USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...dc8_story.html

How the Trump administration is turning legal immigrants into undocumented ones

The Trump administration is turning legal immigrants into undocumented ones.

That is, the “show me your papers” administration has literally switched off printers needed to generate those “papers.”

Without telling Congress, the administration has scaled back the printing of documents it has already promised to immigrants — including green cards, the wallet-size I.D.’s legal permanent residents must carry everywhere to prove they are in the United States lawfully.

In mid-June, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ contract ended with the company that had been printing these documents. Production was slated to be insourced, but “the agency’s financial situation,” USCIS said Thursday, prompted a hiring freeze that required it to ratchet down printing.

Of the two facilities where these credentials were printed, one, in Corbin, Ky., shut down production three weeks ago. The other facility, in Lee’s Summit, Mo., appears to be operating at reduced capacity.

Some 50,000 green cards and 75,000 other employment authorization documents promised to immigrants haven’t been printed, USCIS said in a statement. The agency said it had planned to escalate printing but that it “cannot speculate on future projections of processing times.” In the event of furloughs — which the agency has threatened if it does not get a $1.2 billion loan from Congress — “all agency operations will be affected.”

Some of the missing green cards are for immigrants newly approved for legal permanent residency. Others are for existing permanent residents who periodically must renew their identity cards, which expire every 10 years but sometimes must be replaced sooner (for example, if lost). These immigrants have completed every interview, required biometric assessment, cleared other hurdles — and often waited years for these critical credentials.

The Immigration and Nationality Act requires every adult legal permanent resident to carry their green card “at all times.” Failing to carry it is a misdemeanor, subject to jail time or fines. Immigrants must also show their green card to apply for jobs, travel or reenter the United States.

Understandably, panicked immigrants have been inundating USCIS with calls seeking to locate their documents.

“Our volume of inquiries [has] spiked concerning cases being approved, but the cards [are] not being produced,” said one agency employee. “A lot are expedite requests, and we can’t do anything about it; it’s costing people jobs and undue stress.”

This employee added: “It really does frustrate a lot of us to not let applicants know what’s really going on.”

Normally, within 48 hours of an applicant’s approval, USCIS’s online system indicates that a card has been printed. Immigration attorneys across the country have been puzzled recently because these status updates never appeared. Many thought the delays were tied to covid-19, which has caused other service disruptions.

One Philadelphia attorney, Anu Nair, said a USCIS officer let slip in early June that all contractors were about to be laid off and to expect long delays with paperwork.

Memphis-based attorney Elissa Taub inquired about her client’s missing green card and got a cryptic email: “The system has to be updated so that a card can be produced. You will receive the [card] in the mail once the system in updated [sic].”

USCIS, which is funded almost entirely by fees, is undergoing a budget crisis, largely caused by financial mismanagement by political leadership. The printing disruptions are no doubt a preview of chaos to come if the agency furloughs about 70 percent of its workforce, as it has said it will do in a few weeks absent a congressional bailout.

In recent conversations with congressional staffers about cutting contracts to save money, USCIS mentioned only one contract, for a different division, that was being reduced — and made no reference to this printing contract, according to a person who took part in those discussions. The company that had this contract, Logistics Systems Inc., did not respond to emails and calls this week requesting comment.

The administration has taken other steps in recent months that curb immigration. Presidential executive orders have almost entirely ended issuance of green cards and work-based visas for people applying from outside the country; red tape and bureaucracy have slowed the process for those applying from within U.S. borders. For a while, the agency refused to forward files from one office to another. The centers that collect necessary biometric data remain shuttered.

These pipeline delays are likely to dramatically reduce the number of green cards ultimately approved and issued this year.

Under normal circumstances, immigrants who need proof of legal residency but haven’t yet received their green card would have an alternative: get a special passport stamp from USCIS. But amid covid-related changes, applicants must provide evidence of a “critical need,” with little guidance about what that means.

“The bottom line is that applicants pay huge filing fees, and it appears that these fees have apparently been either squandered through mismanagement or diverted to enforcement-focused initiatives, to the great detriment of applicants as well as the overall efficiency of the immigration process,” says Anis Saleh, an immigration attorney in Coral Gables, Fla. “The administration has accomplished its goal of shutting down legal immigration without actually changing the law.”

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

They're making room for us guys.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

Appointed by Trump puppeteer Miller pulling the strings.

Are any of you guys that renewed experiencing a delay in getting your EAD?

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

I sent my renewal application in late May. I got approved in mid-June. I just received my card.
For the previous renewals, I think my EADs were produced right after getting approved. So, I did not understand why it was taking so long.

I just got my EAD today. I think this is why it took so much longer to receive my copy after I got approved. Mine came from Lee's Summit. I guess there is a delay of at least a few weeks.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

I will assume we will be authorized to work for as long they're on strike or whatever the reason is they cannot print EADs. No one else to blame but them, poor management after all.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

This is a funding issue, not a "deliberate" attempt to make people "undocumented."

Geeze, the spin in this article is so obvious!

A nothingburger.

Next!

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

Honestly they could issue EADs and Green Cards on paper in the interim, but they don't, I wonder why.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

you’re replying to a charlatan.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

This thread is kinda fear mongering

If anyone who doesn't know what's going on starts glancing at this thread, they would assume that the Trump Admin is putting a halt on immigration renewal and stopping card production for the time being, and we're on right back on track to the summer of 2017 where every one is shaking on what to do.

I did get a Approval notice in the mail about a week ago that my Daca has been approved, so it was unusual for it to not have come yet because the time i get my approval notice is usually the time I get an EAD in the mail as well.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

Exactly, SMH. Some people on here will never be at peace. SCOTUS has already decided and DACA is here to remain forever, they can't even digest that.

I know so many people whose renewals have been processed very quickly in the past few months. I had said it from the beginning, DACA is not going to be going while Trump is president, or for that matter anyone is President. Its still standing strong today. No outright executive order to kill it (this can be done any day).

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

That is not what the Supreme Court ruled. Basically, what John Roberts said was that the President has the authority to end a program initiated by an executive order but did not follow the standard legal review procedure to end such a program, which a lot of people already rely on. The Obama Administration did follow this procedure to start DACA. Basically, the ruling was "Trump Administration, your argument sucks. You tried to end it the wrong way. Please try again." That is why Trump is trying to end it again. In some ways, that ruling gave Trump a clear path to end the program. Yes. He does not have time to end it before the election. If polls hold until the election, he is likely to lose and unlikely to be able to end DACA successfully. But, if he gets re-elected, he can definitely end it if given enough time. People are saying going through the proper channel would take about 6 months.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

Yes, what I meant to say is, Trump Admin will not be moving ahead with that authority to end DACA the proper way and Democrats will no longer be pursuing a permanent solution, hence DACA is here to remain for the foreseeable future, quite possibly for a VERY long period of time.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

^I think you are missing the point again.
I don't think anyone in this thread is saying this issue at USCIS is, in a way, an attempt to halt DACA and DACA benefits... Just a way the Trump admin and some authorities at USCIS are making the lives of people receiving DACA benefits (i.e. an EAD) and other immigrants receiving documents from USCIS much harder and increasing risks. The Trump admin has shown no signs of wanting alleviate or even work with USCIS to start alleviating the issues they are facing. That is what we are calling out here.

In short, they do what they can to chip away at pushing their anti-immigrant agenda and showing no drop of good faith when it comes to the topic of immigration.

Also take a look at this thread on the forum. It's a start:
https://dreamact.info/forum/showthread.php?t=84433

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

But why are you surprised at all this...I think you need to get your expectations in line. They are not there to make our lives better. We should be thankful for the fact that DACA is here to stay. That is just the philosophy of the admin, its not there to make lives for immigrants better, plus it appears that Miller is running a lot of the show (sad that he hasn't been fired yet). And the covid environment doesn't make things better...USCIS could be strained operationally across the Board.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

This administration is a total disaster but thanks for that we still have DACA. Had another competent authority phased out the program we would be back in the shadows by now.

But what good is it to have DACA if the country is a disaster, broken. Said in a different way, what good is to remain in this country if Trump wins another term. That will only mean the fall of this super power as we know it.

Luckily that is unlikely to happen, Biden 2020 baby! Democrats are gonna sweep the house come November. The sad news is all the damage done so far by this incompetent administration, full of lies and BS. It's gonna take some time to restore this country reputation around the world. Right now we are the world's laughing stock.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

You guys realize 2Face will support trump no matter what because trump is helping India agains China right?

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

If you remember in 2016 I told you that DACA will remain in place forever and is not going to be going anywhere, I saved you years by telling this to you well ahead of time..you should be thankful for that.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

Yes, and I have another reason too...the Chinese Govt is trying to take over parts of Africa..including Kenya...so double whammy. Why are you always against non-latino Dreamers? I never made fun of you for being Argentinian...

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

Which is why Trump has to win, Biden cant even make a complete sentence. Damn handouts everywhere and BS that will cripple the economy,like it or not the economy was doing great before the pandemic. but good thing he aint winning no matter what.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

They're stopping EADs so they can make more room for Green Cards...duh. MAGA!

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

India is a hellhole right now and bordering on ethnic cleansing. Not surprising that someone supports both Modi and Trump, but nobody wants to talk about that mess.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

It all make sense now

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

I'm surprised!? Who the hell told you I'm surprised at that? You suck at reading the room, son.
No one is surprised at this. We are calling it out. Read my lips. Calling. It. Out. Unlike you, who always comes off as a Trump apologist always making excuses and giving Mr. Orange the benefit of doubt more often than not.

You should take another 2-3 week sabbatical from the forum. Doctor's orders.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

Chill out man we won at the Supreme Court..we have our EADs for life..keep renewing every 2 years.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

You're losing steam, man. Take a break.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

It sounds like he doesn't even know the difference between a bill and an executive order. What he said doesn't make any sense - He on one hand wants to end DACA because he says it was illegal (to not deport dreamers and give them EADs) but he says it's within his power to give them a pathway to citizenship? I'll believe it when I see it.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

Why are you so worked up...You were not expecting anything from the Pres right? You just wanted SCOTUS to protect DACA, that was done. Sounds like you're just frustrated and think this is too good to be true and complaining...Why are you upset that he's talking about some sort of executive order...coz you think he will ask for a lot in return? Why do you care so much about others...the time has come to focus just on yourself and your family..as long as they are not being deported and you're being legalized, anything should be acceptable...and this will be even more true if Trump was to win in November.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

As a non-latino Dreamer, I can say with certainty that no one here is against non-latino Dreamers. Just the delusional ones who loves sucking off the very people who want to rip their lives apart.

Because most of us are not a bunch of sociopaths. But judging by how you're so ardently supporting a sociopath, I guess birds of a feather really do flock together.

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

Not supporting, trying to see avenues where a deal can be made. What if he wins in November 2020...will you suggest we wait 4 more years until a Democrat becomes president?

Re: USCIS stops printing EAD's
 

But he won't but you wish he does because you probably don't mind Covid. You're unrequited love for Trump (impeached) has blinded you.