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Sunday, March 17th, 2019

U.S. set to close international immigration offices

Author:     Ted Hesson
Source:     Politico
Publication Date:     03/12/2019 06:12 PM EDT
 Link: U.S. set to close international immigration offices
Stephan:   “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” For 144 years, since the Statue of Liberty was erected on Bedloe's Island in September 1875 that has been America's pledge. For many of you who read SR, and for tens of millions more, that statement is what made you an American. No more. Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and the racists that support them have ended that.

USCIS maintains 22 field offices in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia, according to an official website. The agency already has closed its field office in Cuba. Credit: Wilfredo Lee/AP

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services plans to close all its international field offices, according to three people familiar with the decision.

The offices — which are located in embassies and consulates around the world — handle everything from immigration applications and fraud detection. In addition, the offices provide expertise to other U.S. government agencies and partner with foreign governments.

While President Donald Trump frequently highlights his opposition to illegal immigration, his administration also has taken steps to make the legal immigration process more difficult. The latest move could affect everyone from members of the U.S. military applying for citizenship to foreigners seeking to join their relatives in the U.S., according to those familiar with the plan.

USCIS Director Francis Cissna said in an email to staff that the agency was in preliminary discussions to transfer the international workload to domestic offices and […]

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