Statement for the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship Hearing “Policy Changes and Processing Delays at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.”

The American Immigration Council submitted a written statement to the House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship for a July 16, 2019 hearing on “Policy Changes and Processing Delays at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.” The statement highlights the Council’s concerns regarding systemic U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services delays in responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. We highlight the critical nature of timely FOIA responses for people pursuing applications and petitions for immigration benefits in the U.S., and the financial and economic hardship that these processing delays create for individuals and employers throughout the U.S.