USCIS Prepares to Decrease Staff by 70% (13 Thousand Workers)

[Raychelle 29]

On 7/8/2020 at 5:16 AM, ts0276a said:

Hey all! Here is a little bit of good news for this thread  

"The chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security said Tuesday (July 7, 2020) that a supplemental bill to address the US Citizenship and Immigration Services funding shortfall caused by the pandemic will move through Congress this month in an effort to prevent the agency from furloughing about 70% of its staff on Aug. 3." Link to article: https://www.law360.com/aerospace/articles/1289762/congress-plans-new-funding-bill-to-aid-uscis-shortfall

 

Nothing is set in stone yet obviously, but based on the article it seems like lawmakers are starting to pay more attention to this issue. Keep emailing your state representatives (as I have done) to continue bringing attention to the USCIS budget shortfall in order to protect USCIS employees from potential furloughs, and ultimately, prevent more delays in immigration processing time for our loved ones!

Thank you for sharing!

[Wouter 141]

On 7/7/2020 at 2:16 PM, ts0276a said:

Hey all! Here is a little bit of good news for this thread  

"The chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security said Tuesday (July 7, 2020) that a supplemental bill to address the US Citizenship and Immigration Services funding shortfall caused by the pandemic will move through Congress this month in an effort to prevent the agency from furloughing about 70% of its staff on Aug. 3." Link to article: https://www.law360.com/aerospace/articles/1289762/congress-plans-new-funding-bill-to-aid-uscis-shortfall

 

Nothing is set in stone yet obviously, but based on the article it seems like lawmakers are starting to pay more attention to this issue. Keep emailing your state representatives (as I have done) to continue bringing attention to the USCIS budget shortfall in order to protect USCIS employees from potential furloughs, and ultimately, prevent more delays in immigration processing time for our loved ones!

Interesting, thanks for posting.

I also found this: https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-fortenberry-introduce-emergency-funding-legislation-to-save

Not sure if this bill is going anywhere but I like that it is being introduced by two Representatives: a Republican and a Democrat .

Keep emailing your Congress(wo)man and Senators. If you need to find out who they are, look here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

(Any US resident can send an email to their representative, you don't have to be a US citizen!)

[Scandi 3,979]

https://www.afge.org/article/bipartisan-bill-introduced-to-fund-uscis-to-avoid-furloughs/

[Frider 7]

This article was posted 4 hours ago:

https://fcw.com/articles/2020/07/15/russell-dhs-appropriations.aspx?m=1
Doesn’t say if it affects furloughs.

Edited July 15, 2020 by Frider

[millefleur 5,039]

Just now, Frider said:

This article was posted 4 hours ago:

https://fcw.com/articles/2020/07/15/russell-dhs-appropriations.aspx?m=1
 

So...good news so far? I don't want to speak too soon.

[aperson 44]

3 minutes ago, Frider said:

This article was posted 4 hours ago:

https://fcw.com/articles/2020/07/15/russell-dhs-appropriations.aspx?m=1
Doesn’t say if it affects furloughs.

Wait, so does it prevent the furloughs or no? It’s not clear to me.

[millefleur 5,039]

2 minutes ago, aperson said:

Wait, so does it prevent the furloughs or no? It’s not clear to me.

Basically it isn't clear but they are hopeful for funding:
 

Quote

Despite the grim financial prospects, Hotopp said unions leaders were optimistic that Congress would step in. 

“The things we’ve heard on [Capitol] Hill have been very good so far,” he said. “We’ve seen some movement. We still need more work from our congressional allies and friends but we’re hopeful.”

 

Edited July 15, 2020 by millefleur

[eirinlinn 105]

Just now, millefleur said:

Basically it isn't clear but they are hopeful for funding:
 

 

Fingers crossed they pass something to prevent the furloughs!! 

[Akrapovic 31]

There does not seem to be a lot of traction for this bailout bill at the moment, which I personally feel is quite worrisome: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7508

However some senators have urged Senate to include the emergency funding for the USCIS into the next stimulus package... https://www.aila.org/advo-media/whats-happening-in-congress/congressional-updates/senators-letter-emergency-funding-uscis

 

Lets all cross fingers that something happens before Aug 3rd... 🤞

[aperson 44]

Just contacted 2 senators in my state and a congressman who represents my district. Fingers crossed. 

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

Is there some type of link or website I can share to my family members on social media that helps them find their representatives and senators and that gives them a template what to write in their emails to help? I would love to share to see if more could write to help. Thanks so much. 

[aperson 44]

12 hours ago, OrihimeandIchigo said:

Is there some type of link or website I can share to my family members on social media that helps them find their representatives and senators and that gives them a template what to write in their emails to help? I would love to share to see if more could write to help. Thanks so much. 

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

 

Type in your zip code and find your representative. I think there should be 2 senators each state. Just google and go to their official website to contact them.

[xxlian 100]

On 7/18/2020 at 12:30 PM, Akrapovic said:

There does not seem to be a lot of traction for this bailout bill at the moment, which I personally feel is quite worrisome: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7508

However some senators have urged Senate to include the emergency funding for the USCIS into the next stimulus package... https://www.aila.org/advo-media/whats-happening-in-congress/congressional-updates/senators-letter-emergency-funding-uscis

 

Lets all cross fingers that something happens before Aug 3rd... 🤞

The process hasn't moved forward lately because Congress has been out of session since July 3rd. They will return tomorrow, July 20th. Whatever will happen will likely happen very soon.

[PhillyNatz 39]

https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/USCIS Final Letter 7 21 20.pdf

[aperson 44]

5 minutes ago, PhillyNatz said:

https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/USCIS Final Letter 7 21 20.pdf

Wow thanks for sharing! 
Key takeaways:

- USCIS actually has sufficient funding for the remainder of the FY2020(through9/30) so they are urging USCIS leadership to take actions and not furlough till then, and 

- For FY 2021(starting 10/1), they are committed to have bailout $ put into the next coronavirus package for USCIS