Green Card, Visa Delays Worsen as US Backlog Breaks Records
What To Know:
The USCIS backlog now stands at 11.3 million pending immigration cases. The highest number ever recorded.Only 2.7 million cases completed in Q2 FY2025. A significant drop in throughput compared to previous quarters.Over 34,000 unopened cases remain in the system. Marking the return of a "frontlog" not seen since fiscal year 2024.Green card replacement delays worsen. Form I-90 processing times have increased dramatically, now taking over eight months to complete.Work permit (Form I-765) delays continue to grow. The number of pending applications has more than doubled since the previous quarter.Employment-based visa processing slows. Form I-129 delays are affecting H-1B and L-1 visa applicants.Automation efforts paused. USCIS suspended its Streamlined Case Processing program, which contributed to slower approval times.Advance parole (Form I-131) backlog shows some improvement. One of the few categories to see a reduction in pending cases.
Stay with Newsweek for the latest updates.
A Canadian woman was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during what was supposed to be a routine green card interview in California, sparking outrage from her husband-a Trump supporter-who now says he regrets his vote.
Cynthia Olivera, 45, was arrested on June 13 at a USCIS office in Chatsworth, California. According to Newsweek, she had been living in the U.S. since childhood and is the mother of three American-born children. Her husband, Francisco Olvera, a U.S. citizen, said the couple supported former President Donald Trump's immigration policies but never expected she would be targeted.
Olivera had previously been deported in 1999 and reentered the country illegally, which federal officials say constitutes a felony. She had been granted a work permit in 2024 under the Biden administration and was pursuing legal permanent residency when she was taken into custody.
"She was trying to do everything right," Olvera told local media. "We feel blindsided. I want my vote back."
Olivera remains in ICE custody in El Paso, Texas, pending removal to Canada.
A protester in California appeared to snatch off a federal agent's mask during an altercation last week, according to new footage.
The video, released by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), shows a woman confronting federal law enforcement officials behind a police line in San Diego. After an officer holds her by the arms, she can be seen pushing him in the face, removing his face covering.
ICE has been pushed into the national spotlight surrounding immigration enforcement in recent months. The agency has received growing criticism for allowing its agents to carry out targeted enforcement operations in plain clothes and face coverings.
ICE officials argue that masks are crucial to protect agents and their families from death threats. The agency is facing increased scrutiny as President Donald Trump directs his administration to remove millions of migrants without legal status. California lawmakers and members of Congresshave introduced legislation to prohibit federal agents from donning masks during enforcement operations.
Read the full story by Billal Rahman on Newsweek.
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