The Texas Tribune
  • Our Picks
  • Data
  • Events
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
  • Our Picks
  • Data
  • Events
  • Newsletters
  • Donate

Lawyer group says Trump policies have erected "invisible wall" to slow legal immigration

A national group of immigration lawyers studied federal data and found that legal immigrants are facing significantly longer wait times to process requests for visas, green cards and other documents.

by Julián Aguilar Jan. 30, 20194 PM

Republish
According to a study by the American Immigration Lawyers Association, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data shows the number of delayed cases more than doubled to 2.3 million at the end of the 2017.
According to a study by the American Immigration Lawyers Association, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data shows the number of delayed cases more than doubled to 2.3 million at the end of the 2017. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

As President Donald Trump threatens to declare a national emergency to have his long-promised border wall constructed to stop illegal immigration, his administration has also erected an invisible barrier that’s hindering legal migration to this country, according to a national group of immigration lawyers.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association released a study Wednesday showing that processing times for most visas and applications for citizenship by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have reached record-high levels over the last two years.

The study looked at data from the federal government’s 2014-18 fiscal years and found that the overall processing times for applications increased by 46 percent over the past two fiscal years. The authors acknowledged that a backlog of applications existed during the Obama administration and that processing times have increased for nearly all applications since 2014 — but they note that the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years saw bigger jumps. Average processing times for USCIS cases increased 23 percent from 2016-17 and 19 percent from 2017-18.

The federal agency's data shows the number of delayed cases more than doubled to 2.3 million at the end of the 2017, the study found, despite only a 4 percent rise in the number of new cases received.

The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one.

“These delays are harming families, vulnerable populations and U.S. businesses that depend on timely adjudications,” Jason Boyd, the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s policy counsel, said during a conference call with reporters.

The backlog affects applicants for some of the most popular visas, including those seeking to petition for a foreign relative to come to the country, applications for citizenship, applications for re-entry for refugees and humanitarian parole, and applications to apply for permanent lawful residence — also known as a green card.

In an email, USCIS spokesman Michael Bars said several factors can affect an individual’s application, but longer wait times are a result of more applications.

“That is why USCIS has implemented a range of process and operational reforms, hired additional staff, and expanded its facilities to ensure its ability to adjudicate keeps pace with unprecedented demand for its services over recent years,” he wrote. “Where possible, cases are completed well within the agency’s standard processing goals.”

The report's authors point to key changes the Trump administration has made to the legal immigration system, such as requiring in-person interviews for an employment-based green card, as major contributors to the backlog.

“[The policies] inhibit efficiency, and they act as, essentially, bricks in the Trump administration’s invisible wall against legal immigration,” said Jennifer Minear, an immigration attorney and AILA’s first vice president.

The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Read related Tribune coverage

  • Texas dreamers in limbo as Trump bargains their protections for border wall funding
  • Federal judge overturns White House policy on asylum seekers fleeing domestic or gang violence
  • Under Trump, the backlog of U.S. citizenship applications in Texas is growing

Quality journalism doesn't come free

Perhaps it goes without saying — but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Do you value our journalism? Show us with your support.

Yes, I'll donate today

Hide all comments

Comment Policy

The Texas Tribune is pleased to provide the opportunity for you to share your observations about this story. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask that you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or wandering away from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of the Tribune, and your real name will be displayed. All comments are shown in Central Time. Thanks for taking time to offer your thoughts.

You must be logged in to leave a comment. | Login | Sign Up

Your Comment

    • Donate
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • © 2019 The Texas Tribune
    Topics
    • Congress
    • Courts
    • Criminal justice
    • Demographics
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Health care
    • Higher education
    • Immigration
    • Politics
    • Public education
    • State government
    Info
    • About Us
    • Our Staff
    • Who Funds Us?
    • Strategic Plan
    • Republishing Guidelines
    • Code of Ethics
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Send us a confidential tip
    • Corrections
    • Feeds
    • Newsletters
    • Video
    Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Reddit
    • Join our Facebook Group, This Is Your Texas.