The U.S. immigration system may be heading toward another period of significant delays and disruptions. According to internal reports, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun encouraging some employees to consider early retirement — and warning others to prepare for potential layoffs.

This development comes amid persistent budget concerns and a growing backlog of immigration cases across the agency's service centers. If large numbers of experienced personnel are pushed out or laid off, the result could be a dramatically understaffed system at a time when demand for immigration services is surging.

Why This Matters

USCIS is the federal agency responsible for processing a wide range of immigration applications — from green cards and asylum petitions to work permits, naturalization requests, and family-based sponsorships. Its operations are already stretched thin due to pandemic-era slowdowns, staffing shortages, and a record-high caseload.

If layoffs proceed, applicants may face:

• Longer processing times for work permits (EADs), green cards, and naturalization.

• Increased delays in asylum and humanitarian relief applications, potentially placing vulnerable individuals at greater risk.

• Disruptions in employment-based visa programs, particularly H-1B and L categories, which rely on timely adjudication to maintain legal work status.

• Delays in FOIA responses and other agency communications, further compounding frustration for applicants and attorneys alike.

Broader Implications

Layoffs or early retirements at USCIS would not only affect internal operations, but could ripple across the U.S. labor market and immigration system. Employers who depend on skilled foreign workers may see significant delays in onboarding and retaining talent. Families separated by borders may wait even longer for reunification. Refugees and asylum seekers may see protection deferred — or denied due to procedural backlogs.

This is not the first time USCIS has faced such a threat. In 2020, the agency narrowly avoided furloughing more than 13,000 workers due to budget shortfalls. The current warnings raise fears of a repeat crisis — only this time in the context of heightened immigration enforcement and processing demands.

What Comes Next

Saluja Law will be closely monitoring this situation. In the meantime, individuals with pending applications or upcoming renewals should consider:

• Filing as early as possible, particularly for work authorization and status extensions.

• Documenting all communications with USCIS, in case of delays or disputes.

• Seeking legal guidance to navigate case-specific challenges that may arise due to processing slowdowns.

We remain committed to advocating for efficient, fair, and humane immigration policies — and for a system that values the professionals who make that mission possible.

If you have questions about how this potential staffing crisis may affect your case, contact Saluja Law for personalized guidance.