The most recent changes in social concerns have left no one unaffected. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has sparked concern among both migrant and USCIS users. A group of workers received an internal notice requesting early retirement or dismissal, as reported.
This was discovered by Doug Rand, the agency’s former adviser. Staff are concerned about the impact on waiting times for millions of applications, as well as millions of people.
What is going on inside the USCIS?
There is no official declaration from the government, so we can choose to believe this was a mistake. The sources indicate that this is an extreme measure that will be implemented as a result of internal management issues and budget reductions in public services. In fact, it is more than a notice; it is an open invitation to leave (or be fired).
2020: The Prelude
Something similar occurred in 2020, during the COVID-19 crisis. USCIS ran out of financial reserves and did not have enough revenue to maintain all employees on payroll. True, the crisis was global and affected all sectors, and USCIS was forced to freeze hiring, resulting in a wave of resignations and a slowdown in application processing due to backlog.
The administration shift in 2021 appeared to restore order and fix some of the issues by opening up hiring processes and onboarding thousands of officers. To do so, they increased fees and rearranged the workflow.
However, all of this progress appears to be jeopardized if the circumstance repeats itself.
How will this impact immigrants?
An understaffed agency can’t keep up. Prepare for delays in visas, green card renewals, work permits, and even interviews for asylum or naturalization.
Furthermore, jobs that rely on foreign labor (such as hospitals and other industries, such as the ranching industry, among many others) may suffer if work permits are delayed or not authorized in time.
Even worse, consider the thousands of family reunification processes that could be stalled for months. As a result, families are separated for longer periods of time, workers are unable to work due to a lack of documentation, and millions are uncertain about their immigration status.
What can we expect, then?
While no official confirmation has been made, it is clear that if there is smoke, there will be fire. Doug Rand’s revelations have been mirrored by immigration-focused media outlets, all of which concur that the system is once again on the edge of collapse. Meanwhile, organizations that provide guidance to migrants have begun to mobilize to demand that the government not reduce USCIS staff, reminding everyone that delays jeopardize the stability of millions of people in the United States. We’ll need to keep vigilant in the following days, because if the layoffs are confirmed, the slowdown will be quick and widespread.
Take care of any pending documentation as quickly as possible, as this cut poses a significant threat to the country’s immigration system. Stay aware and anticipate potential outcomes.
