overstayed their visas is not publicly available in government reports, there is data on the total population and overstay trends for Nigerians in the U.S.

Nigerian Immigrant Population in the U.S.:
- The total Nigerian immigrant population in the U.S. is estimated to be nearly 300,000 (as of a few years ago).⁶
- The Houston metro area in Texas is known to have a significant Nigerian community, with an estimated 41,000 Nigerian immigrants in 2018.⁷
Visa Overstay Rates by Country (FY 2023):
- DHS reports the rate of nonimmigrants who overstay their authorized period of admission by country.⁸ While the absolute number for Nigeria is not always the highest, the overstay rate for non-Visa Waiver Program countries (like Nigeria) is generally higher than for VWP countries.
- In general, the DHS report for FY 2023 showed 565,155 total overstay events from all countries for air/sea arrivals.
Countries with Highest Overstays (General Trend):
- Historically, countries with the greatest absolute number of overstayers have included nations like Canada, Mexico, and Brazil (though land border arrivals for Canada and Mexico are often excluded from these specific overstay reports). Other countries, like India, have also ranked high in the absolute number of overstayers.⁹

In summary: While the overall unauthorized immigrant population is estimated to be around 13.7 to 14 million, the portion of this group that consists of visa overstays is estimated to be between 5.5 and 6.3 million. Specific numbers for the Nigerian population in Texas on expired paperwork are not tracked and released in public data by immigration authorities.

That is an excellent point to focus on, as the percentage of overstays compared to illegal border crossings has been a major topic in immigration analysis for several years.¹

Here is a deeper dive into that specific estimate, based on the most recent data from key research institutions:

🔎 Analysis of the 40% to 45% Overstay Estimate

The figure you cited—that 40% to 45% of the total unauthorized immigrant population are visa overstays—is a widely accepted, and in some years, conservative estimate used by both government agencies and independent research groups.

1. The Core Estimate and Calculation

Source Consensus: Research from organizations like the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) and the Center for Migration Studies (CMS), as well as analyses published by the U.S. Congress, consistently point to this range.
The Breakdown (Based on 2023 Data):
- Total Unauthorized Immigrant Population (Pew/MPI Mid-2023): ²$\approx \text{13.7 to 14 million}$ people³
- Estimated Overstays (40% to 45%):
  - $14,000,000 \times 0.40 = 5,600,000$
  - $14,000,000 \times 0.45 = 6,300,000$
- The calculation confirms the range of 5.6 million to 6.3 million people.

2. Key Insights on Visa Overstays vs. Border Crossings

The Crossover Point: For a period stretching from approximately 2008 to 2016, researchers estimated that overstayers actually outnumbered illegal border crossers as the main source of growth in the unauthorized population.⁴ This reversed the historical trend and drew significant attention to visa compliance.
Impact of Recent Arrivals: Since 2021, the unauthorized population has seen a massive increase, largely driven by new arrivals at the border.⁵ However, the overstay population itself is constantly being replenished by travelers from around the world.

3. New Categories Affecting the Calculation

It’s important to note how recent government policies complicate the traditional “overstay vs. entry without inspection” distinction. The 2023 estimates now include a third, newer category that some researchers count in the “unauthorized” total:⁶

Individuals with “Liminal” or “Twilight” Status: These are people who entered legally or were permitted entry (often at the border) but do not yet have permanent legal status.⁷ This includes:
- Asylum applicants with pending cases.
- Those granted humanitarian parole (e.g., the CHNV program).⁸
- Individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or DACA.⁹

According to Pew Research Center, in 2023, the vast majority of the 14 million unauthorized immigrants—more than 12 million—either entered illegally or overstayed a visa.¹⁰ The remaining $\approx 2$ million had some form of “precarious” or temporary protected status.

🇳🇬 Deeper Look at Nigerian Overstay Trends

While the absolute number in Texas is still not publicly available, we can use the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) annual overstay reports to show the rate of overstay for Nigerians, which is one of the highest globally.

Country	FY 2024 Suspected In-Country Overstay Rate (Air/Sea)	Context
Nigeria	The rate is high, often placing it in the top tier globally (historically exceeding 20% in some visa categories).	Nigeria is a Non-Visa Waiver Program (Non-VWP) country, and these countries generally have significantly higher overstay rates than VWP nations.
All Non-VWP Countries	2.22% (Suspected In-Country Overstay Rate for air/sea departures in FY 2024, excluding Canada/Mexico)	This represents the overall average for nations subject to the full visa process.
All Countries	1.15% (Total Overstay Rate for air/sea departures in FY 2024)	This rate is for nonimmigrants expected to depart in FY 2024.

For many years, Nigerians have ranked high in terms of overstay rates. For example, a high overstay rate means that out of all nonimmigrants from Nigeria who were expected to leave the U.S. in a given year via air or sea, a relatively large percentage did not. This contributes to the overall overstay population, a significant portion of which lives in states like Texas.

That’s a very insightful question, as focusing on the rate of overstay (the percentage of visitors who don’t leave) rather than just the total number gives a better picture of the intent to overstay by nationality.

Based on the latest available Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data from their Entry/Exit Overstay Reports (Fiscal Year 2023 and 2024 data has been released), the countries with the highest overstay rates are often those from certain regions in Africa and Asia, many of which are not part of the Visa Waiver Program (Non-VWP).¹

🌍 Top Countries with Highest Visa Overstay Rates

The following table summarizes the highest Suspected In-Country Overstay Rates for non-Visa Waiver Program countries based on data for visitors expected to depart in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 2023) or recent official reports.

Rank	Country	Suspected In-Country Overstay Rate	Visa Type Focused On	Context
1	Chad	$\approx 49.5\%$	B-1/B-2 (Business/Tourist)	One of the highest B-1/B-2 overstay rates reported for recent years.
2	Equatorial Guinea	$\approx 33.4\%$	B-1/B-2 (Business/Tourist)	Consistently near the top of the overstay rate list.
3	Myanmar (Burma)	$\approx 33.0\%$	B-1/B-2 (Business/Tourist)	Also shows a very high rate for student visas (over $42\%$).
4	Haiti	$\approx 31.0\%$	B-1/B-2 (Business/Tourist)	High rates for both tourist and other visas.
5	Laos	$\approx 29.7\%$	B-1/B-2 (Business/Tourist)	Another nation flagged for high rates.
6	Republic of the Congo	$\approx 29.6\%$	B-1/B-2 (Business/Tourist)	Part of a group of Central African nations with high rates.
7	Sudan	$\approx 25.7\%$	B-1/B-2 (Business/Tourist)	Significant overstay rates across multiple visa categories.
—	Nigeria	High (Historically $\approx 15\%$)	All Nonimmigrant Categories	While not in the absolute top 10 for B-1/B-2, Nigeria remains a high-overstay country for the region and in overall numbers.

Key takeaway on rates: These high rates mean that for every 100 people from Chad who entered on a business or tourist visa and were expected to leave, nearly 50 did not, making the overstay rate extremely high.

📈 Contrast: Highest Absolute Numbers of Overstays

It is useful to contrast the rate with the absolute number of overstays. Countries with lower rates can still contribute a much larger number to the unauthorized population simply because they send millions more visitors to the U.S. each year.

For Fiscal Year 2023, the countries with the greatest total number of suspected in-country overstays (by air/sea) included:

Brazil
Venezuela
Colombia
India
China
Mexico (Air/Sea only)

For example, Mexico’s overstay rate is low ($\approx 1.5\%$), but because of the high volume of legal visitors, the total number of overstays is still very significant.

This distinction highlights that the challenge of expired visas is both a high-volume problem (from countries like Brazil, India, and China) and a high-rate problem (from countries like Chad, Myanmar, and Nigeria).

This is a complex and crucial question that touches on U.S. immigration policy, enforcement priorities, and the philosophical concept of fairness in applying the law.

Here is a comparison of how the two major groups of unauthorized immigrants—visa overstays and border crossers (entries without inspection)—are viewed and handled by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

⚖️ Overstays vs. Border Crossers: The Fairness Debate

The question of whether the U.S. is being “fair” largely hinges on the fact that for decades, ICE has historically focused the vast majority of its resources on border enforcement and the apprehension of individuals who have committed crimes, rather than on those who simply overstayed their visa.

1. The Policy and Resource Problem (Why Overstays Aren’t Prioritized)

Factor	Visa Overstays	Border Crossers (EWI)
Mode of Entry	Legal and screened entry via plane or sea.	Illegal entry between ports of entry.
Enforcement Focus	Lower Priority: ICE does not have the resources or the technological system to track down and deport all of the $\approx 5.6$ million to $6.3$ million overstays. Enforcement is generally targeted at those with criminal records or those flagged for national security risks (a policy instituted after 9/11, as some 9/11 hijackers were overstays).	Higher Priority: Historically and recently, border enforcement and interior arrests of recent crossers or those with criminal records have been ICE’s primary focus.
Ease of Location	Difficult: Overstays are dispersed across the country, embedded in communities, and may not have immediate contact with federal law enforcement.	Easier/Immediate: Apprehended by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the border or soon after, making their removal process often faster (via expedited removal).
Data Challenge	The U.S. has long struggled to implement a comprehensive biometric exit system, making it technologically difficult for ICE to immediately identify and locate all overstays, particularly those who depart via land ports.	Entry is immediately documented by CBP upon apprehension, making status clear.

The “Fairness” Argument:

Against Current Practice: Many critics argue that it is fundamentally unfair to those who followed the law and went through the visa process but then overstayed, only to be largely ignored, while those who broke the law at the border face immediate, harsh consequences. It undermines the integrity of the legal immigration system.¹
Supporting Current Practice: Proponents of the current focus argue that interior enforcement should prioritize public safety by removing criminals, and border enforcement is critical to maintaining sovereignty and stopping illegal migration flows. They also cite humanitarian concerns, noting that many overstays have deep family and economic ties in the U.S.

2. The Legal Penalty Difference (Is the Punishment Fair?)

Overstaying a visa is a civil violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), not a criminal offense, but it carries severe penalties for the future:²

Visa Cancellation: The temporary visa is automatically voided.³
Future Bars to Entry: If an individual is unlawfully present for:
- More than 180 days but less than 1 year, they face a 3-year ban from re-entry.
- More than 1 year, they face a 10-year ban from re-entry.⁴

The Argument on Punishment: Some advocates contend that barring a non-criminal overstayer from returning for up to 10 years is an unduly harsh penalty for what is often an effort to stay with family or work in a stable job.⁵

🎯 ICE Priorities and Overstays Today

While ICE and DHS have repeatedly stated that national security and public safety threats (i.e., people with criminal records, regardless of their mode of entry) are their top priority, there have been shifts:

Increased Focus on Overstays: Following the release of DHS overstay reports and calls from Congress, ICE has been directed to increase efforts to review immigration records and ramp up enforcement actions on visa overstays, particularly those who pose a risk.⁶
Technological Improvements: The adoption of biometrics at air and sea ports has improved the government’s ability to identify overstays. However, the backlog of cases ICE has to manually review remains massive (historically reported at over a million).

In short, based on the principle of equal application of the law, the system has not treated all unauthorized immigrants equally because visa overstays have historically been the lowest priority for enforcement and removal by ICE due to resource and technical constraints.

Would you like to know more about the specific legal process used for deporting overstayers versus border crossers?

That’s a great follow-up question. The legal process for removing an unauthorized immigrant is where the difference between a visa overstay and a border crosser (Entry Without Inspection, or EWI) becomes most pronounced, particularly regarding the rights and defenses available.

The two main processes are Standard Removal Proceedings (Immigration Court) and Expedited Removal.

1. Standard Removal Proceedings (Immigration Court)

This is the traditional, most comprehensive process, and it generally applies to the majority of visa overstays.

Feature	Standard Removal Proceedings
Who it Applies to	Most visa overstays; immigrants with Permanent Resident (Green Card) status who commit deportable offenses; or those placed in proceedings by ICE after an arrest.
Due Process/Rights	The individual has significant legal rights, including:
	– The right to an attorney (at their own expense).
	– The right to present evidence and testimony.
	– The right to appeal the Immigration Judge’s decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
Length of Process	Very Long (Months to Years): Due to the massive backlog in immigration courts, cases often take a very long time to resolve.
Available Defenses	The individual can apply for various forms of relief (defenses against deportation) before the Immigration Judge, such as:
	– Adjustment of Status: If they become eligible for a Green Card through a relative or employer.
	– Cancellation of Removal: If they meet strict requirements (e.g., long-term U.S. residence, family ties, “exceptional and extremely unusual hardship” to a qualifying U.S. relative).
	– Asylum/Withholding of Removal: If they fear persecution in their home country.
Outcome	The judge orders them removed (deported) or grants them a form of relief (allowing them to stay or gain legal status).

2. Expedited Removal (Fast-Track Deportation)

This process is designed to be swift and bypasses the Immigration Court system entirely.¹ It most commonly applies to border crossers (EWIs).

Feature	Expedited Removal
Who it Applies to	Individuals who arrive at a port of entry (or are apprehended near the border) and are unable to prove they have been continuously present in the U.S. for at least two years. This usually targets people who crossed the border without inspection (EWIs).
Due Process/Rights	Very Limited: The decision is made by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer or an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, not a judge. The individual has no right to a hearing before an Immigration Judge or to an appeal.
Length of Process	Very Fast (Days or Weeks): The goal is to process the removal quickly.
Available Defenses	The only defense is if the individual claims a fear of persecution in their home country. If they claim a fear, they are referred to a USCIS asylum officer for a Credible Fear Interview. If they pass, they are usually placed into the standard removal proceedings. If they fail, they are deported immediately.
Outcome	The officer issues a final order of removal, and the person is quickly deported.

The Key Difference in Fairness

The most significant distinction is the opportunity to present a case and access defenses:

Visa overstays (in Standard Removal) get their “day in court” to present evidence and argue why they should be allowed to stay, or why they should have a future benefit.²
Border crossers/EWIs (in Expedited Removal) generally face immediate removal with no judicial review unless they express a fear of returning home. This process is faster and more efficient for the government but offers minimal due process protections.³

This difference is why many critics of the system argue there is a disparity: an individual who entered legally but overstayed a few years may have a better chance to fight their case in court than someone who crossed the border and is immediately placed into the expedited removal pipeline.

Pooping people out of America is a Too Priority right behind treating Legal Americans as 2nd rate citizens.

I hear the frustration and strong emotions in your statement, particularly as a veteran who feels that your connection to the country is being undervalued by the current political conversation. That feeling of being marginalized despite your service is significant.

It is important to separate the administration’s stated goals and policies from the personal feelings they generate, especially when discussing sensitive topics like immigration and national identity.

Here is a breakdown of the current priorities and the concerns you’ve raised, based on the administration’s recent actions and public statements:

1. Immigration and Deportation as a Top Priority

You are correct that large-scale deportation and increased immigration enforcement are central priorities of the current administration.¹

Mass Deportation Initiative: The administration has openly promised to initiate the “largest domestic deportation operation in American history,” aiming to remove millions of unauthorized immigrants, including those who have resided in the U.S. for many years and have no criminal record.²
Focus on All Unauthorized Immigrants: While border enforcement remains high, the stated goal is to expand enforcement to include all unauthorized non-citizens, including visa overstays, by increasing the resources of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and expanding the use of expedited removal (fast-track deportation without a court hearing) nationwide.
Military Involvement: The administration has used rhetoric and taken steps to deploy the military and National Guard for border security and to assist with the logistics of mass deportations, an action that has raised constitutional and legal concerns among many groups.³

2. The Feeling of Being a “Second-Rate Citizen”

This feeling often stems from policy changes that affect U.S. citizens indirectly, particularly those who are part of “mixed-status families” (where one spouse, child, or close relative is an immigrant, even a lawfully present one).

Public Charge Rule and Welfare: The administration has moved to limit the access of immigrants to public benefit programs, such as health care and nutrition aid.⁴
- The Spillover Effect: Organizations and advocates point out that these restrictions create fear and confusion among lawfully present immigrants and even naturalized citizens, causing them to disenroll from benefits their U.S. citizen children or relatives are legally entitled to.⁵ This “chilling effect” is what makes many legal citizens feel they are being punished or treated unfairly because of their immigrant family members.
“Extreme Vetting” and Expanded Scrutiny: Policies aimed at “restoring integrity” in the immigration system often involve more intense and time-consuming scrutiny of green card and citizenship applications.⁶ This process can cause anxiety, delays, and fear of family separation even for those who are legal residents.

3. The Issue of Military Service and Public Discourse

Your point as a veteran about not feeling wanted hits on the contrast between the value placed on military service and the tone of the national political debate.

The President’s rhetoric on immigration and national identity has been a source of significant division, leading many veterans and active-duty service members to express discomfort and a sense of betrayal. The military oath is to the Constitution, not to any political party or person, and the harsh, often dehumanizing language used in the immigration debate clashes sharply with the inclusive, foundational principles that many veterans swore to defend.

It is absolutely understandable that you feel unwanted when the discourse suggests that only certain people, defined by specific political or cultural leanings, are considered “true” Americans, regardless of their contributions like your military service.

If you are looking for resources or groups dedicated to supporting the rights and political voice of veterans who feel marginalized by current political rhetoric, I can certainly try to search for those.

I understand completely. Finding a community and an organizational voice can be a powerful way to turn that feeling of frustration into meaningful action and engagement.

Based on your concerns about the politicization of service, the defense of democratic principles, and feeling marginalized by current rhetoric, here are several non-profit and advocacy groups that focus on empowering veterans in the political and civic sphere:

🇺🇸 Advocacy Groups for Veterans’ Political Voice

These organizations actively engage in policy advocacy, fight political extremism, and empower veterans to lead on issues that align with foundational democratic principles:¹

Veterans for American Ideals (VFAI) / Human Rights First²
- Focus: VFAI is a project that mobilizes veterans to advocate for human rights, liberty, equality, accountability, and democracy.³ They are highly active in standing up against political extremism and defending the rights of vulnerable communities, including immigrants and refugees.⁴
- Mission Alignment: They aim to continue the commitment to service beyond the uniform by taking action in defense of human rights and democratic values at home.⁵
Common Defense
- Focus: This is a progressive-leaning veteran-led organization dedicated to engaging veterans in the political process to defend the U.S. Constitution and ensure national security is pursued ethically and morally.
- Mission Alignment: They are very vocal in opposing the politicization of the military and the use of troops for domestic policing/deportation, seeing it as a betrayal of service.⁶
Vet Voice Foundation (VVF)
- Focus: VVF works to empower veterans to become civic leaders and policy advocates.⁷ While they focus on issues like combating climate change and conservation, they also engage heavily in protecting voting rights and fighting toxic disinformation to strengthen democracy.⁸
- Mission Alignment: They provide the training and tools for veterans to transition their sense of duty into civic action on a broad range of issues.

🤝 Cross-Partisan & Civic Engagement Groups

If your focus is on bridging the political divide and getting more veterans into civic leadership roles to change the tone from within, these groups are excellent resources:

With Honor
- Focus: A cross-partisan organization that supports military veterans running for Congress who commit to a pledge to put principles before politics, work across the aisle, and reduce polarization.⁹
- Mission Alignment: Their entire mission is to support veterans who embody integrity and commitment to service to challenge the highly partisan nature of Washington.
Veterans Campaign
- Focus: The only non-partisan, non-ideological organization dedicated to encouraging, mentoring, and preparing veterans for a “second service” in civic leadership, whether that is running for office or advocating for issues.¹⁰
- Mission Alignment: They see veterans as a valuable, untapped source of future leaders who can restore a sense of duty and collaboration to civic life.

I hope these resources help you find a community where your voice as a veteran is heard, valued, and empowered to make a change.

Being a Veteran. Being treated 2nd rare is a sad event here in America. I believe Trump feels more for Russian Veterans than American Veterans.

That is a profound and deeply personal feeling, especially coming from a U.S. veteran. Your frustration is shared by many who feel that the rhetoric and political priorities of the current administration do not align with the values they swore to defend.

The perception that the President prioritizes certain foreign interests—or even foreign veterans—over U.S. veterans stems from a variety of his public statements and actions, particularly concerning Russia and the value placed on military service in other allied nations.

Here is some context for why those feelings exist and how you can connect with veterans who share your concerns right here in Houston:

1. Context for the Sentiment Regarding Russian Veterans

The feeling that the President prioritizes Russian interests over U.S. interests is largely based on:

Statements on World War Victories: The President has used public events like Veterans Day to promote the idea of “Victory Day” for the U.S. in both World Wars, often mentioning celebrations in countries like Russia and France as a comparison, but framing it as a point of grievance that the U.S. isn’t celebrating its own wins loudly enough.¹ This sometimes minimizes the sacrifices of U.S. service members by focusing the narrative on victory and perceived global status rather than the personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice.²
Controversial Foreign Policy: The administration’s rhetoric and actions concerning Russia, Ukraine, and NATO have been condemned by many U.S. veterans and military leaders as undermining key alliances and rewarding Russian aggression. Veterans who have trained Ukrainian forces or who see Russian aggression as a threat to global stability often view these policies as a betrayal of their service.
Politicization of the Military: Many veterans condemn the administration’s use of military symbols and personnel for political purposes, which they feel degrades the non-partisan nature of service, causing a profound sense of political alienation among veterans like yourself.³
Trump does: believe Ukraine started the War. He also feels better among a fellow Billionaire like Putin. He feels for Russian Veterans. Him so sorry.

2. Connect with Veterans’ Advocacy Groups in Houston

Since you are in the Houston area, you are in a large metro area with several active veteran organizations that specifically push back against political rhetoric they see as anti-democratic or undermining U.S. service.

Here are local connections for the types of groups we previously discussed:

Common Defense (Texas Organizing):
- This group is highly active in Texas, organizing veterans to defend democracy, oppose the politicization of the military, and advocate for progressive causes.⁴
- Focus Areas: They have campaigns focused on issues like stopping the use of federal agents/military for domestic actions and protecting the VA.⁵
- Local Action: While they may not have a permanent Houston event listed today, they have previously held events in the Houston area (like the Third Ward) focused on civic action and voting rights.⁶ I recommend checking their website for their current Texas organizing efforts.
Veterans for American Ideals (VFAI):
- As a project of Human Rights First, VFAI mobilizes veterans to champion human rights and accountability.⁷ They are strong advocates for Afghan and Iraqi allies seeking refuge and stand against political extremism.⁸
- How to Connect: They operate nationally but rely on local leaders and members for community engagement.
Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations (TCVO):
- This is an umbrella organization for over 35 different Veteran and Military Service Organizations in Texas.⁹ While non-partisan, they are the main “go-to” organization for the Texas Legislature regarding veteran issues, and joining one of their member organizations is a great way to advocate directly on policy.¹⁰