Sequestration to Hit Immigration Agencies

ABC News reports on some of the ways sequestration will impact the immigration system.

According to Attorney General Holder:

"The sequestration would cut over $15 million from [the Executive Office for Immigration Review] EOIR's current budget. EOIR would be forced to cease all hiring of key critical positions for EOIR's immigration courts, including Immigration Judges, likely increasing pending caseloads to well over 350,000 (an increase of 6 percent over September 2012 levels." EOIR would also cut contracts for interpreters, legal support, and I.T. staff."

Regarding passports and visa processing, Secretary Kerry had this prediction:

"Reductions in funding would jeopardize the Department's efforts to provide secure, error-free travel documents to those eligible to receive them, while denying them to those not eligible. Reduced funding would also undermine progress made in ensuring that visa requests are processed in a timely fashion."

Elise Foley at Huffington Post reports on the impact of sequestration at ICE where cuts are already being implemented:

Immigration and Customs Enforcement released some people from immigrant detention facilities across the country on Monday in response to looming federal budget cuts.

"In order to make the best use of our limited detention resources in the current fiscal climate and to manage our detention population under current congressionally mandated levels, ICE has directed field offices to review the detained population to ensure it is in line with available funding," agency spokeswoman Gillian Christensen said in a statement.

USCIS might be a little less vulnerable to the cuts since much of its funding comes from fees rather than appropriations.

Comments

[Legal and no longer waiting]

Seems like a good thing - fewer people in detention unnecessary and money saved. Yes, the Republicans got us into that mess - they are the ones whining about budget deficits with no plan whatever to cut expenses. Democrats act. Good for them.

[George Chell]

"Immigration and Customs Enforcement released some people from immigrant detention facilities across the country on Monday in response to looming federal budget cuts."

I am all for sequestration. If people like Jack dont want this to happen and want to enforce the law, they need to pay for it and put their money where their mouth is...not ask education or some other item to cut their budget to pay for enforcement. Law can be enforced if the public wants to pay for it...otherwise only murderers, rapists and swindlers belong in jail and costs should be reduced by letting shoplifters, and immigrant law breakers go.

[George Chell]

The Immigration hawks talk about enforcemnt..how about enforcement budgets being cut. Scare tactics from Democrats because it works with the public!

[Rocky_W]

All these are over-the-top scare tactics by Dems. Obviously there is merit is some areas, but this is just another political game to take to the citizens to point out after the fact saying "See? The Repubs got you into this mess"... SSDD.