USCIS

 The Congressional Tri-Caucus called on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf to suspend immigration enforcement activities around hospitals and medical clinics in order to prioritize public health as communities across the country are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks. The members further request that DHS suspended implementation of the public charge rule in order to protect public health and for the agency to provide timely communications about any USCIS office closures. However, DHS spokeswoman Heather Swift denied the allegations that ICE would conduct law enforcement operations in sensitive areas, calling the allegations “fear-mongering.”

The acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services denounced a Democratic congresswoman on July 8 after a report alleged that she used taxpayer money to send her staff to Mexico to coach migrants on ways to exploit loopholes in the asylum system and enter the United States.

The USCIS has begun to remind immigrants that if they receive any welfare benefits prior to becoming a citizen, their sponsors will be responsible for paying back the government.