When Immigration Matters

Government Shutdown-What happens to Immigration Services?

Posted by Michael Pollak on Oct 1, 2013 1:33:00 PM

 Dept. of Homeland Security, ICE, USCISCIS Ombudsman: The CIS
Ombudsman's Office will be closed
and will not be accepting any inquiries
through their online case intake system.

DOL:
OFLC functions are not "excepted" from a shutdown and its employees would be
placed in furlough status should a lapse in appropriated funds occur.
Consequently, in the event of a government shutdown, OFLC will neither accept
nor process any applications or related materials (such as audit responses), it
receives, including Labor Condition Applications, Applications for Prevailing
Wage Determination, Applications for Temporary Employment Certification, or
Applications for Permanent Employment Certification. OFLC's web site, including
the iCERT Visa Portal System and the PERM system, would become static and unable
to process any requests or allow authorized users to access their online
accounts.

DOL's Office of Administrative Law Judges will be unable
to perform any case-related activities
, including conducting hearings.
Hearings that have been previously scheduled will therefore be cancelled prior
to the date of the hearing, and they will not be rescheduled for hearing until
an appropriations bill or continuing resolution takes effect.

DHS: Due to the lapse in federal, DHS’s
website will not be actively managed
.

DOS: The Department will continue as many normal operations
as possible; operating status and available funding will need to be monitored
continuously and closely, and planning for a lapse in appropriations must be
continued. Review their “Guidance
on Operations”
for more information.

EOIR: EOIR has indicated that its response to a potential
shutdown is the same as it was in 2011. EOIR has been advised to "put its
shutdown plans in place." As with other agencies, personnel who are not
considered "essential" will be furloughed. EOIR has indicated that the detained
docket would likely be considered an essential function and would therefore be
able to continue in operation.

Update from EOIR on October 1, 2013: Court functions that support the
detained caseload will continue, but other functions are suspended. The Board of
Immigration Appeals (BIA) is processing emergency stay requests as well as cases
where the alien is detained, including case appeals, motions, federal court
remands, and bonds. Please review their
notice for more information
.

ICE: From ICE Community Outreach - ICE detention and
enforcement operations shall continue. ICE chief counsel trail attorneys will
still work on the detained docket only during a shutdown. Please coordinate with
your local Chief Counsel Office on more specifics. The ICE Community and
Detainee Helpline will remain operational.

USCIS: All USCIS
offices worldwide are open
and individuals should report to interviews and
appointments as scheduled. E-Verify is currently unavailable due to a government
shutdown.

Tags: USCIS, Dept. of Homeland Security, ICE

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