Delays in immigration processes

Due to the massive outbreak of Coronavirus in the US, President Trump had to implement emergency measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

One of the aspects most affected by the arrival of the Coronavirus in North America was immigration and the country’s residence processes.

On the one hand, the current administration of the US has always aimed to reduce immigration, both legal and illegal, to prevent it from becoming an unnecessary burden on the local economy.

On the other hand, the global pandemic prompted Trump’s government to implement emergency measures in the immigration processes and reduce the number of immigrants entering the US.

President Trump argues that local resources must be safeguarded during the health crisis to be used only by legal citizens.

Some of the measures implemented are:

• The US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) offices suspended in-person services for more than two months.
• Asylum and refuge applications were suspended for more than two months as well.
  In fact, the official figure is unprecedented because since March, 2020, only two asylum applications have been accepted in the country.
• Most of the courts in charge of immigrant hearings were closed for a considerable period of time due to the health emergency.
• Borders remain closed for any non-essential travel that does not involve trade.

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The repercussion of the courts’ closure

According to a recent study conducted by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), delays in immigration processes can take months or even years, depending on the type of application.

The study results show that approximately 850,000 immigrants have delayed immigration processes due to the temporary closure of USCIS offices and courts around the country.

This was to be expected due to the health crisis caused by the Coronavirus.

However, the real problem is that:

• There are thousands of immigrants in Immigration Detention Centers around the country and now they must wait longer to have a hearing opportunity.
  These centers are not prepared to counter the impact of the pandemic, which increases the risk for immigrants living there.
• There are thousands of immigrants who have temporary residence permits that are close to expiration. If their processes are delayed due to the pandemic, they could face a deportation case or accumulate “Unlawful Presence” in the US.

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Delays before the pandemic

It is well known that Trump’s administration has increased regulations and requirements for immigration processes in recent years.

As a result, USCIS recently reported that it had a delay of 1 million immigration cases. This was before the arrival of the Coronavirus in the US.

That means that the processes are going to be delayed even more now and it is essential to have the specialized help of expert immigration attorneys to avoid missing the opportunity to present a solid case.

Seek reliable help for your Immigration Case

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.