Thread by @cliniclegal

CLINIC Convening 2021 opens with the Welcome Plenary: Charting a New Course.

This session includes a fireside chat between Chief of Staff, Office of the Director, USCIS @feliciaedc and @CLINICexec Anna Gallagher #ConveneWithCLINIC
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Regardless of faith background, service connects us all in the CLINIC network to serve those immigrating to the United States. - @CLINICexec
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After canceling CLINIC Convening 2020 due to the pandemic, CLINIC Convening 2021 saw the largest number of registrants in the conference's history. #ConveneWithCLINIC
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@CLINICexec introduces CLINIC Convening 2021 speaker @feliciaedc #ConveneWithCLINIC
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The ability to convene, even virtually, is important, as CLINIC and its network are the backbone for providing low-income immigration services across the country. - @feliciaedc #ConveneWithCLINIC
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@feliciaedc touches on several issues USCIS is focusing on including #TPS, reducing biometric collections and promoting naturalization.
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The pandemic affected the offering of services, but USCIS is looking to expand staffing and extend hours at select offices. - @feliciaedc
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@feliciaedc commended the resilience of immigration legal service providers and their communities.
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@feliciaedc discusses the importance of fiscal security for USCIS after the agency faced potential furloughs last year.
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#COVID19 only exacerbated existing problems and barriers to processing applications. - @feliciaedc

@CLINICexec emphasizes the importance of engaging stakeholders and asks how USCIS plans to conduct and solicit that feedback.

People at the national, state and local levels will have opportunities to share. This feedback determines the outline for USCIS' work.- @feliciaedc
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Incremental fee changes and accessibility to fee waivers will be a balancing act to ensuring people aren't discouraged from submitting applications. - @feliciaedc
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USCIS is looking to grow capacity in order to address the backlog of cases that the agency and asylum seekers face. - @feliciaedc
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