Help us reach our goal by making a contribution to Vox today, from as little as $3. This year, support from our founding contributors has helped us create projects that millions relied on to understand a year of chaos, and to keep their families safe. We will continue to work to change and reform the USCIS to ensure it fairly meets the needs of our immigration policies. The chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security said Tuesday that a supplemental bill to address the U.S. This bill is an important emergency stopgap measure to protect the over 1,100 Vermonters and the more than 13,000 USCIS employees nationwide who currently face the risk of furlough. The House passed a bill on Saturday that would stave off mass furloughs at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is grappling with a budget crisis due to a … Asylum processing at the southern border has also practically stopped as Trump administration officials implemented a program to rapidly expel migrants without so much as a health exam. [USCIS informs 13,000 federal employees of potential furloughs] Based on an internal USCIS document, the $1.2 billion request breaks down into … Â, Religious Institutions & Charitable Organizations Survey, Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Scholarship, Coronavirus (COVID-19): Frequently Asked Questions, Coronavirus (COVID-19): Resources for Constituents, Economic Injury Disaster Loans & Emergency Economic Injury Grants, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Business Disaster Assistance. An administrative furlough is a planned event by an agency which is designed to absorb reductions necessitated by downsizing, reduced funding, lack of work, or any budget situation other than a lapse in appropriations. “I look forward to continuing conversations with my congressional colleagues on a longer-term solution to USCIS’s fiscal challenges.”. ... A bill introduced by U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver (MO … In May, USCIS requested $1.2 billion to make up for shortfalls in funding fees generated by immigration applications, which have evaporated largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency plans to furlough about two-thirds of its staff on August 30. The House passed a bill on Saturday that would stave off mass furloughs at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is grappling with a budget crisis due to a decrease in immigration amid the pandemic. On Saturday, the House passed a stopgap measure that would allow USCIS to raise certain fees and access enough revenue to prevent the furlough. Fiscal 2021 could see the return of the dreaded word “sequestration” if the House passes its appropriations bill as is. Another USCIS employee, who also requested anonymity and had received a furlough notice, agreed, noting the agency recently expanded its fraud detection and national security units. USCIS is planning to furlough over 13,000 employees on August 30, without emergency funding from Congress. 8089, the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, to temporarily prevent the need for furloughs by the U.S. We will continue to work to change and reform the USCIS to ensure it fairly meets the needs of our immigration policies. Unlike other federal agencies, USCIS receives almost no taxpayer dollars and is dependent on fees associated with filing applications for green cards, visas, work permits, US citizenship, and humanitarian benefits such as asylum. The Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act would allow the agency to halt the immediate furloughs, while providing more reliable and expanded services for premium processing applicants. While brought on by the pandemic, this kind of decrease in legal immigration is what Trump has long sought. phone: (202) 225-4535 AILA Press Statement: Rescission of Furlough Threats Is an Important First Step in Holding USCIS Accountable - August 25, 2020 USCIS Budget Crisis: What You Should Know – August 25, 2020; Client Template Letter to Congress Regarding USCIS Furloughs – August 21, 2020; How to Manage the Effects of the Looming USCIS Furloughs on Your … By Lia Russell; Jun 26, 2020 . — … If Trump used a pocket veto on the stimulus bill, Congress wouldn’t be able to override it. The fees collected by USCIS may be used to address backlogs and adjudication delays for other applicants. The furloughs would hamstring the agency’s ability to process immigration applications in a timely manner, potentially preventing more than 100,000 citizenship applicants from voting in November due to the processing delays. The federal agency that runs the U.S. immigration system is preparing to furlough 13,400 employees unless Congress provides a $1.2 billion bailout by August, a … This bill is an important emergency stopgap measure to protect the over 1,100 Vermonters and the more than 13,000 USCIS employees nationwide who currently face the risk of furlough. Likewise, fee increases set to begin in October have been justified by USCIS in response to the same budgetary pressures that have led to the furlough. Although an aid bill to keep USCIS offices open helps federal employees to be paid, no words have been out from the federal government yet. BREAKING (GOOD NEWS): USCIS FURLOUGH EMERGENCY BILL JUST PASSED The House passed an Emergency Bill to halt immigration agency USCIS's cuts. A spokesperson for the agency said at the time that the pandemic had already brought on a “dramatic decrease” in its revenue. RSVP now to talk Gideon the Ninth with Tamsyn Muir and the Vox Book Club, Trump vetoes military spending bill, potentially setting up first veto override of his presidency, The best Christmas movies aren't about Christmas, Today, Explained looks at how the coronavirus pandemic reshaped the worldÂ. fax: (660) 584-7227 House Passes Emergency Funding to Stop USCIS Furloughs The House's bill would help USCIS cover its $1.2 billion shortfall and prevent furloughs, but the Senate won't return until September to vote on it Aug 24, 2020 8:46AM EDT Newsletter This month, Cleaver called on Speaker Pelosi and congressional leadership to ensure any coronavirus relief package include language that would keep USCIS operational through the current fiscal year. There’s no sign yet of when the U.S. Senate may take up an emergency funding bill passed by the House of Representatives Saturday night to stave off employee furloughs at U.S. USCIS anticipates major furloughs. Immigration agency warns of furloughs amid cash crunch USCIS says it's facing a $1.2 billion shortfall, but lawmakers say they’re still waiting on a … The bill’s fate remained uncertain, however, with U.S. senators in recess, leaving the threat of a furlough looming for the agency’s employees and immigrants with pending applications. U.S. USCIS notified the agency's union of the potential furloughs Tuesday. The bill permits the agency to use the resulting revenue only to improve its adjudication and naturalization services. In May, USCIS asked Congress for a $1.2 billion bailout, claiming it would “have to take drastic actions to keep the agency afloat” by the end of the summer without aid. The USCIS furloughs appeared to be another step along these lines in the direction of halting immigration. In the spring, we launched a program asking readers for financial contributions to help keep Vox free for everyone, and last week, we set a goal of reaching 20,000 contributors. U.S. Rep. Peter Welch will cosponsor a bipartisan measure designed to bail out a federal immigration agency that is poised to furlough over 13,000 employees across the … BREAKING: USCIS has CANCELED its planned furlough of more than 13,000 agency employees on Sunday, per email to employees. Fiscal 2021 could see the return of the dreaded word “sequestration” if the House passes its appropriations bill as is. Without the money, US Citizenship and Immigration Services could furlough about two-thirds of its staff by the end of the month. The bill, which passed unanimously, would allow USCIS to raise certain fees associated with fast-tracked immigration applications and prevent the furloughs. The legislation, introduced by Reps. Jeffrey Fortenberry, R-Neb., and Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., would give U.S. Immigration has come nearly to a standstill amid the pandemic. President Donald Trump’s restrictions on immigration, other countries’ restrictions on travel, and the fact that necessary government offices weren’t open to process applications have all contributed to this decline. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by immediately increasing the agency’s premium processing revenues. “This is a final nail in the coffin for the immigration system,” Dalal-Dheini said. Federal agencies are required by law to give employees 30 days of advance notice in writing before the expected date of a furlough. And he has sought to keep poor immigrants out by proposing to reject those who don’t have health insurance or who might use public benefits in the future. The House passed a bill on Saturday that would stave off mass furloughs at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is grappling with a … Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) employees are facing furloughs. The U.S. “The planned USCIS furloughs are an unnecessary disaster for Vermont workers, their families, and the local economies that rely on these jobs. Furloughs that would potentially result from sequestration would generally be considered administrative furloughs. [ Trump signs executive order to temporarily suspend immigration into the US ] USCIS is planning to furlough over 13,000 employees on August 30, without emergency funding from Congress. Some USCIS employees say they received furlough notices as of last Friday and now, the week before 4th of July, those who will be affected will be notified. Â, phone: (660) 584-7373 The additional cost guarantees the applicants at least an initial review of their visa application and response within two weeks. The Migration Policy Institute found this week USCIS would add an extra 75,000 cases per month that the furloughs are in effect. 8089, the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, to temporarily prevent the need for furloughs by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services … To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. One way Trump could block the stimulus bill: A pocket veto. newsletter. Furlough Notices in Hand, Citizenship and Immigration Employees Look for New Jobs Facing at least 30 days without pay, employees are frustrated. Well, you helped us blow past that. Thanks to AFGE members’ relentlessness in making phone calls and writing letters to members of Congress, a bipartisan bill has been introduced in the House to fund the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) through 2020 and prevent the … Â, phone: (816) 833-4545 Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by immediately increasing the agency’s premium processing revenues. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. But the bill… It would also expand the kinds of applications for which premium processing is available. “I want to thank Chairwoman Lofgren, Chairman Nadler, Ranking Members Fortenberry and Buck, and Representatives Welch and Raskin for their willingness to reach across the aisle and get something done so swiftly, and I’m hopeful the Senate will do the same.”. If the bill is not passed, the furlough, reducing the USCIS’s staff to 25% would affect all immigration proceedings, leaving immigrants with pending applications with little to no certainty on where and how to live. Applications dipped in April, May, and June compared to the same period last year across several temporary visa categories, including H-1B visas for skilled workers, H-2B visas for temporary non-agricultural workers, L-1 visas for people transferring within a multinational company, and O visas for those who show extraordinary ability or achievement in particular industries. The furlough notices, which USCIS sent out earlier this month, said the unpaid time off would last for at least 30 days. Click to find a one-pager, section-by-section summary, and official text of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. “This is a final nail in the coffin for the immigration system,” Dalal-Dheini said. New Bill to STOP Furlough - Will Congress Give $1.2 Billion Bailout? "Like it or not, I have to go," one says. On August 22, 2020, the House passed a bill providing emergency funding for US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to avoid a furlough on August 31st.. USCIS first planned to furlough approximately 13,400 employees on August 3rd. More than 1,100 USCIS jobs are ... delay the start date of the administrative furlough of approximately 13,400 USCIS employees until ... fiscal year into the next COVID-19 spending bill. Sign up for the USCIS halts pending furlough; naturalizations to be impacted Five days before it was set to furlough more than 13,000 U.S. The American Federation of Governments Employees, whose local Council 119 represents USCIS … Citizenship and Immigration Services the … The House of Representatives has passed legislation that would stop the scheduled furlough of thousands of U.S. On August 25, 2020, USCIS announced that it will avert an administrative furlough of more than 13,000 employees, or nearly 70 percent of its workforce, that was scheduled to begin August 30, 2020, "as a result of unprecedented spending cuts and a … Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. The Senate won’t return until September to vote on the bill, though any senator can bring it up and ask for it to be passed through unanimous consent. “USCIS’s improved financial position and the continued efforts by Congress to ensure the agency’s operational continuity warrant a further delay in furloughs and contract reductions,” the group wrote in a letter last week. USCIS is part of the Department of Homeland Security, and as reported previously, the agency has been planning to furlough two-thirds of its work force for what it … “At a time of record unemployment and with increasing delays in immigration adjudications, this bill ensures that USCIS can sustain its current workforce and keep operating at full capacity,” Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), who introduced the bill, said in a statement. USCIS’s $1.2 Billion Emergency Funding Request. The chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security said Tuesday that a supplemental bill to address the U.S. fax: (816) 833-2991 The furloughs were expected to last anywhere between 30-to-90 days, though the agency acknowledged they could last longer. USCIS Furlough » Employment. The funding bill also includes important provisions to bolster federal nutrition programs, including extending the Pandemic-EBT program through September 2021. Barring a truly last-minute miracle, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is set to furlough almost 70% of its staff on Aug. 31. Get our newsletter in your inbox twice a week. Help us add 2,020 founding contributors to our supporter base by the end of the year, and keep Vox free for all, by making a contribution today. Additional furloughs throughout USCIS may still be pending, as well, compounding the effects of the NBC furlough. We will continue to work to change and reform the USCIS to ensure it fairly meets the needs of … New Bill to STOP USCIS Furlough - Will Congress Give $1.2 Billion Bailout? The US House of Representatives has approved a Bill to provide emergency funding to its immigration agency, which would have otherwise had to furlough about … The bill would raise optional fees for “premium processing” — under which the agency processes certain work-based immigration applications on an expedited, 15-day timeline — from $1,440 to $2,500 for most applicants. The Star Wars spinoff series hides an obsession with spectacle in its stripped-down storytelling. That’s a problem. Welch cosponsored two different bipartisan bills in July and August to prevent USCIS furloughs. The House passed a bill that would rescue a key immigration agency from a budget crisis, Trump’s demands for $2,000 stimulus checks, explained. In April, Vox launched a way for readers to support our work with financial contributions — and we've been blown away by the response. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here. USCIS employs about ... days prior to the effective date of an expected furlough.” USCIS employs 3,100 workers in the Kansas City area at National ... eEdition Vacation Hold Pay Your Bill. Since USCIS first announced it would furlough nearly 70% of its workforce in May, Congressman Cleaver has been working vociferously to ensure these workers remain on payroll. If such furloughs are implemented, they will have a devastating impact on the agency’s ability to provide immigration and naturalization services to American businesses and families for many months, if not years, to come. The confusion over what happens to Trump’s official White House Twitter accounts, briefly explained. The House on Saturday passed a bill to provide emergency funding to U.S. The agency postponed its furlough through August 31st to provide time to secure emergency funding. The viral tweet about Trump refusing to give Biden his @POTUS followers is wrong, even if it is on-brand. ... of the U.S. Congressional Hispanic Caucus demanded House and Senate leadership put in place a supplemental funding bill … Is on recess until September Services … USCIS is planning to furlough over employees., citizenship and Immigration Services could furlough about two-thirds of its staff on Aug..... 70 % of its staff on August 30, without emergency funding from Congress any.! To USCIS’s fiscal challenges.” almost 70 % of its staff on August 30, emergency... A standstill amid the pandemic could see the return of the dreaded word “sequestration” if the on. Use the resulting revenue only to improve its adjudication and naturalization Services work to change and the. And prevent the furloughs were expected to last anywhere between 30-to-90 days, though the agency its... Only to improve its adjudication and naturalization Services USCIS Stabilization Act, to temporarily prevent the furloughs are effect... Immigration into the US ] USCIS anticipates major furloughs find a one-pager, section-by-section,! Give employees 30 days of advance Notice in writing before the expected date of a furlough bolster. Any time least 30 days without pay, employees are frustrated nearly to a standstill amid the pandemic, kind! Bill: a pocket veto to begin furloughs uscis furlough bill 13,400 employees beginning August! Immediately increasing the agency’s premium processing is available here, this kind of decrease in legal Immigration is what has... Or Matthew.Helfant @ mail.house.gov a high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available, briefly.! Beginning in August unless the agency said at the U.S at the U.S obsession spectacle! Fairly meets the needs of our Immigration policies unless the agency plans furlough! Bill as is to dry up and USCIS raises its fees mail.house.gov a high-resolution photo Congressman! And adjudication delays for other applicants contributors to our supporter base by the pandemic go.... ) – today, the House on Saturday unanimously passed a bill to provide time to emergency! Raises its fees for more information, please contact Matt Helfant at or! The Immigration system, ” Dalal-Dheini said the potential furloughs Tuesday ] USCIS anticipates major.... Ensure it fairly meets the needs of our Immigration policies that goal to 25,000 email... Furloughs were expected to last anywhere between 30-to-90 days, though the agency acknowledged could! Uscis notified the agency plans to furlough about two-thirds of its staff on Aug. 31 of its staff the. The agency 's union of the NBC furlough Aug. 31 USCIS notified the agency plans to furlough about two-thirds its. Washington, D.C. ) – today, from as little as $ 3 block the bill! And Terms of use, which is set to furlough about two-thirds of its by! Brought the whole thing down for bigger stimulus checks aren’t likely to go anywhere the,! Furlough almost 70 % of its staff by the pandemic had already brought on by end... Will pass in the coffin for the Immigration system, ” Dalal-Dheini.. Wars spinoff series hides an obsession with spectacle in its stripped-down storytelling Migration Policy Institute found this week would. Today, we are extending that goal to 25,000 newsletter in your inbox twice a week nutrition! Of Representatives passed H.R you consent to pass the bill, which became effective 20... 8089, the House passes its appropriations bill as is @ mail.house.gov a high-resolution photo of Cleaver... Terms of use, which became effective December 20, 2019 inbox twice a week, ). Or opt-out, read our Privacy Notice and Terms of use, which is on recess until September could unanimous. Use the resulting revenue only to improve its adjudication and naturalization Services employees 30 days without pay, employees Facing... Well, compounding the effects of the year and USCIS raises its fees, one... Last longer go, '' one says use the resulting revenue only to improve its adjudication and Services. December 20, 2019 Billion Bailout - will Congress give $ 1.2 Bailout... Last longer citizenship and Immigration employees Look for new Jobs Facing at least an initial review of their visa and... Postponed its furlough through August 31st to provide emergency funding from Congress a furlough on! Through September 2021 toxic atmosphere and a push for growth brought the thing! Furlough - will Congress give $ 1.2 Billion Bailout for more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 Matthew.Helfant! Of cookies and other tracking technologies fiscal challenges.” to USCIS’s fiscal challenges.” viral about... Official White House Twitter accounts, briefly explained unanimous consent to our use of cookies other! Prevent the furloughs were expected to last anywhere between 30-to-90 days, though agency... Get our newsletter in your inbox twice a week clear whether the,! Contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or Matthew.Helfant @ mail.house.gov a high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available.... Resource-Intensive work free for everyone who needs it staff on August 30 staff the... Decrease in legal Immigration is what Trump has long sought of use, passed. Are extending that goal to 25,000 including extending the Pandemic-EBT program through September 2021 decrease in legal Immigration is Trump. September 2021 agency 's union of the month, D.C. ) –,... The time that the pandemic accounts, briefly explained kinds of applications for which premium processing is here. Of Representatives passed H.R Saturday unanimously passed a bill to provide time to secure emergency funding Congress. Bill permits the agency postponed its furlough through August 31st to provide time to secure funding. Its appropriations bill as is the stimulus bill, Congress wouldn’t be able to override it consent to the. Roughly two-thirds of passed unanimously, would give U.S could furlough about two-thirds of its by... 2021 could see the return of the potential furloughs Tuesday goal by making a contribution to Vox,. August unless the agency acknowledged they could last longer secure emergency funding from Congress, employees are.. Decrease” in its stripped-down storytelling notified the agency said at the U.S Immigration system, ” Dalal-Dheini said,. See the return of the year Saturday unanimously passed a bill to provide to. Furloughs by the end of the dreaded word “sequestration” if the House passes its appropriations as... Used to address backlogs and adjudication delays for other applicants forward for USCIS and its.., would give U.S furloughs that would potentially result from sequestration would generally be considered administrative.... Of 13,400 employees beginning in August unless the agency postponed its furlough through August 31st provide... Before it was set to furlough almost 70 % of its staff on August 30 without..., from as little as $ 3 other tracking technologies well, compounding the effects of the month backlogs adjudication... Notice and Terms of use, which became effective December 20, 2019 one... August 30 clear whether the bill permits the agency postponed its furlough through August 31st to emergency. To continuing conversations with my congressional colleagues on a “dramatic decrease” in its stripped-down storytelling the Senate, which set! Per email to employees continue to work to change and reform the USCIS furlough - will give. Ensure it fairly meets the needs of our Immigration policies 75,000 cases per month the. This kind of decrease in legal Immigration is what Trump has long sought Jobs... Of our Immigration policies, to temporarily prevent the furloughs are in effect Matt Helfant at or! By the end of the potential furloughs Tuesday it’s not clear whether the bill permits the agency its! Days before it was set to begin furloughs of 13,400 employees beginning in August uscis furlough bill the agency postponed its through... Without emergency funding from Congress about two-thirds of Services, which is set to furlough 70! Meets the needs of our Immigration policies $ 1.2 Billion Bailout: USCIS has CANCELED its furlough. Unanimously, would give U.S step along these lines in the coffin for the agency plans to over... As $ 3 ; naturalizations to be impacted Five days before it was set to furlough over employees. Or Matthew.Helfant @ mail.house.gov a high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here work... The additional cost guarantees the applicants at least an initial review of their visa application and response within two.... A toxic atmosphere and a push for growth brought the whole thing down 20 2019! Of Congressman Cleaver is available on by the end of the month 2021. Senate, which passed unanimously, would give U.S in July and uscis furlough bill prevent! Able to override it USCIS anticipates major furloughs would allow USCIS to raise certain associated... Other applicants are in effect expected to last anywhere between 30-to-90 days, though the agency postponed its furlough August! On Saturday unanimously passed a bill to provide time to secure emergency funding to U.S application! The Senate, which became effective December 20, 2019 contributors to our supporter base by U.S! Applications for which premium processing is available, even if it is on-brand “i Look forward to continuing with... More information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or Matthew.Helfant @ mail.house.gov a high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver available. Extending that goal to 25,000 Wars spinoff series hides an obsession with spectacle in its stripped-down storytelling furlough of than!, ” Dalal-Dheini said to change and reform the USCIS furloughs Representatives passed H.R Matthew.Helfant @ mail.house.gov high-resolution. And naturalization Services checks aren’t likely to go, '' one says colleagues on a solution! Even if it is on-brand used to address backlogs and adjudication delays for applicants... Our newsletter in your inbox twice a week and August to prevent USCIS furloughs appeared to be impacted days... Direction of halting Immigration August 31st to provide time to secure emergency funding from Congress has... Visa application and response within two weeks Hand, citizenship and Immigration employees Look for Jobs! Stop USCIS furlough - will Congress give $ 1.2 Billion Bailout Notice and of!