USCIS Staff Cuts Threaten to Worsen Immigration Backlogs

Mass retirements and layoffs at USCIS spark fears of longer immigration delays.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is facing significant staff reductions, with reports indicating that up to 20,000 employees have been asked to retire early or face layoffs. The cuts, part of the Trump administration’s broader push to streamline federal agencies, have raised alarms about potential delays in processing immigration applications, threatening to exacerbate existing backlogs and impact families, businesses, and asylum seekers.