Thompson and Rice Demand USCIS Delay Needless Furlough
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations Subcommittee, sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services demanding they postpone the impending furlough of over 13,000 employees on August 30, 2020.
Given the recent reevaluation of the USCIS budget, it is clear that they have adequate resources to continue operations through the end of the fiscal year and can avoid layoffs that will cripple operations and cause significant hardship for thousands of dedicated employees and their families.
“We stand ready to work with you to ensure that USCIS can continue operating and its employees continue to receive paychecks. While this process moves forward, it is vital that our legal immigration system continues to function at full capacity,” wrote Chairs Thompson and Rice. “As our nation struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic, the services that USCIS provides are critical and must be maintained. Struggling businesses are relying on temporary workers, overburdened hospitals are depending on medical professionals, and USCIS is the essential component that makes this activity possible.
“We ask that in the interest of your employees and our nation as a whole, you make the reasonable and important decision to postpone the implementation of furloughs through the end of the fiscal year.”
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Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978
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