With a Federal shutdown looming, immigrants are asking if the various offices handling immigration cases will be open. Here is the latest.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, the folks who handle citizenship, adjustment of status, and most of the good parts of immigration law, will be open.
Unfortunately, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, will also remain open. These are the folks who arrest and deport immigrants.
The immigration courts, which are part of the Executive Office of Immigration Review, will be a mixed bag. Here is the word from the courts:
If there is a government shutdown tomorrow, the NYC Immigration Court WILL BE CLOSED. During the shutdown, the only courts in this jurisdiction that will remain open are:
Varick St.
Fishkill
Ulster
Elizabeth (for detained cases only)
Newark (for detained cases only)
Essentially, the courts that will stay open are dealing with detained alien cases.
