WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Joseph Edlow to be the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
“Under the Homeland Security Act, the USCIS Director is tasked with processing applications for individuals who want to immigrate or remain in the United States legally. However, Mr. Edlow has made clear that he does not intend to do this job. Instead, he plans to use USCIS to implement the Trump Administration’s extreme and illegal mass deportation effort, sweeping up even immigrants who are in our country lawfully with no criminal convictions. These actions—like many of President Trump’s decisions on immigration—have nothing to do with protecting public safety or national security.
“Since the start of the Trump Administration, USCIS has forced out 10 percent of its workforce—without saving taxpayer dollars, since USCIS is fee-funded. The Administration has also moved 500 USCIS employees to work for ICE on its extreme mass deportations. But when asked about how these dramatic staffing changes might impact processing times, Mr. Edlow simply was ‘unaware of any specific impact.’ That’s implausible.
“I do not believe Mr. Edlow can run a fair, just, and competent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.”
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