HARLINGEN, Texas (Border Report) — The government shutdown is affecting services to help those claiming asylum, as well as employers verifying immigration status to hire workers.
In the latest episode of Border Report Live, correspondents Julian Resendiz and Sandra Sanchez discuss how immigration services are being altered during the ongoing government shutdown.
E-Verify down
The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday announced that the E-Verify program, which verifies employment eligibility, is unavailable during the ongoing shutdown of the federal government, which began Tuesday when Congress failed to negotiate a budget.
Employers are required to complete and get eligibility verification for every person hired to work for pay in the United States but the current program is not working, nor is customer support services.
Alternative methods are available but employers must be authorized by DHS to perform a remote examination of documents. However, any discrepancies incurred cannot be resolved until the government shutdown ends.
“We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience,” U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services said in an email.
Child services
Migrant advocacy groups say they are concerned that essential programs that families and children rely on will be decreased during the government shutdown.
The nonprofit Children at Risk research and advocacy group says the following programs could be affected:
- Head Start/Early Head Start
- Afterschool/out-of-school programs, Nutrition education/SNAP-Ed.
- Child welfare/foster care support grants/social services grants including family reunification services
- Grants to states for education, vocational training, or supplemental support services.
Children at Risk estimates 2.2 million immigrant children live in Texas. Texas has the second-largest immigrant population in the U.S., with 17.2% of the state’s population, the organization says.
An estimated 3 million people in Texas rely on SNAP every month, according to the Senate Majority Pac, which advocates for Democratic candidates.
America’s Voice says immigrants are being used as “scapegoats” in the shutdown.
The Haitian Bridge Alliance said Thursday that the shutdown will have grave consequences for immigrant communities. This includes delayed asylum hearings, stalled visa and work permit applications and could lead to even more immigration court case backlogs.
Currently there are 3.4 million pending immigration court cases, according to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.
“Every shutdown ripples outward to those least able to withstand the consequences,” Haitian Bridge Alliance Executive Director Guerline Jozef said. “Immigrants cannot afford more delayed access to justice, reunification with loved ones, or the protections they desperately need. We call on leaders to prioritize the dignity and humanity of those caught in the middle.”
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