Thread by @a_moriarty

USCIS still plans to furlough 13,000 federal workers at end of August, despite having $ to pay them until next fiscal year.

This would force thousands out of work in MO, NE, TX, & VT, + virtually shut down our immigration system.

5 Things to Know: fwd.us/news/uscis-fur…

1) USCIS is the federal agency responsible for administering the United States’ immigration system. Unlike many other federal agencies, USCIS gets most of its revenue from fees paid by its customers (people filing immigration applications/petitions).

Though USCIS is headquartered in D.C., the agency relies on processing centers and field offices across the country, staffed by about 20,000 federal employees, to manage the millions of petitions and applications it receives each year.

2) In May 2020, USCIS leadership told Congress that COVID-19 had forced “a crippling budget shortfall” that would require $1.2 billion in Congressional funding to keep staff working.

cbsnews.com/news/u-s-immig…

But things changed - in July Deputy Director Joseph Edlow testified to the House Oversight Committee that the agency had “more revenue in June than we estimated, which, combined with planned expense reductions, could potentially cover costs through the end of the fiscal year.”

(Pretty much everything from that hearing, including very compelling and informative testimony from @doug_rand and @ShevDD, is worth reading - judiciary.house.gov/calendar/event…)

Despite these changes, USCIS’ plans to impose the furloughs remain, without clear explanation from the agency as to why they would do this since, by their own recent admission, they have adequate funding to continue keeping staff on the job.

3) These furloughs would force tens of thousands of federal employees out of work in the midst of historically difficult economic times and the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis.

The furlough threat looms especially large for Missouri, home to USCIS’ National Benefits and Records Centers, which employ approximately 3,100 people and process many USCIS form types, including the majority of international adoption filings. kansascity.com/news/politics-…

The furloughs would also be devastating for states like Nebraska and Vermont, whose processing centers employ more than 1,000 American workers apiece, and the thousand employees at the USCIS’ Texas Service Center
1011now.com/2020/07/23/hun…

4) Despite the agency’s claims, the agency’s budget problems have been driven by mismanagement at USCIS, leading it to spend more money while providing less in the way of services.

Read more from @AILANational : aila.org/advo-media/pre…

Trump Administration policies imposing burdensome requirements and requiring excessive scrutiny of routine immigration applications mean cases often take much longer to adjudicate, contributing to the dramatic slowdown.

migrationpolicy.org/research/us-im…

Allowing furloughs to take effect would only exacerbate the problem. According to @MigrationPolicy , the furloughs could increase backlogs (already at a staggering 5.7 million pending applications) by 75,000 filings per month.

5) USCIS is a benefits agency for the American people.

Sen. Leahy (D-VT) has written to USCIS agency leadership, urging them to hold off on furloughing employees through the end of the fiscal year.

We agree - USCIS must remain open.

appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

If immigration becomes an impossibility, even for a short period, it is Americans who will be harmed - US workers forced out of their jobs, and Americans unable to reunite with family, fill jobs, and pursue citizenship.

Virtually ending legal immigration would be also devastating for the U.S. economy, even in the short-term; immigrants contribute tremendously to America, particularly the millions of immigrants serving in essential frontline roles to combat the ongoing COVID-19 crisis

USCIS is tasked with serving the American people, and must continue to do so, at a time when the United States needs it most.

fwd.us/news/uscis-fur…