Statement On Impending Furloughs At The United States Citizenship And Immigration Services

Yesterday I came before this Chamber and again made the case for why Congress needs to begin negotiations on another COVID-19 emergency supplemental bill now.  The needs are real and they are immediate.  In fact, these negotiations should have begun six weeks ago, after the House passed the HEROES Act.

Today I want to talk about just one of those urgent needs, funding for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  USCIS plays an important role in our nation’s immigration system, processing requests for immigration benefits, American citizenship, and screening asylum seekers.  The agency is staffed by more than 19,000 dedicated men and women across the country, including roughly 1,700 in my home state of Vermont.