IN CHICAGO, USCIS DIRECTOR HIGHLIGHTS AGENCY’S TOP FIVE PRIORITIES IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD
CHICAGO – On Wednesday, the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) and The Resurrection Project (TRP) met with Illinois business leaders, immigrant advocates, and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ur. M. Jaddou to discuss the current state of affairs for immigrants and actions USCIS can take to alleviate immigrants’ struggles.
Director Jaddou highlighted USCIS’s top five priorities: 1) Strengthening USCIS Fiscal Management; 2) Increasing Hiring and Improving Employee Morale; 3) Promoting Efficiency in USCIS Adjudications; 4) Delivering on USCIS’s Humanitarian Mission; and 5) Strengthening Public Engagement and Customer Service.
“From protecting those most vulnerable, to breaking down barriers in the immigration system, to increasing access to eligible immigration benefits, these priorities are essential building blocks to strengthening the agency’s organization infrastructure,” said USCIS Director Jaddou. “As we look towards the future, USCIS will continue to collaborate with the business community and our immigrant communities to ensure our country is stronger, together.”
Almost 40 Illinois business leaders and immigrant advocates attended the event, including Illinois Institute of Technology President Raj Echambadi, Immigration Project Legal Director Danielle DeWinter, Illinois Restaurant Association President and CEO Sam Toia, and Illinois Landscape Contractors Association Executive Director Scott Grams.
Speaking in support of this ongoing dialogue, ABIC’s Executive Director Rebecca Shi issued the following statement after the event:
“As our nation’s immigrants rise to face new challenges brought on by the pandemic and our economy struggles to recover amid unprecedented labor shortages and growing inflation, it is critical that Illinois business leaders and immigrant advocates can voice their concerns directly with USCIS. It is only through direct dialogue that we can reach common sense immigration solutions that keep families together, stabilize our workforce, and grow our economy.”
Echoing Shi’s sentiments, TRP’s CEO Raul I. Raymundo added:
“Immigrant communities have been hit especially hard by the pandemic as well as by the previous administration’s toxic immigration policies. As one of Chicago’s largest agencies servicing our immigrant communities, we appreciate this opportunity to share what we’re seeing on the ground and challenge current officials in charge of administering immigration policies to do it humanely, with accountability, and with efficiency. “
The meeting was part of a larger push for more national and local listening engagements that Director Jaddou began since becoming Director.
ABOUT
American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) is a bipartisan coalition of over 1,200+ CEOs, business owners, and trade associations across 16 mostly red and purple states. ABIC Action promotes common sense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens.
The Resurrection Project (TRP) builds relationships and challenges individuals to act on their faith, values, and ideals to create healthier communities so families and individuals have the increased capacity to reach their goals and improve their socio-economic status.